Tuesday's Inspiration - J L Walters' thoughts on a quote from Colette

When I found this quote I remember thinking That's how I feel. "It's terrible to think, as I do every time I start a book, that I no longer have -- that I never had -- any talent ..."

I know the feelingand experience it with each new beginning. Starting a new story is exciting and scary at the same, at least for me. I have an idea of where I want to go. I have a slight acquaintance with the characters who will people the book. Then there is the blank page and for so long it remains blank. Finally I decide on a title after choosing a half dozen. Then I go back and decide don't like the characters' names. I spend a lot of time looking up names. Then I stare at the blank page more times. There's a clenching of my stomach and I think I can't do this. Sometimes I doodle on the blank paper. Finally words begin to arrive and I write them down.

Those first words writtin are sometimes, no most of the time tossed in the basket. I find myself in the Colette syndrome until I tell myself it doesn't matter if I have talent or not, there are people in my head who want their story to be told and the rough draft is born, the draft only an author could love. So what I'm saying here is I suffer from a form of stage fright but one must continue to follow the story to the end. Talent is only a small part of the writing game. Persistence and production are also part of the road to the end.