Write it Down
The compulsion to write is strong. For some, very strong, which is why
those people - true writers - eventually reach their goals. Writing is a
craft, of course, but it's just as important to remember it's a job,
and hopefully, a career. The goal is to have your work in print, whether
that be a literary or consumer magazine, a book or even an e-book. The
options are endless, really, especially now that most writers have
blogs, twitter-feeds and facebook fan pages. Getting work out there
isn't a problem. Getting paid for that work can be.
When I wrote my first article, I was literally shaking with excitement. But I worried about whether I was good enough. I worried that other people wouldn't like it. I worried I wasn't really a writer.
I'm not sure you ever completely surmount all those fears, but as Dr. Oz says, "Put it out there." Your work, that is. Each time you write something, you learn more about the craft.
You'll get rejected. It's possible you'll get rejected quite a lot. One writer told me she received over 80 rejection letters before she found an agent. She's gone on to write multiple New York Times bestsellers. Sometimes, people simply don't see the genius, but some times, the timing is off. It's hard to get both right; that's why you have to keep writing, keep querying, and above all, remember you are a writer. That doesn't mean it'll be easy or simple, it doesn't make success a given, but it does mean you have something worthwhile to say.
So say it, on paper or on your screen. Write them down, and feel their power.
When I wrote my first article, I was literally shaking with excitement. But I worried about whether I was good enough. I worried that other people wouldn't like it. I worried I wasn't really a writer.
I'm not sure you ever completely surmount all those fears, but as Dr. Oz says, "Put it out there." Your work, that is. Each time you write something, you learn more about the craft.
You'll get rejected. It's possible you'll get rejected quite a lot. One writer told me she received over 80 rejection letters before she found an agent. She's gone on to write multiple New York Times bestsellers. Sometimes, people simply don't see the genius, but some times, the timing is off. It's hard to get both right; that's why you have to keep writing, keep querying, and above all, remember you are a writer. That doesn't mean it'll be easy or simple, it doesn't make success a given, but it does mean you have something worthwhile to say.
So say it, on paper or on your screen. Write them down, and feel their power.
Comments