29 Nov

Of all the things a writer does, some of which may go unrecognized, there is one thing above all that I think deserves more of the pat on the back than all the rest. And that is believing in the story. It could take a month, three months, half a year, a year or more to write it, and he/she does it all on their own, and their belief is what carries them across that long journey, all on their own. 

Any movie based on a novel, or any novel, or movie with a writer, or two ... someone had to believe in that. And they did enough, so that it got done. And it may not even end up being well-received by the readers or audience. Or it might. But someone had to believe in it for it to be there. 

When all is finally said and done, and it comes time for the writer to pass the story on to their first readers (before releasing it to the broad public), that's when it starts to become a group activity. But until then, the writer works in solitude. (Solitude that is, in this world—after all, he's in the company of his characters the whole way through—there's Joe, or Jillian, or the captain of the pirate ship, or Simon who's working to save the day.) And it's a matter of discovery the whole way. All he has to do is (a) be able to LOOK, so that he can uncover and see the story, and (b) WRITE it down in the best way he sees fit, a way that hopefully will be engaging, enlightening and entertaining to the readers. 

And this is all to say nothing of whatever energy and time he puts into the research he does for the writing of the story. 

If there ever was a one-man show which needed balls, this is it. 

But it's also an enjoyable and entertaining activity. And, hopefully for all the writers out there, also very rewarding.