I recently read an article about a woman who’d climbed Mt. Everest. Her mantra before and during this amazing feat: “Eat the elephant one bite at a time.” I didn’t really pay much attention to it at first, at least not until later in the morning when I sat down in front of a blinking cursor on a blank page and contemplated writing my next book—all four hundred and fifty manuscript pages of it. And that’s when I understood exactly what that mountain climber had meant.
People assume that I have always loved to write and as a girl dreamed of being a writer. They would be wrong. I hated to write. I’m the least patient person I know. When assigned a five-page paper, I was the student who’d write with huge letters so that I’d have a single paragraph contained in those five pages. I simply wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible.
Maybe it comes with growing older, or having children, or just experiencing more of life, but I no longer think that way. It started with my very first book, which I wrote just to see if I could. I set no goals, no deadlines, and had no aspirations for success (don’t tell my kids I said that!). I simply sat down one day and wrote a sentence. Just one. And then that sentence was soon joined by another, and then another. Then I had a paragraph, then two paragraphs, and then a page. All those pages became a chapter, and all those chapters eventually became a book.
It’s like the old Chinese proverb about the longest journey starting with the first step. It’s so easy to talk ourselves out of things that scare us by telling ourselves that it’s too hard, too big, too all-encompassing to contemplate. But as I sat down and started writing that very first book, I understood that if I just did a little bit at a time, eventually all those little bits would be a book.
I began to see how this new way of thinking could be applied to the rest of my life, too. Instead of the mind-numbing thought of, “I need to clean the house today,” I’d think, “I’m going to clean the bathrooms and the kitchen floor today. Tomorrow I’ll dust and vacuum.” I realized that the impatience of my youth was simply my reaction from looking at projects in the wrong way. At least that’s how I explain my procrastination tendencies, but that’s a subject for another blog.
When I started writing my June release, THE TIME BETWEEN, I had less than six months until my deadline. The book has two intertwining plots—one in 1944 Hungary and one in modern day Edisto Island, South Carolina—and three points-of-view characters who are all very different. I had so much research to do about the story and the settings, and so much actual writing, that I felt simply overwhelmed.
I thought back to my first book, and how I simply started with that first sentence. So I sat down at my laptop and wrote my first sentence: “The first time I died was the summer I turned seventeen.” I wasn’t sure who was speaking or what she meant, or even what the rest of the story would be about, but I’d made a start. And soon I had another sentence, and then another and then a paragraph. Two days before my deadline, I typed the happiest words in the English language: THE END.
Since my first book was published in 2000, I’ve written sixteen more novels, all around one 150,000 words. If you’d asked me when I was younger if that’s how I’d be spending my adulthood I would have laughed. I suppose that we really do get wiser as we get older, learning patience, and perseverance, and new ways to approach life. And, most importantly, how to eat an elephant, one bite at a time.
Thanks again, Writerspace, for inviting me to guest blog on your wonderful site!
When I first read Eating an Elephant, I lost my appetite until I read further. I once wrote post on your facebook page telling you I lost my husband after 37 years of marriage. When I read your comments I thought of what I learned from my grief journey is to take life one day at a time which I have evolved from one minute at a time. God only gives us a lamp unto our feet one step at a time. That is my elephant . You are an awesome author and I am grateful you have conquered your elephant. God Bless you
Thank you, Kim. I see life as a journey, sometimes into little side roads we’d rather not take. It takes a lot of strength to see the opportunities for learning even during the darkest times. God bless you on this new road as you navigate it without your husband, but with a renewed sense of accomplishment and purpose.
Karen, I have just read all your books for the second time. They are wonderful and exciting as the first time I read them. Thanks and keep them coming.
Thanks, Wanda! I’ll have three new books for you next year (two novels and an anthology) so hopefully I’ll keep you busy so you don’t have to reread anything. 🙂
I am a new fan, loving every word I read. I thoroughly enjoyed THE BEACH TREES and have just started ON FOLLY BEACH. I can’t wait to see where the story takes me. Thinking about that elephant, I guess we all have them in our lives, of one description or another. I am thankful you overcame yours and continue to write these captivating stories to entertain the rest of us!
Thanks so much, Judy. And I agree–that elephant lurks in all of our corners. Tackling hi is how I define growing up.
Happy reading!
I have just gotten thru with readin’ Miss White’s article and I really enjoyed it…I thought that the article was rather….interestin’ and very thoughtful.I had no idea that the article was based on her newest noval,The Time Between…but then again thats a good thing. It’s hard to believe that she’s written,like,16 other novals and a trilogy since/before The Time Between was written…to me, thats real hard to believe but it seems like she’s really made a life for (not just for herself,but also for her daughter as well as for her husband and family)…and to me,that’s a really good thing and a really cool idea….Congratulations to Miss White…way to go! U go girrl,lol! I can’t wait to read more and more of her novals… Happy readin’ ya’ll!