Lessons Learned From Just Like A Tree

I’m in the Caribbean enjoying the benefits of so many books at my fingertips which means I can have unlimited access to on my Kindle. I no longer worry about the weight of my suitcase especially since Virgin Airlines have penalized us and placed restrictions for one suitcase only on Caribbean flights from London to the Caribbean. Not good news for a book, loving reader like me. One of the books I am enjoying on my Kindle is a new book I discovered by Jean Shinoda Bolen, Like A Tree.

There’s always that dilemma about whether you should dip into reading a book on the same topic of a book you’re also writing about. Bolen’s book holds many similarities to the book I am writing about trees. It felt uncanny as I clicked through her pages noting many of the same references and books we both shared and at times doubting whether it was really worth me continuing with my own story at all.

This is a common challenge for writers. We lose heart when we find others writing around similar themes and topics. We imagine that our own stories must be a hundred percent original which of course is impossible. There is a saying that there are only seven stories any writer can write about and what we can do is write our own version of that story. That’s when I realized how important it is to distinguish the reasons why you should continue with writing your own version or story especially when you feel someone has just written the book you were meant to write.

My ten tips are based on my experience of reading Like A Tree are which is so close to the book I have been working on for several years Tree wRites:

1. My personal stories about trees are completely original and stand out as different from the personal stories Jean shares in her book.

2. It’s good news that a book been published on a topic that I’m also passionate about and dedicate to writing about

3. I’ve gained loads of new ideas for enhancing my own book, which included not trying to include too much, which I felt Jean was in danger of doing.

4. I’ve added new titles of books to read about trees to my collection, which always excites me.

5. I’ve gained new knowledge about trees and discovered new names of trees I’d never heard of before

6. I was able to distinguish how my book was different form Bolen’s book and gained greater clarity for communicating this in my book proposal.

7. I realized how important it was for me to share my tree stories and my love of trees even if the book does not end up being published by a mainstream publisher it will be a book I will be proud to publish myself.

8. It was further confirmation that there is a market for books like this and that my contribution is needed.

9. A timely reminder that no two books are ever the same.

10. Acknowledging how much I enjoyed reading Like A Tree and that some day other readers will feel the same from reading my version.

I don’t have the exact quote with me but I remember Barbara Kingsolver saying something like it took nearly 50 years for the story of the Poison Wood Bible to be ready to be written. I recognize that it has been over 15 years that this book about trees has been with me. It has been a process of incubation, maturing and finding its voice. Over the years more personal stories have come and found me. I’ve gained more knowledge about trees and synthesized much of what I am writing about. The book has taken me to it right form over time, which has felt right. I value the creative process in shaping this book and know deep inside me that not all books will be written fast and furious and that for many it will take years for the book to find it’s voice, it’s heart and it’s form.

There are many metaphors from the world of trees I can apply to my writing of this book. I have learnt patience. That it takes years for many trees to grow and it has been the same with this book, For some years it laid idle, only to go through a growth spurt and to be revived again. It has been sent out and rejected over twenty times but returned, shedding words and pages, even themes and stories and budding new leaves and blossoms as it entered a new spring. In many ways my book about trees is planting roots and when it is ready it words will branch out and write what needs to be written and I will intuitively know when the book is ready.

Just like a Tree is available from www.amazon.co.uk