Archive for August 23rd, 2006

It’s funny how your children’s triumphs and mistakes can teach you things.

Daredevil has struggled with his handwriting the entire summer. We tried to work on it because I was determined that he’d at least be able to legibly write his name by the time he entered Kindergarten, but whenever I’d set him up at the table with paper and pen, I’d inevitably be met with a frustrating (for both him and me) meltdown.

So, yesterday afternoon, out of the blue, he picks up a pen that was lying on the table and says to me “I think I want to write something.” I go and get him a piece of notebook paper, figuring he’ll scribble something on the page and be done with it. To my amazement, he proceeds to write. his. name. I think I screamed “I’m so proud of you!”, because there it was, his name written perfectly between the lines just like was expected of him at school. It was a beautiful sight–I’m saving the paper. If you could only know what a contention handwriting has been, you’d completely understand.

It hit home something for me that I hadn’t really thought about until yesterday. The difference between ability and desire. For all his “I can’t, I can’t, I can’ts” and his “It’s too hard!”, it was never about his lack of ability to write his name. It was all about lack of desire. As soon as he wanted to do it, he penned his name like a pro, because his desire was strong.

A lot of writers have the ability to craft a good story, but lack the desire to put the time and dedication to “just do it”. I’m guilty of it. When I’ve had a rough day, and my motivation is next to nothing, I can’t summon the desire to write, and I’m forced to whine about how “I can’t do it !” “It’s too hard!”. But, these whines don’t come from that lack of ability, just lack of desire at that particular moment.

And, here’s where I learned something from watching my son: If I want to be successful as an author, it’s not enough to write only when I have the desire. What if the desire only strikes me once a month? Where’s the success in that?

No, to fulfill my dreams of publication, I have to write…to find that desire to write…through the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Can I do it? I have no idea. But, here’s where I say, “I think I can” and give it my best shot.