Blogger: Rachelle Gardner
I’m reading Michelle Obama’s book, Becoming, and finding it fascinating. It’s a terrific read so if you’ve been on the fence, I recommend it!
There’s an interesting tidbit about when Barack got a contract for his first book, Dreams from My Father. It was long before he entered public office, and at the time apparently he had a lot going on and blew right past his book deadline with no manuscript to show for it.
His publisher canceled the contract, requiring him to pay back his $40,000 advance. His agent then said that she could sell it to another publisher—but she wouldn’t do it until he finished the manuscript.
Barack knew his life was too busy and frenetic for him to get the book done. Wise man that he is, he understood that he couldn’t keep doing the same things and expect different results. He really wanted to write the book, so he decided to take drastic measures. He figured he needed to be away from everything—all his commitments—for a period of time, so that he could knock out the manuscript in one fell swoop. Michelle agreed, and so he set off to write the book.
Six weeks after his wedding.
For two complete months.
In Bali.
Not many new wives would be happy about that! And Michelle was understandably reluctant. But she knew he needed to get the book done, and he knew what it would take.
Happy ending… he finished it, his agent sold it, and while it sold modestly at first, it eventually ended up on the NYT bestseller list.
I have a couple of reasons for sharing this story. First, a heads-up. Yes, a publisher can cancel a contract and demand the advance back if you’re not living up to your part of the deal.
Second, this is a very real acknowledgment that it can be difficult to get a book written amidst the hustle and bustle of life. Not many of us can take off to Bali for two months (Obama had access to free lodging there). But what we can do is be intentional in planning how we’ll get our work done. We can even consider what kind of extreme measures we might need to take in order to complete a project.
Obama’s a really smart guy, capable of keeping a lot of plates spinning. But he knew he’d need dedicated, focused time in order to write his manuscript.
What do YOU need? Are you willing to go to extremes to get your work done?
As you approach the end
you’ll find what really mattered
were not the heights you did ascend,
nor how readily you were flattered.
The key to a life well-lived
is not found at the bank.
It’s in the people you despised,
and then stayed around to thank.
My dreams have now outflown my brawn,
but I’m richer than any kings,
because the gift of every dawn
bears grace upon its wings.
When I stopped to let the world go by,
’twas then I truly learned to fly.
Andrew, you bring me to tears. I love the fact that you have such perspective – hard won in the battles of your life. God is using you mightily – even from your constrained quarters. His grace glows through your writing. Grace and peace be yours today
Judith, I’m so honoured…beyond words.
If I may be allowed a PS…
While the dedication of the Obamas is impressive, I am perhaps more moved by Richard Hillary, author of “The Last Enemy”.
He wrote this memoir of his experiences during the Battle of Britain while recovering from horric burns to his face and hands, suffered in a Spitfire fighter in the defense of his country. He was one of the ‘Guinea Pigs’ of Dr. Archibald MacEndoe, who restored many burn victims to a life they could enjoy, and sometimes, as in the case of Richard Hillary, to operations against the Nazi tide.
While in hospital, Richard Hillary’s appearance was described by contemporaries as ‘ghoulish’, for much of his lips, nose, and ears had been burned off, and his hands, reduced by fire to mere claws, were swathed in tannic acid (which is black, and unsightly) and bandages.
But he could still smoke a cigarette, albeit through a long holder, rather a foppish presumption.
And in January of 1943, the 24-year-old Richard Hillary was killed during night-flying training. He could barely hold a nife and fork, but he trove to master a night-fighter, and to take the battle of the night skies to the Nazis.
Do you care to remember him?
I have the luxury of forgetting to mention that while Mr. Hillary penned, ‘The Last Enemy’, he had no eyelids.
I rather doubt that he had the luxury of forgetting their absence.
Hi Andrew, I didn’t know about Richard Hillary. What spirit! Cannot imagine how one could work without eyelids!
Our pastor shared a story this AM about DL Moody & his family as he was in his last days. He’d seen the entry into heaven and was told he was dreaming, which he debated. But when on what turned out to be his last day his daughter began to pray for his healing, he reported asked her not to pray that way for this was the days he’d waited for for so long.
