Ask the Author: Michael Patrick Lewis
Answered Questions (7)
Michael Patrick Lewis
The opportunity to put all my random thoughts on paper and see if I can make sense of them to turn into a book, a short story or a blog post.
Michael Patrick Lewis
In the summer of 1992, my then-girlfriend/now-wife and I were hiking around the Grand Canyon National Park, mostly on the South Kaibab Trail. While we were in the canyon, all the news outlets started reporting that an escaped convict had stolen a car at gunpoint and fled to....the Grand Canyon. He was on the loose while we were hiking around. We never bumped into him. But while we were driving back to Phoenix a day later, there were police stops every ten miles for the first 100 miles leaving the Canyon, as the convict had resurfaced and stolen another car. We took a redeye flight that night from Phoenix to NYC. In the morning, when we turned on CNN, one of their top news stories was that the convict, Danny Ray Horning (I think), had been captured and re-arrested.
Michael Patrick Lewis
Three things:
1) Don't wait for the calendar to become completely clear to begin writing. Said another way, don't wait for the "perfect time" to start writing. That time won't come! I remember writing the first entries for my book in March, 2018. It felt so "small". But then I found pockets of time to keep at it.
2) Persist. As I mention in one, find some of those "less than optimally productive times" to write. Reduce usage of social media, reduce wasteful activities, focus on those activities you have to do so you get through them quickly and open up time for yourself. For me, I have a lengthy commute to/from my regular job in NYC - about 90 minutes each direction. Fortunately, most of that time is spent on a train. So where did I write most of my first book? On my commutes in and out of NYC!
3) No one wrote the perfect book in the first sitting. Don't try to write "perfectly". Just get thoughts on paper. And the easiest way to get in a flow is to write stories. Readers want stories more than "lists" anyway! You'll have time to go back and edit later.
Good luck, aspiring writer! I continue to aspire to write myself, and I follow these rules, too!
1) Don't wait for the calendar to become completely clear to begin writing. Said another way, don't wait for the "perfect time" to start writing. That time won't come! I remember writing the first entries for my book in March, 2018. It felt so "small". But then I found pockets of time to keep at it.
2) Persist. As I mention in one, find some of those "less than optimally productive times" to write. Reduce usage of social media, reduce wasteful activities, focus on those activities you have to do so you get through them quickly and open up time for yourself. For me, I have a lengthy commute to/from my regular job in NYC - about 90 minutes each direction. Fortunately, most of that time is spent on a train. So where did I write most of my first book? On my commutes in and out of NYC!
3) No one wrote the perfect book in the first sitting. Don't try to write "perfectly". Just get thoughts on paper. And the easiest way to get in a flow is to write stories. Readers want stories more than "lists" anyway! You'll have time to go back and edit later.
Good luck, aspiring writer! I continue to aspire to write myself, and I follow these rules, too!
Michael Patrick Lewis
This is not an original idea from me, but rather something I've heard from other writers, including recently Seth Godin while listening to him be interviewed by Tim Ferriss on Tim's podcast. Seth basically said (paraphrased, not a direct quote), "if you're struggling to write something at all, or something you deem 'good', then just write something 'bad'. Eventually, you'll write something good." I couldn't agree more. Let words pop onto a page (whether you like writing or typing drafts). It will spur ideas and move you closer to writing substance.
Michael Patrick Lewis
An elaboration of the "Acknowledgements" section from "The Vulnerable Career Switcher" as well as an author's website, coming soon.
Michael Patrick Lewis
Two years ago, I was in a minor career crisis of my own doing. I needed an outlet to reclaim some of my personal time so that I wouldn't be agonizing over my bad career choice during such time. So I started observing things that were happening at this job I wasn't happy with, and documenting them in a notebook I carried with me everywhere. Then, I started writing down ideas for books that I could possibly write. Third, I started outlining what a "career-switcher" book would need to have in it. And finally, I started typing out stories as they came to mind, and reconciled those stories with my outline for "The Vulnerable Career Switcher". As for the day-to-day inspiration to write, I have a cool, instrumental mix of mostly movie soundtracks (the instrumental songs from such soundtracks) that puts me in a writing mood. I play it every time I want to write, and the words start appearing on paper.
Michael Patrick Lewis
Because I had such a challenging time switching careers, I felt the need to share the story. While the both is part-memoir, it is also part "encouragement" for those who are facing difficulty switching careers or making the most of the one that they're in now. We need more positivity, more encouragement in the world and I hope to do my part with this book.
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