Be Selfish With Your Writing; Not Your Ideas

"Be selfish with your time, but not with your ideas."

Being selfish often gets a bad rap. But it's sometimes the secret to realize that not all selfishness is the same.

In a fascinating interview with Carl Honore, acclaimed author of "In Praise of Slow," a compelling dichotomy in the world of writing emerges: the balance between being selfish with our time but not with our ideas.

𝗕𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲:
Carl speaks candidly about focusing on oneself during the writing process. He describes himself as a 'selfish writer,' not in the derogatory sense, but emphasizing the importance of dedicating undistracted, quality time to one’s writing. The crux of this approach lies in embracing your creative space and allowing your thoughts and ideas to flow uninhibited.

𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗮 (𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝗕𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀):
The flip side of this approach is not being selfish with the ideas that emerge from this deeply personal writing journey. Carl underscores that while the seed of a book might spring from a personal existential crisis or question, the final output should resonate universally. The goal is to connect deeply with readers, to touch on the universal truths and experiences that bind us all.

𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
In his words, Carl's books start with working out something within himself. This authentic exploration ensures that what resonates with him on a personal level is likely to strike a chord with others. He doesn't write with a reader-first approach; instead, he focuses on whether the story is something he would want to share, say, with his mom or a stranger on a bus.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀:
For writers and creatives, this interview is a reminder of the importance of carving out dedicated time for personal exploration and creativity. It also highlights the power of empathy in writing – understanding that while the writing process might be a solitary journey, the stories we tell have the potential to connect us with a broader audience.

WIth your upcoming project, remember to be selfish so you can be selfless.

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