Ask the Author: Henek Tomson
Answered Questions (6)
Henek Tomson
I have definitely felt the writers block. In search of how to resolve it, I found some recommendations. One them is Anne Lamott’s «Bird by Bird» book, that gives instructions on writing in humorous yet clever ways and includes a chapter on «perfectionism», which is one of the problems for writers. You think your text is not even worth criticism – think again!
And read Bird by Bird to find solutions. Here’s a short excerpt: «Your day's work might turn out to have been a mess. So what? Vonnegut said, "When I write, I feel like an armless legless man with a crayon in his mouth." So go ahead and make big scrawls and mistakes. Use up lots of paper. Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the artist's true friend.»
My direct suggestion is also to develop highly focused work ethic. For example pushing yourself to write a 500 word text for your audience every week. This is a mix of external and internal pressure and when you deliver this performance, there is a high probability that your writing will improve dramatically in longer timeframe.
Also remember, that you can not quit on your dream! Cheryl Strayed, author of the «Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail» did the trek in 1995, when she was 26. She began writing the book in 2008 when she was 39. In the end of life you don’t want to have only good dreams (sometimes challenging also) that you never turned into reality.
I am a strong believer in «flow» – it takes me time to deeply concentrate on writing, but when I do get into flow, the words and sentences are mysteriously easier to find.
And read Bird by Bird to find solutions. Here’s a short excerpt: «Your day's work might turn out to have been a mess. So what? Vonnegut said, "When I write, I feel like an armless legless man with a crayon in his mouth." So go ahead and make big scrawls and mistakes. Use up lots of paper. Perfectionism is a mean, frozen form of idealism, while messes are the artist's true friend.»
My direct suggestion is also to develop highly focused work ethic. For example pushing yourself to write a 500 word text for your audience every week. This is a mix of external and internal pressure and when you deliver this performance, there is a high probability that your writing will improve dramatically in longer timeframe.
Also remember, that you can not quit on your dream! Cheryl Strayed, author of the «Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail» did the trek in 1995, when she was 26. She began writing the book in 2008 when she was 39. In the end of life you don’t want to have only good dreams (sometimes challenging also) that you never turned into reality.
I am a strong believer in «flow» – it takes me time to deeply concentrate on writing, but when I do get into flow, the words and sentences are mysteriously easier to find.
Henek Tomson
While I don't consider myself an actual writer after the first book [after three books it seems more realistic – if readers are still there :) ], I am personally curious to write more about travels and explorations. To be a better writer, you ought to live a life that gives your creativity a chance to flourish. For me it happens on the adventures. Thereafter your neurons start to make thousands (if not millions) of new associations with these experiences. When you write, the rewarding part is that this processed information builds a foundation of knowledge and later on (hopefully) transforms to wisdom. Wisdom helps to build a happier life – because you make better choices! Like Jim Rohn said once: «Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.» So, it is smart to start writing and reading now – such investment offers high returns!
Henek Tomson
Don't give up!!! It is the first rule for success!
Nobody can achieve long-lasting quality in their work without putting in substantial amount of time in practicing. Have a look on writers who have been rejected many times, but who persevered their «impossible» goal. I have been aspired by J.K. Rowling, and Paulo Coelho and even Stephen King. Nothing is impossible – more precisely «Don’t let small minds convince you that your dreams are too big.»
Like a movie-star Arnold Schwarzenegger has told about his rejections: «Don't listen to the naysayers» This is true – there is always somebody, who does not appreciate your work. Just read a book from Tim Ferris called «Tools of Titans» where he has put 8 rules for dealing with haters. One of them is: «10% of people will find a way to take anything personally. Expect it and treat it as math.»
More specific recommendation for writing is that you have to get into a so-called «flow». It means high focus rhythm, where time seems to disappear and your ideas are freely flowing. In my mind, this psychological effect will not take place when I just sit down for an hour or two, but rather in days, when I have concentrated on writing only – nothing else matters in this timeframe. Typically I get a strong flow-current on a third day. However, the challenging part is to find that time without distractions. But if you are disciplined, something like this could be worth trying.
Nobody can achieve long-lasting quality in their work without putting in substantial amount of time in practicing. Have a look on writers who have been rejected many times, but who persevered their «impossible» goal. I have been aspired by J.K. Rowling, and Paulo Coelho and even Stephen King. Nothing is impossible – more precisely «Don’t let small minds convince you that your dreams are too big.»
Like a movie-star Arnold Schwarzenegger has told about his rejections: «Don't listen to the naysayers» This is true – there is always somebody, who does not appreciate your work. Just read a book from Tim Ferris called «Tools of Titans» where he has put 8 rules for dealing with haters. One of them is: «10% of people will find a way to take anything personally. Expect it and treat it as math.»
More specific recommendation for writing is that you have to get into a so-called «flow». It means high focus rhythm, where time seems to disappear and your ideas are freely flowing. In my mind, this psychological effect will not take place when I just sit down for an hour or two, but rather in days, when I have concentrated on writing only – nothing else matters in this timeframe. Typically I get a strong flow-current on a third day. However, the challenging part is to find that time without distractions. But if you are disciplined, something like this could be worth trying.
Henek Tomson
I am writing a scientific thesis on cross-country skiers – analyzing their physiology, training and performance. My current research project is comparing high intensity, low intensity and traditional model of exercise periodization.
Henek Tomson
Writing is a powerful insight to yourself and others – you try to discover what is important in life, what is interesting around us. And by sharing this experience, the readers might relate to your thinking and subsequently start their own search for wisdom.
Writing is demanding a lot of effort – there were many times, when I thought this is not good enough. In many ways it was similar to the 3000km expedition. In the beginning you are really not sure if you are able to finish this huge task ahead. When you are halfway through, then you start to realize – OK, maybe it is not the worst book in human history, perhaps it does not convey the most boring story ever told.
Nevertheless, you have not completed the mission yet. The polished text means that you need to make important choices – what to keep, what to remove; what to explain in depth, which topics to just touch for a second. When you have finished the first draft, then you have to go over everything – making adjustments in sentences and putting all of this text into coherent form.
However, I would say inspiration and frustration walk side by side in this process of many years. It took me more or less 4 years – from the beginning to end – to write a single book. Accordingly, concentration and determination are the essential factors in this long journey.
Writing is demanding a lot of effort – there were many times, when I thought this is not good enough. In many ways it was similar to the 3000km expedition. In the beginning you are really not sure if you are able to finish this huge task ahead. When you are halfway through, then you start to realize – OK, maybe it is not the worst book in human history, perhaps it does not convey the most boring story ever told.
Nevertheless, you have not completed the mission yet. The polished text means that you need to make important choices – what to keep, what to remove; what to explain in depth, which topics to just touch for a second. When you have finished the first draft, then you have to go over everything – making adjustments in sentences and putting all of this text into coherent form.
However, I would say inspiration and frustration walk side by side in this process of many years. It took me more or less 4 years – from the beginning to end – to write a single book. Accordingly, concentration and determination are the essential factors in this long journey.
Henek Tomson
The idea to write about my adventures was floating in my brain, when I was walking the length of New Zealand. This journey of 3000km was incredibly diverse – nature, people and my own challenges gave enough input to eventually distill the output for a book!
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more