With over 322 books to his credit, James Patterson is one of the most prolific living writers living today. Believe it or not, it's hard to find a current number, because he averages twelve new books a year. That's right, a new book every month!
Interestingly, while Patterson's first book was published in 1976, most of his writing happened after he retired as an advertising executive in 1997. In just the past decade, he has sold 425 million books, and has an estimated net worth of 700 million dollars.
And it's not just the quantity that's impressive; it's also the quality. Patterson currently holds the Guinness World Record for the highest number of New York Times Best Sellers by a single author.
Patterson writes in virtually every genre (fiction, non-fiction, young adult fiction, short stories, novellas, and children's literature) and has co-written with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and a host of other celebrities and writers. (I am waiting for my call.) I wanted his recently released autobiography for the holidays but could not get it because it's sold out everywhere. Not even SANTA can get his book.
Listen, I have typed more than my fair share of words and published more than a few things. And, as you may know, I have even written a few books. I fully understand and appreciate the effort and emotion it takes to create, write, edit, and publish a literary work, which is why I can't fathom doing it 322 times.
How does he do it? How does he crank out such volume? How does he come up with so many ideas?
In a recent article in GQ Magazine, he states, "I have a folder in my office here, and it's about nine inches thick, and on every page, there could be anywhere from one to 10 or 11 ideas. When I'm thinking about writing another book, I'll start looking through it, and every once in a while, there's something that's been in there for a long time - all of a sudden, I see it differently, and I know how to tell a story around it."
Honestly, he and I have a similar writing flow. I have an (electronic) folder with over 150 ideas for blogs, articles, and yes, another book. Some of these ideas date back a decade or more. Anytime I see/read/think of something, I throw it in the folder, which I re-read every Monday morning in preparation for writing Wednesday's blog.
Yes, J.P. and I are twinsies. Well, except for the fact that more people BUY what he writes. How can I be more like J.P.?
Patterson states, "If you can write beginnings and ends, you can make a nice living as a writer. If you write middles, you win Pulitzers and Nobel Prizes and stuff. But with beginnings and ends, you're going to do okay."
Write middles? Interesting. I always thought the key to success was writing pithy puns.
The more I pondered on this, the more sense it made to me. Middle's matter, not just in writing, but in life. And, as a rule, people are good at starting and ending things, but not as good at working through the middle.
Think about it with your program.
The start of the year has energy and excitement - the end has angst and anticipation. The middle? It's a chore and a bore.
Starting/sightreading/ performing new literature is fun. Rehearsing in-between? Not so much.
Even in music, the beginning and ends of pieces are typically memorable, whereas the middle is where they stick the slow part.
Elementary school rings with energy and excitement. High school with new experiences and onsetting adulthood. Middle school? No one ever said, "Those were the best years of my life!"
As I said, the middle is hard. The middle stinks. And that's precisely where we are.
As we begin the year anew, it's anything but new. For educators, January isn't a New Year; it's an old one. We have the same students, classes, schedule, budget, etc. There's NOTHING new, fun, or exciting about January's return to school. Do you know why? Because it's the MIDDLE of the year. And as we have previously mentioned, no one likes the middle.
But, middles matter.
Because as James Patterson says, "The middle is where good separates from great and the Pulitzers and Nobels are earned."
In writing and teaching, the middle is where the bulk of the work is done, and progress is made. October is when the trophies are handed out, but September is when success is forged. April is when the festival is held, but February is when it is earned. The middle matters. It might not involve standing ovations or the excitement of starting something new. But it matters, for you and your students.
In literature and life, the middle is where the plot thickens, the character develops, and the stage is set. It's where you meet new people and learn new things. It's where you build relationships and develop feelings. It's where you choose your side, build your alliance, and forge your bonds.
Yes, people remember the first and last page, but the middle is what makes it all possible. So, let us stop, embrace, and celebrate the middle for its middleness!
As the school year and this winter drag on, to help your students identify and own their middleness, perhaps you might take a few minutes and chat with them. You might even share this blog and have a group discussion. To make your point more memorable, you could pretend that we're not in the "middle" of winter, put a sun lamp in your room, and wear zinc oxide on your nose. Have your student leaders plan a "beach day" or Hawaiian-themed rehearsal, or any other crazy idea that pops into your head. Just do something that acknowledges and celebrates where we are: the middle. And that's a good place to be.
As my BFF/writing twin/pen-pal JP reminds us, the middle is where good is separated from great, because the middle is where books, music, and people get better.
Have a great week.
Scott