Any final revisions are due for my new book, See the World!, on Friday, and just in time Tuesday a friend helped me with a breakthrough that may have been obvious to everyone except me.
I went on Facebook and posted the shortest chapter, which was called “It’s all connected” and read as follows:
It’s all connected
I want to write more stories.
I want to learn more stories.
I want to write more songs.
I want to learn more songs.
I want to write more books.
I want to read more books.
My old pal Sam Kujava replied, “I read the word ‘want’ a lot. As Yoda would reply to Luke, ‘There is no want. DO.’ But you don’t have a Yoda on your back, so you have to motivate yourself. Cheers.”
The lightbulb that appeared over my head would have been blinding if lightbulbs actually appeared over our heads when we get an idea or finally comprehend.
“OMG, all I have to do is eliminate the “I want to” from those six sentences!” I told him.
Almost just in time for the deadline for final changes, I’m revising those imperatives and substituting this chapter:
It’s all connected
Learn more stories.
Write more stories.
Learn more songs.
Write more songs.
Read more books.
Write more books.
One leads to the other, you see, and it works in any field. If there’s something you want to accomplish, examine how other people have accomplished the same thing and follow their example in your own way.
I feel like Scarecrow and Tin Man — “I should have thought of it for you.” “I should have felt it in my heart.” Thankfully Sam was there to tell them, “No, he had to find it out for himself. Now those magic slippers will take you home in two seconds!”
Excuse me while I go click my heels together three times.
