When people know that you have written a major piece of work, they become very curious. Curious about where the story came from and how the publishing process works. The questions range from When will your book be ready? to Is it about your own life?
While these are good questions, it can be very surprising to be asked about the autobiographical nature of a novel. It shouldn’t be, of course, but somehow it is. Not all writers are willing to publish their life’s story. The inquiries can bring a writer to a state of anxiety over the potential implications of stories told out of imagination.
Writers have to find ways to create and tell stories that sound like first-hand, intimate accounts of life. The events must present as if they have been personally lived and thus qualify as authentic to the writer.
An average writer can make that happen, and to some degree, it can happen with a measure of success. Sometimes, it can happen just well enough to keep the story moving ahead. But then, there is that cadre of writers who really nail it every time. They can’t possibly have lived all the stories they tell that become best sellers, movies, tv series, and the talk of the nation. Who are these super writers? What makes them so good at what they do?
One theory is that super writers are masters of language who find ways to study human nature in all interactions. They have honed the craft of writing and combined it with imagination, reality, and creativity. This combined skill set can be developed with practice, feedback from experts, and patience.
Muddling through the work of a novel for the first time can be overwhelming, and every available resource needs to be employed. Patience and perseverance must be speaking loudly to the writer throughout the ordeal. And, let there never be pride too great to block receipt of critical feedback! Super writers have mastered these traits of skill, grit, and flexibility.
D. L. Gollnitz, Author 