Writers, remember this.
ā¦you guysā¦
Just read an excerpt from a productivity/goal setting book that concerned Tolkien.
His publisher mentionedĀ that people wanted more about the hobbits after Tolkien published The Hobbit.
So Tolkien started another novel.
And apparently bounced between the depths of despair and the height of confidence for the entire processĀ (he said that:Ā āhis ālabour of delightā had been ātransformed into a nightmare.āā)
He gave up multiple times.
That book? Fellowship of the Ring.
You know what kept him going? C.S. Lewisā support.
First lesson: if youāre stressing over your book, remember that Tolkien did too.
Second lesson: Writers have to support each other. Seriously. It might be the difference between a book that becomes beloved by hundreds of thousands (maybe even millions) even existing or not.
Also, he and C.S. Lewis hadĀ quiteĀ the rivalry going on. They did not see eye-to-eye on the subject matter they wrote about. Tolkienās long poemĀ āMythopoeiaā was inspired directly by his and Lewisā conflicting opinions.
Third lesson: Support your fellow writers, even if you think what they write is silly, boring, pointless, or just not to your taste. They donāt need your approval ā they need your belief and your love.
One last note: Tolkien was 45 when The HobbitĀ was released. He was 62 when The Fellowship of the RingĀ was released.
Fourth lesson: You are neverĀ ātoo oldā. Ever. And anyone who says you are is a liar.
