The Big Idea and the Long Game

When I was in college, beginning a graduate degree in public communications, I had to decide whether to focus on journalism or corporate communications. The school offered several concentrations, but I never seriously considered film, TV, or any other tracks.

I decided against journalism because the thought of pounding out an article, ripping the page from the typewriter (yes, I did say typewriter) and having it appear in a newspaper that day seemed daunting.

What about editing or revising a story until you’ve poured your heart and soul into it? The pressure seemed too much for me to accept.

That’s a bit of an oversimplification because journalists probably revise a lot. I admire them for churning out original content day after day, whether it’s broadcast reporting or online journalism. Although we’re both writers, journalism is in a class of its own.

As an author, I enjoy the long game. A novel has an ebb and flow to the story, building to a climactic event. Even when I’m writing chapters that set up a story or deal with background information, I always do my best to keep the reader engaged.

A first draft allows me to focus on the Big Idea—that brilliant storyline that’s so good I’m sure everyone will love it. Getting that concept from my head into 90,000 words is a challenge for any author. Having the Big Idea is exciting, but then comes the hard work.

A novel comes alive during the revision process. It’s like polishing a dull, tarnished piece of jewelry over and over until it becomes magnificent. I love the rewriting process, probably more than the first draft.

Only after I labor over the words many times does a story become a sellable book. I write books and enjoy the activity because I take satisfaction in it. But my greatest gratification comes when you finish one of my books and say, “That was a great story.”

That’s why I keep writing. As always, thanks for your encouragement.

Onward.
John

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Image art is AI-generated