Everyone has a book inside them đ
Why Christopher Hitchens was wrong. And Lawrence Donegan was right
âEveryone has a book inside them, which is exactly where it should, I think, in most cases, remain.â
That line was Christopher Hitchensâ, not mineâŚ
Having published books for 15 years now, I wish I had a pound for every person who has told me about the book that is languishing â unfinished â on their desktop.
Their âbookâ tends often to be an idea for a book; or a half-written manuscript that they are destined never to finish.
Writing â and finishing â books is very hard.
Writing â and finishing â books that people want to buy is harder again.
I once interviewed Lawrence Donegan about his brilliant book âFour Iron in the Soulâ (if you havenât read it, grab a copy, then explore his back catalogue â including his exceptional Substack, The 20-year Itch: Reflections from the Old Country).
âFour Ironâ has been reprinted many times since its publication. Itâs a bestseller.
Lawrence described that bookâs success as âsome kind of mysterious alchemy⌠it hit a bullseye that I wasnât aiming forâ.
You can listen to my interview with Lawrence here
Dreaming about commercial success, about hitting a bestseller bullseye, is a foolâs errand â and I think it is one of the reasons that your idea or manuscript remains unfinished.
Hitchens is wrong. Everyone should write a book. Everyone has a story to tell.
Write for pleasure. And donât get hung up on other people reading it.
Next week: The book I wrote that only a dozen people will read.



That's why I'm determined to finish the non-academic book idea that's been with me for more than 20 years Martin. I write for work a lot ... I'm finding writing for non-work enjoyable and realising that I have to work at it in small chunks. It is getting there!