On my usual walk, I pass by the home of a classical pianist. Sometimes she’s tutoring, while others she’s at the piano alone.
When she was practising a particular piece day after day, I noticed her faltering at the same place. The music would flow, you could hear it from the street… then veer horribly off-key and stop.
Exactly the same bar of this thing, she’d hit a wrong note.
The thing about musicians is, they aren’t afraid of imperfection.
In fact, they accept they’re unlikely to get a new piece right until they’ve committed it to memory, practised seriously hard and refined their interpretation.
Only then are they truly happy it’s done and ready to perform. It takes time – and they understand it’s all part of the process.
Musicians are patient. They frame steady, incremental progress – and all those stumbles along the way – as a motivator to keep going and master what they’re learning.
Writing is the same: it can take time, discipline, lots of thinking and revision.
Drafting is a process of really getting to know your script… and if you’re a new writer, your own ability. You might need to dig deep and plug away to get there.
But what you can do is follow the musician’s method:
- slow down – don’t rush it
- break up the task into stages
- master each one at a time
– and go easy on yourself!
Refining your work to the point that it’s ready for the world can be demanding, but just think of the reward at the end. Picture yourself holding your book in your hand and saying: ‘I wrote this!’
You’ve created something amazing for others to enjoy, value and appreciate.
About a week later, I passed by the pianist’s home. That piece which had dogged her so badly floated free from her window – intact, replete… beautiful.
She’d nailed it.
I did a little jump for joy outside, as those perfect notes shone in the air.
Lisa Cordaro Publishing Services 