Ideas Are Worthless: The Savage Art of Writing, Completing, and Dominating Your Craft

The following is an excerpt from a real-life conversation I had with one of my writing coaches.

Her: So I hear you've got an idea, Rick. Is that right?

Me: I do, indeed. And it's gonna be the next best thing to sliced bread.

Her: I've got a news flash for you. Nobody gives a f*ck. N-O-B-O-D-Y. And let me tell you why...

Damn.

Everyone's got an idea. Who cares. Ideas are a dime a dozen and fly through your brain every hour, minute, maybe even second.

You know who cares about your ideas?

Not a damn person.

As long as them ideas stay stuck in your head, they really don't matter. Truth is, most ideas are overrated anyway. Feel me?

For a writer, the idea is the easiest part that any Tom, Dick, and Harry can concoct.

You wanna know what the hard part is, though?

It's the fact that most folks think they can write. Truth? Many people actually CAN write. But can you take that idea out of your head and actually create something from it? Can you give it shape, form, and life?

The bottom line is can you take it, shape it, breathe into it so that it can then impact another person?

Can you fuggin FINISH it?

If you wanna be a writer, then that’s what you need to do to become what we are all trying to be every day

A finisher.

Sure, this applies to writing in a big way, but what I'm really jonesing for is for you to finish what you start. But first, you gotta start.

Making ideas REAL through WORK done to COMPLETION.

And further, making your work 'complete' doesn't mean it has to be perfect. It means done. Hit send. Click publish. Paste it to your profile. The point is the get that draft out in the world, at let it be consumed by at least one other person.

Put lipstick on it later.

For now, relish the feeling of having done it.

Yeah, it feels good. It feels real f'n good. But it’s a fleeting sensation.

The only way to experience that feeling of euphoria again is to chase the dragon and keep striving toward your goal.

Dream it. Write it. Finish it. Share it. Buzzzzzzzzz.

Practice makes a habit.

Habit becomes addiction.

Addiction to writing draws people in droves.

Be able to swiftly and skillfully transform any idea into something real, and tangible. With practice, your expertise will improve. Focus is key.

But nothing happens if you don’t FINISH.

And you won’t finish what you don’t start.

When this sentence ends, you will begin…

——-

If you’ve finished reading, it’s time to get to writing.

The final word

The ability to take an idea and turn it into something tangible is a skill that requires focus, dedication, and practice.

But the most important part of this process is being able to finish what you start. As writers, we must remain disciplined in our craft so that our ideas can become reality. If we don’t have the courage to share them with others, then they will never be seen or appreciated by anyone else either. Further, we must recognize that our finished work won’t be perfect. But they will have value if we can hit send and put them out into the world.

So go ahead – dream it, write it, finish it, and share it! And let's all celebrate the savage art of writing, completing, and dominating our craft!

Join our merry band of Outlaw Writers. For the creators who are tired of playing by the same old boring writing rules. (We create our own).