Are You Willing to Make a Few Compromises to Become a Better Writer?
Are You Willing to Make a Few Compromises to Become a Better Writer?
It may be time for guilty pleasures to take a hike
You’re willing to try anything to become a better writer.
Well, almost.
Sure, you’ll read every article offering tips and tricks of the profession, check out the new, burgeoning platforms looking for creators, even buy into a few courses and seminars to up your game.
Because we want to be on the cutting-edge — a skip and a jump ahead of everyone else scrambling for pennies on the word.
And that’s all good and fine, because as writers, we’ve learned there’s lots we don’t know about what we don’t know.
And while we’re struggling along, we’ll sniff out every breadcrumb along the way.
But it’s not enough. The fact is learning is only part of the process — one aspect of our career we’re committed to pursuing.
Personal compromise, however, is something completely different — and sometimes off the table. Why? It’s not easy to give up comfort, routine, and guilty pleasures so easily.
Here’s a short excerpt from Please God, Make Me a Writer that shines a spotlight on a few human weaknesses that may be keeping you in check — and holding the reins on your future success.
The Key to Becoming a Better Writer May Surprise You
Want to be a better writer? Who said “No?”
That’s right — none of you.
But I know what some were thinking. For a split second, you let doubt and worry weasel its way into your brain in that whining, skeevy voice — the one attempting to convince you to give up on your dreams and that you’ll never be good enough or prolific enough to finish a single piece you start, much less do it again.
Yeah, I have the same unwelcome, disrespectful visitor in my head, too.
And she needs to find a new home. Because I’d started to believe her seductive taunts.
After all, she sounded like she had all the answers. And her influence had struck a vulnerable chord, convincing me that trying to become a better writer was just too damn hard and competitive — even impossible for a minor league player like myself.
“Everyone else is better than you. Might as well give up.” Blasted vocal brat — why can’t she find someone else to torture?
Maybe it was weakness or a need to surrender. Rather than argue with myself, I decided it was easier to hang out on the couch streaming Netflix and eating popcorn than to keep writing.
That was more fun, even relaxing. And I couldn’t hear the voice in my head with all the crunching going on. Apparently, my muse had gone to the dark side, turning me into a TV zombie who liked to eat salty, buttery snacks.
Still, I have a love/hate relationship with writing.
And on those days and nights when my thoughts were left to wander and I’d licked the grease from my fingers, I couldn’t help wonder if I gave up too easily.
The same thing happened when I was young and learning how to fly a kite. The unsteady paper plane kept doing a nosedive, eventually smashing the fragile frame to bits. I’d cry, wipe my nose on my sleeve, and go buy a snow cone.
Thanks for reading this excerpt from Please God, Make Me a Writer. For more info, watch the Book Trailer on my YouTube Channel — right here.
Until next time,
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Jill Reid is the author of Please God, Make Me A Writer, Real Life, Discover Your Personal Truth, and Life in Small Doses. Her books, videos, and newsletters explore writing, life, relationships, and personal success strategies for building the skills and confidence you need to achieve your dreams.
