Write Here. Write Now.

Write here. Write now.

The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair. - Mary Heaton Vorse

A few years ago I met Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling. In fact we spent an afternoon together, talking about books. She has read mine, you know! Allow me to turn back the pages....

I have always enjoyed reading our sons a bedtime story and although they are old enough now to read their own books there are still occasions when I read something I know they’ll enjoy and we laugh till we ache: a joke book or an hilarious nursery rhyme or even one of my (hilarious?) articles.

Children speak from their heart and I have always valued my sons’ comments and feedback. If you think that you’re too wise to learn from your children - wise up!

In 1996, after having read a multitude of bedtime stories, I had this notion that maybe I could write one of my own and dedicate it to the boys - something from their dad that they would cherish and remember for ever.

The notion became a desire ... a dream ... and one night I just sat down and penned a short children’s story about the adventures of a fishing boat entitled, ‘Bobby Boat and His Fishmates - The Big Catch.’ It took me one night. And, on the next night, I sat down and penned the second story, ‘Bobby Boat and His Fishmates in Trouble at Sea.’

Having written the two ‘books’ I visited my local library to find out what I should do next. I knew that my chances were slim... but I had a dream and the dream drove me. With no experience in publishing, I posted my manuscripts to a Scottish Publisher who, to my utter amazement, loved the characters, loved the stories and wanted to publish.

It was as simple as that. Within a year or so I was a published children’s author. I dedicated the first book to our sons and the second to my wife, Liz, who supported me throughout the process.

How many people say to themselves - I could write a book - and yet they never do, quite simply because, they never sit down and put pen to paper? A friend once said to me that the most difficult part of going out for a jog was putting on his running shoes. The analogy was accurate.

No matter how long the journey, you must be prepared to take the first step: lift the pen, put on the running shoes, say, ‘I love you’, ask for the business, send the resume, swing the club, join the club!

Making the first move is like jump-starting your car. You need to bring your jumper cables: your dream, your desire and your energy to the starting point. And believe me - once you have ignition, your passion will drive you, as long as you focus on the destination.

Following publication of ‘Bobby Boat and His Fishmates’, I was invited to the Edinburgh Book Festival along with another two first-time-published children’s authors. We were to interact with a packed audience about our respective books and our experiences of getting published.

Before the event, the other two authors received copies of my books, as I did theirs’ and one of those authors turned out to be none other than J.K. Rowling! We had a superb afternoon and at one point Joanne Rowling told me that her daughter loved ‘Bobby Boat and His Fishmates.’

If you’ve always wanted to do something... anything... but never taken that first step then I urge you to do it today. Write here. Write now... before the writing.... is on the wall.