177 | TTT001 | The Back Story
February 5, 2024
Today's Topic: The Back Story
Proof that drinking isn't all bad
How far I made it without the effort
The "stalling" effect
// CHAPTER 1: PROOF THAT DRINKING ISN'T ALL BAD
Before we get to the drinking part I wanted to back up a bit and reminisce.
In previous episodes I've talked about being a writer. Why? Because I write.
But I typically call myself a writer because of the writing I do now - or in the recent past.
I didn't realize how far back it went until I really thought about it. And even found evidence of it in old boxes at my parents house.
So I thought I would share two things:
A poem from college
And a chapter from a novel I apparently started back in high school
Isn't that insane? To look back at stuff you did when you were younger?
In this case - it just proves to me that I'm a writer. Or at least that I have the desire to be a writer.
And if you've acted on that desire at all - I think the label "writer" fits.
Being a published writer or a writer because that's what you went to school for is a whole other thing.
But not something I'm that concerned about.
Because I can be a writer without either of those.
Just as I can play hockey without formal training, and without being on a NHL team.
If I'm playing the game - I'm a hockey player.
So back to the story...
If I've always been a writer - when did I get this big idea? This idea for a trilogy?
Well technically - I believe it was in 2011 or 2012. Back when I was a drinker...
Not just a person who drinks alcohol. A person who loved to drink alcohol.
I grew up being taught that drinking, smoking and cussing were bad - so aside from some episodes in high school and a few in college - I tried not to drink.
That was until my 30s - when I suddenly found myself with high cholesterol and lower back problems. Things I naively thought I should be immune to because I was living such a healthy lifestyle.
So out of frustration - I through it all out. And I started drinking. After all, "If I'm going to have the same medical conditions as everyone else in the world - why not at least enjoy myself on the way?"
I know - very mature...
But that started a fascination with alcohol that lasted the better part of 10 years.
Thankfully back in August of 2017 God helped me kick the habit - and I haven't looked back since then.
But it was on one of those nights - after 3, 4 or possibly more drinks - that I passed out hard. And that night I had the most immersive, technical, detailed, and complete dreams I've ever had in my life.
When I woke up I had the Big Idea for what is now a trilogy of books.
Then it was just a story - complete with settings, characters, scenes, and plot points.
But it was so detailed I was immediately able to recall and write down everything I remembered from the dream.
Drinking definitely cleaned my clock during those years - but in this case I am thankful for that night - and the drinking I did...
// CHAPTER 2: HOW FAR I MADE IT WITHOUT THE EFFORT
Over the next few months I painstakingly detailed out more of the story - adding color to the things I had seen. Basically world building. Coming up with and adding detail to characters. And thinking through some of the more complex storylines.
And at some point it was time to start writing.
I can't remember the actual year, or the dates when I put pen to paper - but I do remember consistent writing each morning before work.
Little by little I put ideas down and the chapters started to add up.
Before I knew it - I was on my fourth chapter. With what seemed like very little effort.
But then it all stopped.
And of course - because I was still drinking at the time - I don't really remember why...
Maybe the drinking got worse. Maybe my responsibilities at home ramped up.
But for whatever reason I just stopped.
// CHAPTER 3: THE "STALLING" EFFECT
Like I said - I don't remember exactly what stopped me from working on the book.
But I do remember what kept me from starting again.
The first thing was confidence. Or the lack thereof. I was nervous about writing. Maybe a little worried that I didn't have it in me. Throw in a few mornings with writer's block - and that's all I needed. Maybe I wasn't cut out for this. Which led to more weeks, and months without writing.
The second thing that kept me from starting to write again was knowledge. Information. And an overload of both.
For some reason I thought reading a book or two on writing would help me get my feet back on solid ground. So I did some research and wound up purchasing over 10 books off Amazon on how to write. And as I read those books I became more and more nervous - feeling out of my league.
Some reinforced the rigid writer's lifestyle - and how you had to write every morning without fail or you would eventually quit.
Others were hyper-focused on grammar and all of the rules you needed to know to be a good writer.
Again - skills I didn't get from school - and skills I wasn't remembering from high school or college English classes.
