Writers, remember this.
âŠyou guysâŠ
Just read an excerpt from a productivity/goal setting book that concerned Tolkien.
His publisher mentioned that people wanted more about the hobbits after Tolkien published The Hobbit.
So Tolkien started another novel.
And apparently bounced between the depths of despair and the height of confidence for the entire process (he said that: âhis âlabour of delightâ had been âtransformed into a nightmare.ââ)
He gave up multiple times.
That book? Fellowship of the Ring.
You know what kept him going? C.S. Lewisâ support.
First lesson: if youâre stressing over your book, remember that Tolkien did too.
Second lesson: Writers have to support each other. Seriously. It might be the difference between a book that becomes beloved by hundreds of thousands (maybe even millions) even existing or not.
Also, he and C.S. Lewis had quite the rivalry going on. They did not see eye-to-eye on the subject matter they wrote about. Tolkienâs long poem âMythopoeiaâ was inspired directly by his and Lewisâ conflicting opinions.
Third lesson: Support your fellow writers, even if you think what they write is silly, boring, pointless, or just not to your taste. They donât need your approval â they need your belief and your love.
One last note: Tolkien was 45 when The Hobbit was released. He was 62 when The Fellowship of the Ring was released.
Fourth lesson: You are never âtoo oldâ. Ever. And anyone who says you are is a liar.
