As a writer, don’t ever underestimate the power of self-discipline. Talent, passion, and discipline are needed—but the greatest of these is discipline.
Best-selling author Elizabeth George speaks to this point on the first day she faces her students in her creative writing classes. Study this quote from her book, Write Away—and read through to the zinger at the end. This multi-published, mega award-winning author tells them:
“You will be published if you possess three qualities—talent, passion, and discipline.
You will probably be published if you possess two of the three qualities in either combination—either talent and discipline, or passion and discipline.
You will likely be published if you possess neither talent nor passion, but still have discipline. Just go the bookstore and pick up a few ‘notable’ titles and you’ll see what I mean.
But if all you possess is talent or passion, if all you possess is talent and passion, you will not be published. The likelihood is you will never be published. And if by some miracle you are published, it will probably never happen again.”
Be Encouraged!
This is great news for all writers, I believe. We worry sometimes that we don’t have enough talent, that we have nothing original to say, that our voices won’t attract today’s readers. But as Ms. George says above—and after writing and teaching for thirty years, I totally agree–discipline is what will make you or break you as a writer.
Why is this good news? Because self-discipline can be mastered, bit by bit, day by day, until it’s a habit. Talent is a gift over which we have no control, and passion comes and goes with our feelings and circumstances. But your necessary ingredient to success—discipline—can belong to anyone.
Do whatever you have to do to develop the writing habit. Let that be your focus, and see if the writing—and publishing—doesn’t take care of itself!
Kristi, so true. Last week after water aerobics an elderly woman was telling me about how she started writing a memoir. But she’s been really stuck to get very far in this project. I told her several things she could do to schedule time and change place to reduce distractions at home. After I suggested scheduling one or two hour blocks at the clubhouse library, she muttered to herself “Hmm, so, disciipline.” Yep. Old-fashioned discipline.
I find it so odd that self-discipline gets such a bad rap. It creates freedom: freedom to chase our dreams, freedom from a lot of health issues, freedom from so much of what ails the world. And so much of what the world calls freedom just brings bondage of various types. I will probably always preach about the freedom of discipline. 🙂
Hi Kristi: Thanks for your consistent prodding!! I’m writing, I’m writing!!
Came across a quote I thought you had to have. I read the book, “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” (well done, Native American views), and came across this:
“He’s saying you write what you see, and you write what you hear. You are a keeper of the fire.
“Keepers of the fire cannot be cowards. They are carrying light.” (p. 32)
Guard it, share it, shine it–
Gale
Gale, thank you for that fabulous (and TRUE) quote. I love that we are “carrying light.”
I also love that discipline trumps both talent and passion. Some days the passion eludes me, and the wisps of talent blow on by. But discipline? We’ve got that one! 🙂 Yes, consider yourself prodded (again)! Ha!