Here's Jim Webb talking about writing, from the upcoming Sunday Washington Post Magazine (bolding added by me for emphasis):
The most disciplined thing I've ever done in my life is probably the act of writing a book -- and novels are harder than nonfiction. People tend to think, Oh, novels, you just start writing a story, and, you know, let the muse take you. But there's enormous discipline in writing novels. I wrote my first one cover to cover seven times. I wrote, I wrote, I wrote, and then I couldn't get it published.When I was on my, like, fifth draft for the book, I was able to get it to a guy named Ted Purdy, a really renowned editor. Anyway, I was sitting here inventing conversations between people who never existed in a room by myself -- and Purdy called me and said, "I'm going to work with you on this." This is a guy who had edited some of the greats, the true greats. And he made me believe. I actually had started working on the Hill as a committee counsel, and he was like: "Don't do politics. Anybody can do politics. You are a writer!"
[...]
I've never felt more natural than when...I feel like I'm leading -- from the Marine Corps to working on the Hill, to working in the Pentagon, to working in the Senate. But nothing gives me greater pleasure than to write something that I believe is really good. Writing is what I will always do, no matter what. My mind always writes. You never stop writing if you're a writer.
Having now completed a book myself, with another one likely on the way (stay tuned...), I think I now have some feel for what Jim Webb's saying here. But even better, I love the quote, "Don't do politics. Anybody can do politics. You are a writer!" How true.
P.S. Webb will be at Politics and Prose bookstore in DC on Tuesday, July 8 at 7 pm to discuss (and sign) his book. Check it out!
I will have to see what my schedule is like. I think I'd like to hear what he has to say, and I have not been to P&P for a while.
The Emperor's General, my favorite, is an excellent read, a novel that also fleshes out the post-WW II period that was the Japanese occupation by McArthur and Co.
Of course, Fields of Fire is often called the best novel to come out of the Vietnam experience. I liked it, but I found others of his books to fit my reading tastes more - since I enjoy historical novels and novels with a mystery buried in the plot.
JIm Webb IS a writer first. But...I sure am glad he's my senator now....And I would love to see him become my vice-president.
That's why JIm Webb says, "My mind always writes."
P.S. I think Barack Obama has said similarly meaty things about writing.