blog the writers manifesto jeff goins

7/22/2019 Blog the Writers Manifesto Jeff Goins

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THE WRITERS

MANIFESTOStop Writing to Be Read & Adored

By Jeff Goins

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CONTENTS

PART 1The End(A Good Place to Begin)

PART 2

Call to Arms (A Battle Cry for Those Who Will Hear)

PART 3

Beginning (Where You Must Decide to Start)

FINALE

Taking the Next Step

Join the Community

Share This Manifesto

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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THE END

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Im a writer.

I could say that I love to write.But really, I like to be read.

A lot.

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For too long, my fragile egohas depended on the affirmation of others.

I have tried in vainto please my audience (both real and imagined)and win them over.

This has plagued me for years.

So Im giving up.

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Im falling back in love with writing.With the actual craft.And not the disease of fame.

Im kicking my addiction to applause.And learning to write for myself again.

This has been both therapeutic and challenging.

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And I am finding that I am not alone.

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Writers everywhereare rediscovering their first love: writing.

Not tweetsor publishing contractsor blog comments.

Just writing.

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This manifesto is an outstretched handto others who feel this same tensionbetween creativity and congratulations.

If this resonates with you, read on.

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A quick word of warningbefore we continue...

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Writers dont write to get published.

They write for anotherreason.

This is the first and onlylessonevery writer must learn.

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Real writers dont write for recognition.

They dont do it for fame,accolades,or notoriety.

They do it because they cannot notwrite.

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By their giftsand under the authorityof a higher calling,

they are compelled to create.

To wonder.To dream.To express.

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Real writers wake up every morningwith something to say.

Even if the words have yet to come.

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They discipline themselves to start.Forsaking every excuse and justification.

Questions of how longor how much are irrelevant.

What is imperative,what cannot be overlooked

or neglected,is that they begin.

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Real writersdo not begin the day with aspirationsof seeing their words in print.

Nor do they dream of being stopped on the streetto be congratulated for their genius.

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This is natural, of course.

This desire to be heard.To be acknowledged as an artist.

But ultimately it corrupts the art,

the pure desire to create.

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We must put these ideasof fame and reward to death.

They have no placein the creative process.

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The true writersimply shows up.Ready to do the work.

Whether the work is successfulor acknowledgedis not important.

Creating is our primary concern.

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Real writers do not need inspirationor an audience to begin.

They know, without question,that their greatest adversary and allyis themselves.

And that they are not alone.

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But this is not an excuse to wait.

It is a call to begin.To honor the gift.To show up.

Even without applause.

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Again, the whole pointof this is simply...

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Writers dont write to get published.They write for the love of writing.

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Because if they were not writing,they wouldnt know whatto do.

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Of course, there is a great irony to all of this.

As we disabuse ourselvesof the desire to entertain,

we writers discover something.

That this fasting from acclaim

liberates us to createremarkable works of art.

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And people reward great art.

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Here is the paradox:

As we care less about our audiences affections,more people will be affected by our writing.

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BEGINNING

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Its time.

To dream boldly and imagine impossibilities.To conjure up words and phrases

the world is waiting to hear.

To turn off email and stop checking blog stats.To stop worrying.And just write.

Its time to begin.


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This is not up to you.

This whole processof getting discoveredand becoming famous.

Of being revered for your wit and profundity.

Its not your call.

Your job is to show up.

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We only have today.

That is all we are everpromised.

And today, we must write.

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The real writer within you is waiting.

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FINALE


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TAKING THE NEXT STEP

This is but onemanifesto.There is another stirring somewhere inside of you.

It is up toyouto write it.

I hope you will.

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JOIN THE COMMUNITY

To find out more about The Writers Manifestoand how you can get involvedin this community of writers, misfits, and creativescommitted to the craft,

visit this page.

Or copy and paste this address in your browser:

Goinswriter.com/writers-manifesto/

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http://goinswriter.com/writers-manifesto/http://goinswriter.com/writers-manifesto/


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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Heidi Angell

Kevin DeShazo

Melissa Brotherton

Evan Blackerby

Judy Croome

Josh Cody

Keith Jennings

Nate Eaton

Keri Welch

Chase Livingston

Julie Shreve

Allyson Latta

KC Procter

Michael Hyatt


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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeff Goins is a writer, speaker, and

idea guy.

He lives in Franklin, Tennessee with

his wife, Ashley, anddog, Lyric,and

eats just enough Mexican food tobe dangerous.

Read more at Goinswriter.com/

about.

Connect with him:

Email | Blog | Resources |Twitter | Facebook

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http://twitter.com/jeffgoinshttp://facebook.com/goinswritermailto:[email protected]://goinswriter.com/http://goinswriter.com/resources/http://facebook.com/goinswriterhttp://facebook.com/goinswriterhttp://twitter.com/jeffgoinshttp://twitter.com/jeffgoinshttp://goinswriter.com/resources/http://goinswriter.com/resources/http://goinswriter.com/http://goinswriter.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://goinswriter.com/abouthttp://goinswriter.com/abouthttp://goinswriter.com/abouthttp://goinswriter.com/about


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You are not alone.

blog the writers manifesto jeff goins

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