I’ve been at this writing thing for about ten years, and sometimes I feel like I haven’t gotten anywhere. Sure, I’ve written seven novels, one of which I completely threw away, and countless short stories. Heck, I’ve even written some poetry, but I’m still not where I want to be.
There are times when the nasty negativity monster enters my mind and takes over. I call myself names like phony, fraud, fake, etc. I threaten myself with quitting writing, and at times I do take long breaks, but in the end, I can’t hide from my passion and calling.
For over ten years, I’ve been writing and trying to become the coveted traditionally published author, and I’m still pursuing it, but here’s what I’ve learned:
- ten years ago I wasn’t that good
- technology has changed the world and my writing – this takes adjusting
- perseverance is the key
- patience is a necessity
- it’s not easy
I’ve grown up writing and at my age, I can honestly say that ten years ago, I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready for the editing, the proofreading, the marketing, the rejections. Don’t get me wrong, I was editing and proofreading, but the truth is, that job is never done.
So what does it all mean? What do I do next? Well, I’m going to keep writing. I’m going to keep telling stories that grow in my heart and mind. I’m going to persevere because at some point I will get there. And even if I don’t at least I can say I tried.
Here’s to us all trying. Have a great week!
Jamie
Jamie Handling 