That short good bye is so sad for our family, but it is temporary if they’re going to follow us. Praying for more grace, and mercy, and peace, and joy for you, my friend. Thanks for your poetry and stories.
Mary Kay, thank you so much for the warm thoughts, and especially for the prayers.
It was fairly common for pilots who were badly burned to lose their eyelids; while they had goggles, many did not use them because the lenses and frames cut down on visibility, and seeing one’s opponent was vital. The facial burns would cause the eyelid skin to contract and eventually slough off. (The Spitfire’s main fuel tank was directly in front of the pilot, which sounds pretty awful, but its opposite number in the Battle of Britain, the Messerschmitt 109, had the pilot sitting ON the main tank.)
Dr. McIndoe (who sadly died in an automobile accient in the 50s) developed a way in which eyelids could be successully replaced. (I mis-spelled his name as ‘MacIndoe above.)
“The Last Enemy” is deservedly considered one of the best war memoirs, and it truly shows the heart of a young Oxford-educated Englishman, and his very high and very understated sense of duty.
Our world needs more people like Richard Hillary. (And we need more surgeons of Archibald McIndoe’s quality.)
After missing being here for many weeks because of just that–taking dedicated time away to finish a manuscript on time, it tickles me to read your question. Rachelle. Had such joy as God provided stamina and encouragement, guidance and even help from my husband so I could do almost nothing but write. I can say yes. Though the pain and hardship I experienced is nothing compared to the man Andrew described. Thanks, Rachelle. Always good to have a bit of reality check.
Oh, to have the luxury of two months anywhere, undisturbed. It is difficult even to get a single weekend of dedicated time, so we prioritize as we are able and steal an hour here and an hour there.
But, like the turtle said, slow and steady still gets you there.
I would love to go on a writing retreat. No phone, no internet, no cooking or dirty laundry to manage. To step away from the day-to-day tasks would make a huge difference.
Chery, go for it if you can! Check out https://writingattheredhouse.com/ “Writing at the Red House.”
After my first book was published, I realized I was no longer called to be a pastor and wanted to write instead. (That’s the very short version. The long version involves an attempted church takeover and an eight-month trip around the country). For the past three years, I’ve been working as a bartender so I can write every morning. Thanks to a very supportive wife, I’m now nearing the end of my first novel.
I live at a small, rustic Bible camp in Washington State and this is exactly what I have taken over the first weekend in October to do! Meals provided, no internet, lovely outdoor setting, so there are bunk beds to sleep in but we do get a lot of writing done!!! Perhaps there are other camps around the country doing the same? I would look around and see because a weekend away to write seems like heaven to me … although I would totally take Bali if that was an option!
A writing retreat sure sounds nice
but my words contain my life;
the microwave with Minute Rice,
my dogs, my cat, my wife!
To be a quiet writer-sage
was, I admit, a dream,
but would have been a gilded cage;
’cause things aren’t what they seem.
I write now in fits and starts,
in moments that feel stolen
from the many loving hearts
that every day make golden.
Time may always be a jam,
but what I write is all I am.
Great things to think about Rachelle–thank you. I’m sure we all get swamped with tasks we’ve taken on–(usually trying to be “people-pleasers” too). That’s when setting priorities needs to kick in, and learning how many things we can accomplish in a certain amount of time, if we want to carry out our commitments. (p.s. also, thank you, Andrew–always enjoy your poetry).
My life kind of blew up last fall and through about January with diagnoses for kids, my mom who fell and broke her hip and wrist…and lives about 75 miles away. I did not get near the writing done I planned to over the past three months. I’m realizing, now that life is calming down, my schedule needs a revamping. I used to only plan one outing a week. I’m going to get back to that. And I need to be very careful what I say yes to. Because I really, truly want to finish my book.
A writing retreat would be nice, but for now, I’ll work to open up time in my schedule to do the work.
A retreat doesn’t always come in a two-month increment. Sometimes it comes in a single snow day or an extra hour or two from a canceled appointment. God grants us a gift of unexpected time.