Ask the Author: Jan Resnick
Answered Questions (6)
Jan Resnick
I haven't really had to. However, there have been times when I haven't felt the energy or drive or desire to grind out a piece of writing. I sit down and write anyway. Once you get in the flow, it generates energy to keep going. Sometimes it is better to start even if uninspired, even if you throw it out. It is preparatory work for bringing your inner-writer to the starting line.
Jan Resnick
This is a personal answer: I had wanted to write a book since the 80s but life, work, raising kids came first. Finally, I did. My book landed on my desk in May 2016. It was wonderful to hold a real copy in my hand. I liked how it looked and felt pleased. I wasn't elated, just simply felt good to have it. I noticed I felt real pleasure in giving it to people, those who helped me and who mattered to me. That was even better than receiving it myself. Thirdly, hearing positive responses to it has been awesome. It is still early days and the jury is still out, as I see it. But so far the reactions are stronger than I anticipated.
I have not written anything to draw attention to myself. But I do want to reach people and hope it makes a difference. If it does, that will be a measure of success that will mean something to me.
I have not written anything to draw attention to myself. But I do want to reach people and hope it makes a difference. If it does, that will be a measure of success that will mean something to me.
Jan Resnick
Writing is a tough craft. You have to work at it. Don't be shy of getting help. Then get more help. There is no substitute for a good editor, or three. Then you work at it some more.
In the early days, I would write 10 drafts of an essay, then leave it for a month. After that, I would read it, and tear it up and throw it in the bin - it was terrible! And start over. That's writing.
In the early days, I would write 10 drafts of an essay, then leave it for a month. After that, I would read it, and tear it up and throw it in the bin - it was terrible! And start over. That's writing.
Jan Resnick
I'm working on Books 2 and 3 in the Meaningful Living Book Series. Book 2 is called 50 Ways to Lose your Lover - or Nearly and it is a little lighter than How Two Love and mostly stories. It is an ironic study of how we stuff up our relationships, often without intending to.
Book 3 is the most professional book in the series though still written for lay readers. Called How Meaning Happens and subtitled The Origins of Creativity, it was actually written nearly 10 years ago now. It is usurped by the first two books but very important to me none the less. It is my elaboration and further development of Donald Winnicott's Playing and Reality which I still regard as one of the most important texts in the whole of the psychoanalytic corpus of literature.
Book 3 is the most professional book in the series though still written for lay readers. Called How Meaning Happens and subtitled The Origins of Creativity, it was actually written nearly 10 years ago now. It is usurped by the first two books but very important to me none the less. It is my elaboration and further development of Donald Winnicott's Playing and Reality which I still regard as one of the most important texts in the whole of the psychoanalytic corpus of literature.
Jan Resnick
I have 99 publishing credits, mostly journal articles before this. How Two Love is No. 100 and my first book.
Jan Resnick
It started out as a dare posed by my wife Cath to write a book on "how to love' in 2 weeks - which I did - and it wasn't too bad in an off-the-top-of-my-head, in-my-spare-time way. People liked it enough for me to take it seriously and keep going in developing it. 7 years later and a truckload of work and help and it evolved into its current form.
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