Go for It: You Are a Writer!

There it was, filling my mailbox–the oversized envelope

addressed in my own handwriting.

Hands trembling, I opened it. My book manuscript, tattered

and bound with a rubber band, greeted me.

The editor, a twenty-something girl scarcely older than my

own daughter, had included a scathing rejection letter. Cliched

characters was the kindest of her comments.

“Good luck in placing your manuscript elsewhere,” she added,

an editorial euphemism for “don’t bother us again.” The not-so-

subtle suggestion that I might want to find another line of work

followed.

I cried like a baby. Then I sulked. For a solid week, I

moped about the house, certain that my writing career was over

before it had even begun.

Approximately ten days later, an idea appeared in my mind.

It clawed at me, demanding release.

Resolutely I ignored it.

After all, hadn’t I been told by a publishing professional that I

had no talent and would do better to spend my energies elsewhere?

Characters began talking to me. I refused to listen.

Obviously annoyed with me, they talked to themselves, carrying on

conversations inside my head. Family and friends began to give

me strange looks when I found myself talking back to them.

Despite my resolve to put aside my dream of writing, I

couldn’t control the voices inside my head which demanded

attention.

I caved.

I started recording the words of the obnoxious characters

who refused to fade into wherever they had sprang from, just to

get them off my back.

They kept talking. I kept writing. Within six months, I

had a completed book.

I’d like to report a happy ending, that I sent the book off

to a major publisher and it was accepted within days. The truth

was I mailed the manuscript to several publishers before finally

placing it at a small house.

Three long years passed before I sold another book. I honed

my craft, collected rejections, and ate chocolate. Despite the

rejections, or maybe because of them, I discovered something

along the way: I was a writer.

Twenty-three books later, I’m still writing. My name

remains relatively unknown and my advances won’t support the

early retirement I dream of.

Is it worth it? A recent rejection set off the all too-

familiar doubts. Why should I keep writing when my track record

is depressingly mediocre?

My answer came when I found myself back the computer,

bleeding over another story. I couldn’t stop writing, even if I

wanted to.

My advice to aspiring writers? If you can stop writing, do

so. There are other, less painful ways of expressing yourself

and making a living. But, if you can’t stop writing, if the

words persist in coming, if uninvited characters occupy your mind

and your thoughts, then go for it!

You are a writer.

Six Techniques For Making Writing a Part of Your Life

1. Make writing a priority.

   It all comes down to choice. Writing or any other behavior

   has to come, without question, ahead of some other things in

   your life.

2. Make a commitment to your writing.

   Focus on your outcome. (Visualize yourself opening a

   magazine and reading your story, signing a book contract,

   picking up a copy of your book from a store’s bookshelf.)

   Remember why you want it, and what specific action you have

   to take to achieve it.

3. Do it for you.

   It’s all right to be selfish (sometimes) and put yourself

   first. Develop and hone the fine art of saying “no” when

   you are asked to be the chairperson for the next “Save the

   Aardvark” committee.

4. Go through the motions even if it feels strange at first.

   Any change is hard. Just keep doing it. It takes around

   two to three weeks to solidify a commitment and around four

   months to form a habit. Your aim is to make writing a

   habit–so just keep doing it.

5. Do it everyday (if possible).

   Writing a shorter time everyday will build the habit more

   effectively than a longer writing time one day a week.

6. Have a schedule.

   Writing regularly at a specified time each day establishes a

   pattern, and this is essential to building a habit.

   Determine the time of day when you are most creative and set

   it aside for your writing. Do the business chores of

   writing–sending out query letters, bookkeeping, publicity–

   during your “off” hours.