Then I found a few books that changed my life:
The Artist's Way - by Julia Cameron
This book wrecked me as a person and a writer
Julia's transparency about her own struggles with alcohol fit perfectly
Her ideas about Morning Pages and the Artist's Date changed the way I looked at living life
The Story Grid - by Shawn Coyne
This one opened my eyes to the massive world of book editing
And just how methodical and mathematical one can get when crafting a story
The Story Grid method, The Foolscap, Genre, Obligatory scenes, Conventions, the 5 Commandments of Storytelling, the Four Core Framework, the units of story - the quadrants, the sequences, the scenes, the tropes and the beats
All things I didn't understand - things that blew my mind
But also things that gave me hope
Hope that if I could just learn some of it - and loosely follow the formula - I might be able to produce something worthy of publishing
On Writing - by Stephen King
Again, wrecked through his transparency about his struggles with alcohol and cocaine
Beginning to understand how my personality plays into being creative
What it means to be a writer - and the routine and dedication required
And how to avoid some of the basic pitfalls a writer faces
But even with all of the good stuff I was reading - it kept me stalled out.
I was stuck because I already had 4 chapters written - but was now second guessing all of it.
Around this time I was also getting back into podcasts. And I found quite a few to do with writing.
The Story Grid Podcast was one of them. But I also found podcasts by authors - providing tips and tricks on the craft. Along with their ideas on the best way to tell a story.
I found the Hero's Journey Podcast with Dan Zarzana and Jeff Garvin. Opening my eyes up to the work done by mythologists like Joseph Campbell and Christopher Vogler. And how so many movies have these same elements woven through them.
And after all of that - I remained stalled out.
I was excited, motivated and inspired. But equally scared, nervous and lacking confidence.
It was a HUGE new ocean to explore - and I was a very little fish.
At the same time I was trying out all sorts of new writing tools - trying to decide which was the best and what would work for me.
I had always written in Microsoft Word. So that seemed the obvious choice. But at some point I moved everything into Google Docs - because I was able to write on all devices at any time without sharing files. I was also able to add writing tools to my account - helping in the writing process.
Then at some point I found Scrivener. An amazing tool for writing - but one that has a steep learning curve and one you have to be all in on or there's no point using it.
And finally - I needed help with the grammar. So I tried Grammarly - but in order to really use it I was going to have to fork out some cash. So I decided against that.
Then I found the Hemingway App.
Brilliant! Simple. Free.
Apparently Hemingway and Stephen King have a lot in common. Because the things I learned in the book On Writing - seemed to be core elements in the Hemingway editor.
So I started using it to give me clues on my writing style and obvious mistakes I was making.
The problem is that the Hemingway App is a standalone thing. I was writing in Word or Google Docs - then pasting it into the Hemingway App, editing it, only to paste the edited content back into my original document.
If only there was a Hemingway plugin for Microsoft Word or Google Docs. I think that's something I would actually pay for.
And friends - that brings us to 2023. Toward the end of the year it's all I thought about.
I knew I wanted to jump back in - I just didn't know how.
But over the holidays - I just made the decision.
I recorded Episode 176 | Transcending Your Brand and that's all she wrote.
Now it's out there - I have external motivation AND accountability.
Scary - but at the same time just what I needed.
Let's Land the Plane:
Friends - I want to start by thanking each and every one of you who took a chance on this new thing.
I can't wait to get into it - and actually start writing again.
It also occurred to me this week that my listeners might change over time. Sure, I may retain listeners from episodes past. But over time I may gain additional listeners from the creative crowd. Other aspiring writers, or even published writers.
It's a bit daunting - but exciting at the same time. I'm not opposed to building a community of creative and innovative people all over the world - looking for inspiration as we do the things only we can do.
For me that's writing a trilogy. For another it might be painting. And still another - writing music.
But in each case - someone received a Big Idea and it's up to them if it ever sees the light of day.
That's the journey we're on. And I'm glad you've chosen to be here.
Until next time - have a great week - and keep Transcending Human!
References:
https://www.amazon.com/Artists-Way-Spiritual-Higher-Creativity/dp/1585421472
https://www.amazon.com/On-Writing-Stephen-King-audiobook/dp/B0000547HM
https://www.amazon.com/Story-Grid-What-Good-Editors/dp/1936891352
https://transcendhuman.com/podcast/2024/01/176-transcending-your-brand-season-5-opener