I have a lot of writer friends who started out all gung ho and then let their mojo slide when the going got tough. My ego would like to say it’s the way we weed out the true writers from the pack. But I know the truth.
The truth is that writing is scary. We all have moments where we doubt whether we’re really that good or even good enough.
And this could change moment to moment, day to day. Sometimes I think I wrote the best piece ever at night, only to wake up the next morning and discover my last entry was a bunch of crap.
It happens to all of us.
But here’s what I’ve learned in the 5 years that I’ve been a freelance writer.
It doesn’t matter how good or talented you are.
What matters is that you don’t give up!
When I read some of my earlier posts and articles, I am shocked! Truly shocked!! Not because it was some amazing piece of prose. But because of how bad it was. And I’m appalled that a) I sent some of those things out to get published 2) that I ever thought I could make it as a writer with that kind of start.
I realize that every writer is a work-in-progress. Even the really good ones had to start somewhere. As long as I don’t give up, as long as I keep to it (whether in my blogs here, here, here or here) or on a project), I know I will get better.
The only thing that guarantees failure is giving up.
So if you’re in verge of tossing in the towel and hailing your white flag, don’t do it just yet. Just keep writing. You will get there. We all will if we keep on keeping on..
Love, love, love your post.
It’s funny in the beginning when you mention that your buddies started out “gung ho” and then faded away in the tough times. You’re right, about writing being scary. It’s tough to put yourself “out there” hoping people like your style or what you have to say. And, even scarier trying to make a living at it.
It’s still a never ending battle for me, too. I’ve got my good days and my bad days. And, during the bad days, I wonder why I ever choose this career to fall madly in love with.
However, no matter how bad those days get, I can’t imagine myself doing anything else.
Thank you so much Chamois! As one writer to another, can I say, “I needed to hear that”? I’m right there with you on the bad days. On the good days, it’s easy to remember why we’re putting our hearts out there, why we decided to choose a lifestyle that requires a suit of armor attitude, but a feather like openness. I think it’s important to help support our fellow writers (like you did for me here) and to also catalog all the reasons why we’re doing it. So on the bad days, we can look, remember and keep going.
Thank you as one whose gung-ho got up and went, I needed this encouragement today. I was looking at the ms I’m writing and wondering if I can pull off what I’m trying. Will get back to the MS today and start slogging away. Have a blessed day.