I mentioned the other day that one of my yearly traditions is to watch Gladiator (the first movie).
I do it for a variety of reasons, but the main one being you never quite know what will leap out at you on the second, third, fourth — or, in my case, 13th — re-watch of your favourite film.
Same thing applies to books.
This year, a quote by the late Oliver Reed, who played Proximo, landed in a way it hadn’t in years past.
In a scene where he summoned Maximus to his quarters, he said:
“I wasn’t the best because I killed quickly. I was the best because the crowd loved me. Win the crowd, and you’ll win your freedom.”
I’ve linked the 3-minute clip at the bottom of this email if you’d like to watch it, but that aside, there’s so much wisdom woven into this quote that it alone could elevate anyone’s life who heeds it.
In my business — the business of telling stories — too many authors (especially beginners) get hung up on “killing quickly.”
In other words, “looking good” in the arena.
But the same way the Romans wouldn’t care for Maximus slaying four men in three seconds with one sword, is the same way readers don’t care for the 100 fancy words you can use to describe a city wall.
What readers want is to be entertained.
What we want is a story that respects our time, intelligence, and imagination, all while delivering on the promise of a fun adventure.
That’s how a crowd will love you in this business.
Even these emails are designed in this manner.
If all you received from me were large blocks of text telling you about how hard a time I had writing today, you’d be bored to tears.
Instead, I like to mix things up.
One day I could be telling you a story about how Liam destroyed my MacBook all while giggling, and the next, I could be roasting a Goodreads Goblin or sharing with you a nugget of wisdom like I am today.
It’s fresh, it’s different — never stagnant.
Does that mean every email promises to be riveting?
Does it mean I’ll win applause for my rather simplistic style of writing?
Absolutely not.
But I never said I was in the business of pleasing everybody.
No, I’m only in one business:
To tell stories in the simplest, purest, and most entertaining way my God-given abilities allow.
I will not apologise for my shortcomings, nor will I gloat about my strengths.
(Some of the time 😉).
If that sounds like your cup of fiction, then take your pick of my wares here:
DJJW
P.S. Here’s that Gladiator clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xeCBPRmF4Y