You’d think the last thing you’d need to worry about is whether or not your writing peers will be friendly.
Sorry, Virginia — some people will refuse to lend a helping hand.
I’m not suggesting that as writers, we automatically assume the role of mentor and teacher. Sure, that would be nice, but I’d rather be realistic about the whole thing. After all, we’re in this together, right?
Wrong.
As you travel along in your writing journey, you’ll encounter many hurdles, obstacles, and questions.
And the level of frustration will rise with each wall you encounter.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting you abandon your desire to write — because that would be a terrible waste. We need many voices to keep us all in line.
Perhaps it might be beneficial to be prepared to encounter resistance from time-to-time when you reach out to other writers for help.
Here’s a short excerpt from Please God, Make Me a Writer that may provide a few thoughts and a bit of guidance in the occasionally shark-infested waters of being a professional writer.
There’s No Getting Around the Inconvenient Truth of Being a Writer
Like most life choices, writing can be an interest, a hobby, a career, or a play-thing.
While the basic understanding of the profession seems simple enough, the mechanics and mental fortitude required to produce the written word is often left unsaid — and subject to interpretation.
The potential to become discouraged and frustrated is very high.
Fortunately, those of us experiencing stress and doubt about our work have discovered we’re not alone — in fact, we’re in pretty good company.
Most of the time, we find comfort in the commiseration of our peers. And by sharing our failures — and learning from the struggles of others generous enough to chime in — we’re able to explore new methods of developing our skills in a way that’s just right for us.
Fair warning: You may find yourself in situations with others that are less than friendly. These encounters typically involve arrogant personalities, blustering egos, and well-armed gatekeepers.
That’s when writing can become discouraging - feeling more like a game with individually-designed rules intended to defend a heavily-guarded fortress with a deep moat.
And all too often, the drawbridge is locked in the up position.
You’ll find the full story in Please God, Make Me a Writer. Available in eBook and paperback from Amazon. Click Here for a look inside …
Thanks for reading,
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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 reach your goals.
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