Show up. Do the work. Remember who it’s for…
Why I Keep Showing Up
I was recently on The Cultured Bumpkin with Jake Phillips, talking about my personal history with imagination, the writing process, and more. You may recognize Jake’s voice as the narrator for Green Ember: Helmer in the Dragon Tomb and Lost Tales II: The Lost Legend. (You’ll even get a sneak peek of the Helmer audiobook at the end of the episode!)
Somewhere along the way, we got onto the subject of discipline, which is a funny thing to talk about as a writer because I’ve got a million ideas and I want to go do them all. Ideas, for me, are the easy part. The discipline has been the hard part.
I’ve had to learn to show up.
I believe creative work can be glorious and beautiful and miraculous and magical. I don’t want to dim that glory. But at the same time, it’s an ordinary vocation rooted in love and service. You’ve got to show up. You’ve got to put your apron on and go to work.
I think that’s true whether you’re writing a book or doing almost anything else worth doing. You can’t always wait for the muse to show up and fill you with passion. Sometimes you just need to get your rear in the chair and put words down.
But there’s something else that helps: remember who you’re doing it for. I don’t really want to make things for critics or snobs or awards. I want to make things for real people. Readers. You. Your family.
That’s how it all began.
That’s how the Green Ember books began, really. I was telling stories to my own children, and eventually I wrote one down, kind of as a memorial to that time together. I thought, here, take this with you for your life. I didn’t know other families would want our family’s little rabbit story, too. But they did. And I’m incredibly grateful.
Now, all these years later, I love these kids and I love these families. I see what is happening, and I just want to put more of that “soul food” out there.
Here’s a reminder for when you’re stuck on whatever it is you’re trying to make or do: don’t wait until you’re ready, and don’t wait for it to feel perfect. I created The Green Writer Show (with my buddy, Brett) and Course (with my own bare hands) around this idea. Green means you have a green light. Go. But green also means you’re growing.
Remember the real people in front of you. Love them.
And show up.
I’m on your side,
Sam
P.S. If you’d like to hear the whole conversation, Jake and I talked about all of this and a lot more, including classic literature and the discipline it takes to actually sit down and do the work. Find it here.
P.P.S. You can find The Green Writer Course here and get 3 free sessions.
