I’m a firm believer in the power of writing. I’ve seen the wonders of written communication, blisters from lack of use due to busy schedules, and the healing properties of a good, old-fashioned pen and paper. There is no denying the practical benefits of good ol’ fashioned note-taking, brainstorming, and journaling.
However, I must confess that I’m not the most patient person when it comes to writing. There are just so many things that I’d like to do—besides write! I mean, I’d like to go on tour with my band. I’d like to see the world. I’d like to sit down with a good friend and have a glass of wine. Most of all, I’d like to write a book.
When I was younger, I actually wrote a book. It was a bit of a story about me and my best friend at the time, Mark Jameson. I don’t even think he’s read it since we were kids—and believe it or not, he’s now a father. Maybe one day he’ll surprise me and get a chance to read it.
There is, however, a process to writing a book, and although it can be somewhat exhilarating to just dash off some words, it can also be pretty frustrating to not feel that you’re making progress. The process, as it turns out, is a lot like life: It has its ups and its downs, its twists and turns, and sometimes, it’s just plain awful and painful. I think it’s only fair to say that writing a book is a lot like giving birth: there are countless hours of discomfort, exhaustion, and maybe even a few tears, but ultimately, it’s all worth it when you see your book taking shape in front of you.
The Journey To Now
In the beginning, there was no clear idea of what the book would be about. I had the bare bones of a story in my head—two best friends, me, and Mark Jameson. I knew something about writing and had even self-published a few novels as a teenager. So, I figured, what the heck, I’ll write a book and see what happens. The story took a sharp turn when my grandmother died and left me a huge inheritance. It was at this point that I decided that I would use the money to focus on my music career rather than to finance a solo writing project. I was already playing in a band—The Four Aces—with some of my best friends from school, so I decided that I wasn’t really missing out on anything by not pursuing a career in writing. After all, I’d get to share my adventures in music with my fans and continue to inspire them through my words and my music. It may not sound like the most conventional route, but it’s the one that I followed.
From The Memoirs Of A Coffee Loving Addict, To A Book About Coffee
I began writing The Memoirs of a Coffee Loving Addict, a sort of coffee travelog, while still a member of The Four Aces. We were on tour in Scotland when my grandma passed away, and I had a couple of weeks off before our next show. During those two weeks, I sat down with a notebook and a pen and began to jot down my experiences of traveling to different coffee shops around Europe. It was then that I realized that I had a whole book in me. The more I wrote, the more I realized that there was a story to tell—a travelog that would be both an informative and entertaining read. Thus, the seed was planted for what would eventually become a multi-national coffee journey that would inspire the title of my book.
A Coffee Lover’s Bucket List
Since then, I’ve written a whole book, and even now, as I’m preparing to publish my fourth novel, I find myself thinking about what would make me a better writer, or a better person, for having written this book. It’s strange how a hobby can turn into such an obsession, especially since I’ve always prided myself on being a fairly normal, stable person. I suppose the only difference between me and the average Joe is that I happen to love my coffee, and I happen to love to travel. Perhaps, having written this book, I’ll be able to add a few more items to my coffee lover’s bucket list?
I’d like to think that my books and my music have inspired others as they have me. One of my favorite quotes is by Maya Angelou: “I write because I love words and I love hearing them flow from the characters’ mouths. Maybe it’s a way for me to find the right words for the people in my life.” This quote really speaks to me because, as a writer, it’s my job to find the right words, and it’s my job to use them effectively. To me, this means that my books and my music are not just a hobby; they’re a form of self-expression. A way of communicating with the world, if you will. A way of giving voice to my experiences and those of the people around me. So, in a way, my grandma’s “coffee cup” may have been able to spark the dream that turned into a book, but it was my own voice that kept me going when the going got tough. The process, as it were, was a lot like labor, and I couldn’t do it without my wife, Liesel, by my side.
The Downside
Like all good things, there is a downside to this whole process. Sometimes, the hours can turn into days, or the days into weeks, or the weeks into months. Writing a book is a lot like playing in a band: there are highs, there are lows, there are days where you feel like you’ve made progress and days where you feel like you’ve made no progress at all. The only difference is that, as a writer, you have someone to share your lows with. Your agent, your publisher, and even your friends and family can be your cheerleaders when you’re writing your book and your harshest critics when you’re not.
Another downside to writing a book is that you’ll never be able to put it down. As I mentioned before, I love words and I love hearing them flow from the characters’ mouths. It’s one thing to have a notebook next to the bed; it’s another thing to have a notebook on the bedside table. One day, I picked up my pen and began to write; the next day, I found myself with a full-fledged novel. This is probably a good thing, though. It means that I’m doing something right. It also means that I must be grasping the concept of “finishing” something, or it would still be in progress. Maybe one day, I’ll be able to put my pencil down for good and get back to what I really love to do—play music.
The Upside
Like all good things, this process has its upsides as well. First of all, it can be pretty meditative. When you’re in the zone, nothing else in the world seems to matter. All you want to do is write. You feel inspired, you feel creative, and you feel like you have the necessary tools to convey your ideas and your feelings. There is also, however, something to be said for getting away from the studio, or the band room, or the concert stage, and just getting away for a bit. Even if it’s only for a coffee break, you can still get some inspiration, or at least a new perspective. If nothing else works, you can always pull out that notebook and begin to write. The simple process of getting your thoughts on paper makes it easier to see the wood from the trees—whether metaphorically or literally. Writing is a great way to clear your head and work through any mental blocks. If you ever find yourself struggling to come up with ideas for your next book, pulling out a notebook and jotting down some random thoughts can certainly help.
I really enjoy my job as a writer. It’s a job that I feel blessed to have. However, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows, as it turns out. Like all jobs, there are highs and lows, and sometimes, you just want to give up. There are days where you feel like you’ve made a ton of progress and days where you feel like you’ve made none at all. It’s a rollercoaster, to say the least, but in the end, it’s all worth it. At least, it will be when you see your book taking shape in front of you.