John Grisham laughs at your writer's block
also why the Church of Minding Your Own Business is such a great idea
On my desk is a stack of John Grisham books. There are some William Johnstone and Louis L’Amour books as well. My mother-in-law gave these to me after my father-in-law died. They were his books. He was a reader of thrillers. Tom Clancy, David Baldacci, Robert Ludlum, almost any writer of suspenseful fiction he loved. I wish I had been more into fiction when he was alive and regularly reading them.
Of these authors, Grisham is the one I’m most familiar with. I’ve read two of his books (Bleachers, which was fantastic, and Calico Joe, which wasn’t bad). You’ve no doubt heard his name before, even if you’ve never read any of his novels.
John Grisham has 37 number one best-sellers and sold over 300 million copies of his books. That’s staggering to think about. And it’s something to be envious about for sure, but even more so is this statement Grisham made when asked about writer’s block and if he ever struggles with it.
“I’m lucky so far. I’ve never had a case of writer’s block.”
Consider that for a moment. A man who has written dozens of books and made more money than most professional athletes has never struggled to come up with a story.
Lack of confidence = creative constipation
I can say honestly that I rarely struggle with writer’s block these days. I’ve written the first draft of a novel and already am brimming with ideas for a second one. But what I am discovering is that lacking confidence kills the inspiration to write.
I recently lost a job where I was writing content. When you’re considered dispensable and let go from a job doing something you believe you’re skilled at, it drains your belief that you can do it in any other setting. So there my novel sits, gathering whatever dust a 200-page Google doc can gather, waiting for me to parse every word and sentence.
I’ve touched it a time or two, but I admit I feel defeated. I question each phrase. Even as I type this, I doubt this word and that word and this one too.
And I wonder if John Grisham has ever lacked confidence? He worked as a lawyer before becoming a full-time author. How many times did he enter a courtroom, unsure if he had the stuff to win the case?
The beach was so long ago
Substack is still new to me. I’ve done a few of these, but not sure I know what I’m doing. It’s difficult for me to stay in one place, to write about one thing. I admire those who can, who focus solely on the world of marketing, politics, or God forbid, cryptocurrency.
I had written about 500 words on our family trip to the beach, how it was easier to relax for some reason. But I wrote those words on a Monday morning, not knowing that afternoon I’d become unemployed. I threw those words away because the beach, vacations, relaxation, none of those things mattered anymore.
That beach trip was nearly a month ago, but it feels like years. I knew during that week I’d want to write on here about it. And maybe I will one day. One day when I’m more confident, perhaps. I wonder if John Grisham ever got inspiration from a beach vacation? I wonder if he ever lost a job and fought against the rip-current of despair, penning another amazing novel that might turn into another blockbuster movie?
Joining a new type of church
My favorite follow on Substack is Austin Kleon, who recently wrote about a novel idea from another one of my favorite writers Hanif Abdurraqib. The idea? The Church of Minding One’s Own Business.
Abdurraqib’s quote is deserving of the insightful button on LinkedIn. “My superpower is that I mind my own business… And I actually think that helps my productivity more than anything.”
That’s it. That’s the answer. And it makes sense. Since fall of 2018 I’ve been off of social media. And it’s opened up productive channels that had always been there before. I’d just ignored them. I was too caught up in what everyone else was doing or not doing.
It’s a church that I’d like to be a part of. Minding my own. Taking care of the things in front of me, and not searching for nonsense that’s not mine to care about.
In an interview John Grisham did not long ago, he touched on this idea. Minding his own business. He still enjoys seeing his name on the cover of a book in Barnes and Noble. But that’s it. He could care less about the other stuff. Fame? Nah. Not for him. He’s focused on what he finds important. Family. Friends. His work.
And if that’s what it takes to become a great writer, then sign me up. I’m all in. At least I will be when I’m confident again.