This post is dedicated to all of my writer and wannabe writer friends out there.
flickr photo by: Angelina Cupcake
Here is why I’m thinking of you this Valentine’s Day:
1. Your courage is admirable.
Most people deal with enough rejection in their teens to never want to return to that time period again. But not you! You jump in the fire, putting your heart on the line and opening yourself up to rejection. That takes real honest to goodness courage.
2. Your determination is inspiring.
To be a writer means you need determination. Even successful published writers can’t get by on their reputation alone. Every book they write, every article idea they query, every time they put fingers to keyboard, they are dealing with potential rejection. To keep going despite financial worries, potential failure and time sacrifice, writers are determined to get their work out there. That is inspiring!
3. Your vulnerability is beautiful.
On my other blog The Inspiring Bee, I listed a TED video that really touched it. It was entitled The Power of Vulnerability and if you have 20 minutes, you should watch it below. It got me thinking about writers and their stories. Whether it is fiction or non-fiction, when writers invite others to read their stories they are showing off their underbelly. It’s scary to put our soul’s out there in whatever form its displayed in. It’s as if we’re saying, “Here is my soft, squishy side. Please read it.” But we do so with sweat on their brow, tender and concerned of how the ones who behold will treat it. It is their baby after all.
4. Your passion is legendary.
Talk to any writer no matter what stage they are in and you will feel their passion. One writer friend I know wakes up at 3 am every morning to write. I too keep a journal next to my bed when inspiration strikes late at night. All of us writers have a passion for the written word. It is what sustains us during difficult writing times. It is what brings us hope when rejection slips come in faster than acceptance letters. It is the fuel that lights our life. It is THE thing that makes it all (the pain, the rejection, the self-doubt) worth it.
5. Your commitment to your craft is almost heartbreaking.
There are a lot of other things writers could be doing. There are jobs that make thousands of dollars more than what they’re making. There are careers that would make their parents proud. Instead writers take the route that gets them ridiculed, often unsupported by family and friends and rarely offers fame or fortune. Yet they still do it!
Maybe we’re all rebellious souls who just want to be validated and appreciated for a career that pulls at our heartstrings. That makes us walk in the opposite direction of the wind. That makes us stand out among a sea of ordinariness. Maybe there is a story deep within all of us that beckons to be told.
For whatever reason, we writers have something awesome to give the world. And that is the reason why I admire and love writers.
Happy Valentine’s Day Fellow Writers!
This is such a beautiful post, Brandi! I couldn’t agree with you more on all points. It got me thinking what the world would be like if there weren’t any writers (such a sad place indeed). It’s true that there are far more lucrative jobs that writers could be doing, but without them the world would have no collective memory or histories to build upon over time.
Natalia Sylvester recently posted..The Post I Always Hoped I Would Write
Thanks Natalia! And congratulations again on your success!! I think meeting you online and growing my offline network of writer friends has lifted me up and inspired me to do what I do every day. It makes me grateful to be a part of a group of people who have the same ultimate goal of sharing their stories. Thanks for your comment and good luck with your writing tonight!
I am a editor/proofreader. I call myself a grammar junkie.
I worked in corporate land for several years as a copywriter, but i found my strongest asset was my ability to improve upon the writing of others. I can see the diamond in the rough. I like to polish words, add/subtract, etc., until what the writer wants to say shines through.
I find there are lots of sites for writers, but not so many for the underdog copyeditors. 😉
Your post reminds me that writing is tough work. Writers need to be reminded how special they are.
From a spark of an idea, a writer trusts that the words they choose in the right order will convey meaning. That’s a leap of faith. And it is not easy.
Glad Doggett recently posted..A little editing can take your writing from ordinary to extraordinary
Hi Glad. I’m sure you hear this a lot, but I’m glad to meet you. I love that you are an editor and grammar junkie. And you are right. There are less sites for copy editors. I checked out your site and was wondering if you had a blog as well. That might be a great idea since you have little competition in that area. What do you think? Oh and I just followed you on Twitter and Facebook. Hope to continue our conversation on one of these social media outlets soon. =)