Ask the Author: Tom Anderson
Answered Questions (3)
Tom Anderson
When I first wanted to write, I focused on one thing. Being a best seller, so that I could get rich from my work.
That was the biggest mistake I could have made. So that would be my first, and biggest piece of advice. Don't write for the money!
Now, what I would advise, is to write, for the sake of writing. Write, because it's interesting to hear what you have to say. Write, because your voice is big, bold, and beautiful! Write, because the longing to write doesn't go away. Write, because it's your duty, your obligation, and your burden to share your ideas with others. Write, because you say you are a writer, not because of anything anyone else thinks you are.
You will never know the true value of your writing until you receive a testimonial from someone who's life you have positive affected by your writing. The value of the words of others, directed at you, as a thank you for serving them, is beyond any monetary rewards you can receive.
Write, because you want to, you need to, and you must. You are a writer, claim your words, be proud of who you are, and focus on the difference you can make, not the income you can make.
If the world decides you are worth paying for, then you will receive the ultimate writers gift. Yet first, you must be willing to pour out your heart, your soul, and your wisdom to others.
The world will decide what you are worth as a writer. You must first decide what you are worth.
Value yourself worthy of putting your thoughts out to the world. You have a voice, USE IT!
That was the biggest mistake I could have made. So that would be my first, and biggest piece of advice. Don't write for the money!
Now, what I would advise, is to write, for the sake of writing. Write, because it's interesting to hear what you have to say. Write, because your voice is big, bold, and beautiful! Write, because the longing to write doesn't go away. Write, because it's your duty, your obligation, and your burden to share your ideas with others. Write, because you say you are a writer, not because of anything anyone else thinks you are.
You will never know the true value of your writing until you receive a testimonial from someone who's life you have positive affected by your writing. The value of the words of others, directed at you, as a thank you for serving them, is beyond any monetary rewards you can receive.
Write, because you want to, you need to, and you must. You are a writer, claim your words, be proud of who you are, and focus on the difference you can make, not the income you can make.
If the world decides you are worth paying for, then you will receive the ultimate writers gift. Yet first, you must be willing to pour out your heart, your soul, and your wisdom to others.
The world will decide what you are worth as a writer. You must first decide what you are worth.
Value yourself worthy of putting your thoughts out to the world. You have a voice, USE IT!
Tom Anderson
The best thing about being a writer for me is that I get to preserve my desire to serve. I can coach someone, inspire someone, and motivate someone verbally, but it's not preserved.
By writing, you are creating something that will outlast you. You are leaving something of yourself behind for the world. You are using a God given gift for the benefit of others. That is what our gifts are meant to be used for anyway.
I came to the realization one day that there are two types of assets we can leave behind when we die. Physical, monetarily valuable assets like money, cars, houses, and other valuables. We have no choice but to leave them behind.
Yet we do have the choice of whether or not we leave behind our true value. The thoughts, ideas, life lessons, inspirations, motivations, and words of our beliefs that may hold tremendous value to others.
Once we die, those assets, the true keys to what it means to truly live life, are taken with us.
Being a writer has been a blessing to me, because even if I died today, my thoughts, beliefs, and many of my life lessons, will not die with me. I will leave them behind as well, as assets to all who choose to read the words.
By writing, you are creating something that will outlast you. You are leaving something of yourself behind for the world. You are using a God given gift for the benefit of others. That is what our gifts are meant to be used for anyway.
I came to the realization one day that there are two types of assets we can leave behind when we die. Physical, monetarily valuable assets like money, cars, houses, and other valuables. We have no choice but to leave them behind.
Yet we do have the choice of whether or not we leave behind our true value. The thoughts, ideas, life lessons, inspirations, motivations, and words of our beliefs that may hold tremendous value to others.
Once we die, those assets, the true keys to what it means to truly live life, are taken with us.
Being a writer has been a blessing to me, because even if I died today, my thoughts, beliefs, and many of my life lessons, will not die with me. I will leave them behind as well, as assets to all who choose to read the words.
Tom Anderson
I personally don't allow myself to use that term. Simply because blocks are something that we choose to overcome, and by making that choice, I don't experience what many consider "writers block."
I do have times when I am struggling to come up with a new idea for a weekly talk, or an article, blog post etc. When that happens, I let it happen. I don't stress about it, and I allow it be my current reality.
Then I simply ask, "What would I have to be focused on right now, in order to be struggling with my writing?"
When I answer that question, I gain a lot of insight. As a personal development author, many times that can actually help and inspire me to write. I figure, if I'm struggling with it, then someone else probably does too.
My advice would be to write in the moment you are inspired. Be ready to write, at all times. To often, writers set a time to write, but then when that time comes, the inspiration isn't there.
By writing in the moment you are inspired, I mean this. Even if you don't have the ability to write the entire article, book, blog post, or whatever else you want to write. Write down some key thoughts, inspirations, and motivational ideas that are moving you to want to write, in the moment. By doing that, you won't forget what you wanted to write about, and the likelihood of the inspiration lingering within you until you have the opportunity to write the entire thing will sit within you as a burning desire to finish the thought.
Carry your notebook with you, send yourself a text about the idea you just had, or whatever you need to do in order to not let your inspiration die out of your lack of immediately available time. Write, at all times, even if it's just a quick note, a thought, or something else. Get it out of your brain and bring it into existence in some way. This will keep you being creative all day long, and should drastically increase your ability to overcome "writers block."
I do have times when I am struggling to come up with a new idea for a weekly talk, or an article, blog post etc. When that happens, I let it happen. I don't stress about it, and I allow it be my current reality.
Then I simply ask, "What would I have to be focused on right now, in order to be struggling with my writing?"
When I answer that question, I gain a lot of insight. As a personal development author, many times that can actually help and inspire me to write. I figure, if I'm struggling with it, then someone else probably does too.
My advice would be to write in the moment you are inspired. Be ready to write, at all times. To often, writers set a time to write, but then when that time comes, the inspiration isn't there.
By writing in the moment you are inspired, I mean this. Even if you don't have the ability to write the entire article, book, blog post, or whatever else you want to write. Write down some key thoughts, inspirations, and motivational ideas that are moving you to want to write, in the moment. By doing that, you won't forget what you wanted to write about, and the likelihood of the inspiration lingering within you until you have the opportunity to write the entire thing will sit within you as a burning desire to finish the thought.
Carry your notebook with you, send yourself a text about the idea you just had, or whatever you need to do in order to not let your inspiration die out of your lack of immediately available time. Write, at all times, even if it's just a quick note, a thought, or something else. Get it out of your brain and bring it into existence in some way. This will keep you being creative all day long, and should drastically increase your ability to overcome "writers block."
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Mar 01, 2021 05:34PM · flag