Thanks to everyone for all the wonderful thoughts and feedback on my process post yesterday! That was fun. I love thinking about writing and talking about writing. Almost as much as I love writing. 🙂
But, in talking with Jay last night, I realized that I had kind of sideswiped his point, with which I do not disagree: that “being Jay Lake” is not some sort of free pass or magic recipe for success or anything. That he got to where he is through a lot of hard work and psychotic persistence, over a long period of time.
This, absolutely, is true.
My point, that he’s a freak, is also absolutely true, but entirely tangential to writing (and publishing) success. Yes, he sleeps less and thinks faster and smarter than most anyone; but, if that were the only way to make it as a writer, then he’d be the only writer. Right?
I can only speak to my own process and habits. But, in thinking about it, because I’m not nearly as successful as writer as he is (yet! Mwa-ha-ha!), I’m not a good example to use for comparison. I mean, I’m every bit as serious a writer as he is; I just haven’t had as much joy from the external validation fairy. (Yet!)
But you certainly don’t have to follow Jay’s schedule, or give up TV, or any of the other advice floating around out there, to be a successful writer. John Scalzi watches television, and he’s doing all right. Heck, my LJ friends-list is full of people giving movie reviews and TV show reviews, and then reporting story and book sales.
The point is, we all have to figure out what works for us. And I think it really all boils down to one thing, one little thing that literally every successful writer does: write. WRITE, and write more. And then write some more.
However you manage it: write more.