The journey continues! As I continue to carve out a writing life for myself, I thought I’d share a few more thoughts on the process and what I’ve found helpful.
There’s Room For All of Us
Try not to be intimidated by the talent that already exists. If the expression ‘it’s not a competition’ applies anywhere, it’s here. If you love writing, write. If you have a desire to share it with the world, do it. Follow your instincts. I had to really work at validating my ideas, knowing other people knew more than me on the subject. But to quote my editor Chelene Knight: “you are the expert on your story.” Trust yourself. Your experience is unique and just as valid as anyone else’s.
Set Short-Term Goals along the Way
Writing a book can take several years. That’s a long time to go without being able to feel a sense of completion. I find I need to write some short blog posts now and then, some poetry or even just journal entries, anything that gives me the satisfaction of finishing.
Celebrate Often
Writing is hard work. It takes determination and commitment to keep going, day after day. You’re amazing, and you need to keep reminding yourself that. Give yourself some time to sit in your accomplishments, to really feel how far you’ve come. I like to treat myself to dinner out, or a nice dinner in, or give myself the entire day off to do whatever I want to do that doesn’t involve my writing project to celebrate the milestones along the way. And I often involve friends, because it’s fun to get other people excited too 😉
Every writer will have their own unique take on the process. That’s the cool thing! If you’re new to writing, talk to other writers, be curious, embrace the similarities and the differences. Everyone has something to offer. It’s a beautiful thing 😉
Photo Credit
Photo by Carol Good – all rights reserved
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