Ask the Author: Liz Davidson
Answered Questions (5)
Liz Davidson
I think we all have an innate desire to create and to express ourselves and with writing you can do both. More than being inspired to write, I feel compelled to write— like I’m going to burst if I don’t get the thoughts on paper. There’s a tremendous release to writing, once you accept that the process will be painful.
In terms of writing about a specific topic, I usually ruminate a while before I sit down at the computer. I need to have a vision in my head, to the point where I can sense the story even if the words aren’t there yet. After a while, I just know I am ready to start— it’s that same feeling I describe above, that compulsion to put words to the vision.
In terms of writing about a specific topic, I usually ruminate a while before I sit down at the computer. I need to have a vision in my head, to the point where I can sense the story even if the words aren’t there yet. After a while, I just know I am ready to start— it’s that same feeling I describe above, that compulsion to put words to the vision.
Liz Davidson
Writing is a discipline. You have to sit down every day and do it. Even when you don’t feel like it. Even when you hate what is coming out. Even when you have a million other things that you’d rather be doing. Some writers I know work for a certain number of hours and write whatever they can in that time each day. For me, it was working to a specific goal every day. I’m going to write this chapter, or section of a chapter. Or I’m going to edit an entire chapter to the best of my ability before I shut down the computer and call it a day.
Inspiration does sometimes come out of nowhere, but I think it’s more common that it comes from actually doing the work— at some point, you shift from writing for the sake of writing and start forming what you want to say. If you wait until you are inspired, you’ll fall into a pattern of procrastination which ultimately gives you more reasons not to write. I think this is why so many writers take years, even decades, to write a single book.
All that said, let’s face it— there’s nothing like a deadline with an editor breathing down your neck. Pressure creates diamonds, as they say. When you have no choice, all of a sudden your focus intensifies and you kick into high gear. You silence your inner critic because you don’t have the time for perfectionism— and then you really start to fly.
What Your Financial Advisor Isn’t Telling You was written daily, but the best parts emerged when I was under the gun. That’s when the raw material turned into real chapters.
Inspiration does sometimes come out of nowhere, but I think it’s more common that it comes from actually doing the work— at some point, you shift from writing for the sake of writing and start forming what you want to say. If you wait until you are inspired, you’ll fall into a pattern of procrastination which ultimately gives you more reasons not to write. I think this is why so many writers take years, even decades, to write a single book.
All that said, let’s face it— there’s nothing like a deadline with an editor breathing down your neck. Pressure creates diamonds, as they say. When you have no choice, all of a sudden your focus intensifies and you kick into high gear. You silence your inner critic because you don’t have the time for perfectionism— and then you really start to fly.
What Your Financial Advisor Isn’t Telling You was written daily, but the best parts emerged when I was under the gun. That’s when the raw material turned into real chapters.
Liz Davidson
Buying that first copy and reading the version just like a real reader would! It’s amazing to see your book in a book store, pick it up, and know that you actually wrote something that other people are going to read— hopefully a lot of other people— and that you might actually help someone improve or change their life. As I read my book, the final published version in print, I imagine there is someone out there, reading at the same time, who will be inspired to make better decisions and ultimately build a better life for themselves.
Also, I love that a book is permanent and tangible. You can always pick it up and have this proof of what you did, along with the memories of all those days of slogging through it, and the pride that you were able to actually finish it! There’s deep satisfaction in that— and in the fact that no one can ever “unwrite” your book.
Also, I love that a book is permanent and tangible. You can always pick it up and have this proof of what you did, along with the memories of all those days of slogging through it, and the pride that you were able to actually finish it! There’s deep satisfaction in that— and in the fact that no one can ever “unwrite” your book.
Liz Davidson
You don’t let it control you. Most days you actually aren’t inspired. The words don’t come naturally, you literally have to write for the sake of getting SOMETHING down on paper. At times, I’ve been so blocked, I’ve written about things that I know will never make it into the book or article I’m writing. Revising is much easier than starting, so once you have something down, you can relax. A blank sheet of paper is terrifying. A messed up string of sentences is the beginning of something that has the potential to be great.
Liz Davidson
The idea behind this book is to truly expand access to financial wellness, and provide a start to finish guide for achieving this incredible state of being. When you are financially independent, you have so many more choices-- in terms of what you want to do with your life, who you want to spend it with, where you want to live, even when you have children and how many you have. Success is about living the life you want to live and achieving what you feel is your greatest purpose-- the reason you were put on this planet. It's much easier to do that when you don't have to worry about making ends meet. Financial independence doesn't mean you are wealthy; but that you have strong savings and a good sound financial plan which allows you significantly more freedom to pursue the life you want to live. So I basically wrote the book because everyone deserves access to the information how to do this.
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