The Importance of Being Stubborn

“In writing, stubbornness is just as important as talent.” – Anne Rice

This past weekend, I went to the Savannah Book Festival. I’ve been reading books on writing (some good ones I’ll be sharing on here soon) over the recent years, but I feel that I should be going to writing conferences or things of that nature. After doing some research, I chose a select few – some of these conferences are expensive and seem like a scam. The Savannah Book Fest was right up there on my list.

I am enthralled with Savannah. My family went there for vacation, along with Tybee Island, a couple times when I was a teenager, and I fell in love with River Street and the mossy oaks and the old buildings and the ironwork around the ancient architecture in historic Savannah. Yeah, I was strange even as a kid.

I went back to Savannah on a road trip with a friend one summer during college. And I even convinced my wife we should go there for our honeymoon.

So there’s an opportunity to go to Savannah, take my wife, and spend time in historic Savannah listening to authors, one of which is a favorite of mine, Anne Rice? CHECK.

On Sunday afternoon, we attended Anne Rice’s talk, and she spoke the quote I shared above. My wife and I shared a knowing glance. Why? Because I may not have much talent, but stubbornness runs in the Mooney family like the mighty Mississippi. And while the term “stubborn” can possess a negative connotation, when applied in the right context, being stubborn can be a positive thing. Perhaps you could call it endurance or persistence or tenacity, but the application of will in a certain purpose is the same. Stubborn.

I cannot think of any skill I have achieved that didn’t take a certain amount of stubborn discipline (persistence, tenacity, you take your pick). There may or may not have been natural talent in that area, but I was going to work on it, by God. Whether learning an instrument or to play a sport or getting my Master’s degree or living overseas or reading through the Bible three times in one year, I had a purposeful, intentional resolution to move forward.

Perhaps I’ll never sell a million books. Who knows. Not the point. The purpose is to continue writing, learn how to write better, and most of all … to tell amazing stories that I am passionate about and connect with people who feel the same. On this path, I’ll also be learning how to contact agents and marketing and all that, to get these stories out to more people who will love them, as well.

Whatever it is, I will be stubborn about it.

Peace.

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