“Writing is an exploration.
You start from nothing and learn as you go.”~ E.L. Doctorow
Thirteen years ago I decided to be a writer. Little
did I know what this decision would cost me. Little did I know how this
decision would enrich my life.
I entered this world of words ignorant, hopeful,
expectant, and maybe just a little bit cocky. It didn’t take long for me to be
humbled. To my great astonishment, the world wasn’t waiting to hear what I had
to say! I kept writing trying to find the right recipe, but most of my efforts
failed.
Thank goodness for my writer friends who encouraged me
to keep at it. However, I’ve found that words get into the writers veins and
really, I couldn’t have stopped for long.
I’ve heard about writers who say they have to write
because the stories in their heads demand to be told. I didn’t have such
stories or demands. But what I did have was the desire to connect with people
and encourage them. It took several years of writing to finally discover this
was my niche, my voice.
The reason I’m writing this blog is for those of you
who are just starting out. It is so easy to compare your writing experience,
style, success—or lack thereof— with others. Let me assure you that there will always be someone more successful and always be someone less successful than
you. That is the journey. As you write you will discover yourself, your style
and voice, and just where you fit in.
Don’t get confused by other writers. At conferences
you will hear a broad spectrum of advice, which is often contradictory. Treat
this abundance of information like a buffet. Take what resonates with you and
leave the rest. Take small steps until you feel ready to run. Then burst out and
sprint. If you fall, that’s okay. This may be a sign to try a different path.
Above all, be patient with yourself.
Explore, Learn, Write!
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Linda has cut her writing teeth on short work publishing an
amazing fifteen stories in Chicken Soup
for the Soul books and stories
in six anthologies. She is the author of two non-fiction books, Inspire! Writing from the Soul and Connect! A Simple Guide to Public Speaking
for Writers. She has a great platform as she is a sought after speaker for
workshops around the country and just served as President of the Oklahoma
Writers Federation.
4 comments:
Good words, Linda. As always.
Great encouragement.
Wow, I loved this post and I am looking up your blogspot now, Linda. I, too, suffered from the delusion that once I typed, "THE END," I would be immediately snapped up and published.
Love your advice--it's what I tell my kids. There will always be someone smarter than/prettier than you. But there will also be someone not-so-smart and not-so-pretty. You be thankful for what the good Lord gave you and make the most of it.
I think that's the deepest drive in our Christian writer hearts!
Linda, Your advice about not getting confused by other writers is right on. That was one of my hardest challenges and hold backs when I was just getting started. You have to learn to discern and differentiate between good and bad advice. Some people mean well when they give bad advice. They are just passing on bad advice they've been taught by someone else. Great post!
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