Lisa over at the Milk Fever Blog has a post on making a pact as an aspiring writer and how this helped her on her journey to publication. I think this is a very important idea. Writing is a solitary occupation, and that makes it so easy to succumb to doubt and the “Am I crazies?”.
You don’t have to go it alone as a writer.
I have you to thank. Your blogs also keep me energized. Whenever I’m in a funk, your stories, your thoughts on writing, your love of books – all of it – makes me smile and get over those doubts. Even when it comes to hearing about the challenges, the rejections, it’s a relief to know we’re all struggling through the same things. Nope I’m not alone, and neither are you.
Do you have a writing buddy to share your writing progress with, someone that will kick you in the pants if you start to waver, send you encouragement when you’re having a down day?
I’m lucky enough to have at least two such friends, and they’re not easy on me. They’ve got no tolerance for complaints or slacking, but they’re also the first people I go to when I have good news, and to celebrate with. Without them, I’d probably never finish anything. I try to return the favor as much as I can.
So I’m making a commitment:
I promise that even when rejections come, even when doubt makes it hard to write, even when life gets in the way, I will keep writing, with the goal of having a novel published. No matter how long it takes, I will continue to learn and improve until I get there. (Rinse and repeat for every novel in me)
Are you in for the long haul? If you are, I’ll be there to cheer you on.
Oh yeah, long haul all the way. I love the idea of an explicit pact/commitment… And I know you’ll have no problem keeping yours. 😉
Yay for the long haul! ~waves her pompoms~ Sometimes just putting it into words makes it feel more real 🙂
You know it. I mean you do, buddy. You really do. The idea of a pact makes it so official. No backing out now. Woohoo
No backing out! It has been pinky sworn, which makes this insoluble. To the keyboard with you my friend!
Yeah, I’m in it to win it! Sometimes, I know that means realizing when I’m not good enough, yet, and that I need to push harder, run faster and farther, do more and better. I’ll get there. That’s always been my promise to myself. Because my goal, my ultimate goal, is to earn my income exclusively from writing and writing-related activites, no matter how unrealistic that may seem now.
There’s always more to improve, but I think that as long as you know that, and work towards it, you will keep improving. That’s an ambitious goal, but that is the ultimate goal for most of us isn’t it? Let’s get you on your way! ~cheers~
Why lie about it to ourselves? That’s what we want! Even if I never make it, I’ll never stop working toward it.
Very true. Yeah I do want it too, it just seems so far off 🙂
I am unashamedly writing to get money, he he 😀 No but seriously, I do it because I’m an artist too. Eesh, that didn’t come out right at all, did it? lol
There are the few that make it, Stephen. As Charlie Bucket said(?) in the 1970’s Willy Wonka movie, “I’ve got just as much a chance at getting that golden ticket as everyone else, right?”
Unfortunately, I don’t have too many “Writing confidantes.” But the one I do have is pretty faithful to listen to me. I do have several eager beta readers though!
Beta readers are golden! Hang onto those. They’re hard to find.
They’ve just kind of fallen into my life. I guess that goes to show me how blessed I really am. 🙂
Great post! I’m here with you, too.
Thanks Ollin!
You are blessed T.S. 🙂 Friends and people who you can confide in are always a plus–they are there through the thick and thin. Pardon the cliche, but hey I love this post. So had to type a comment quick 😛
Keep writing, better and often!
-BrownEyed
Always! Thanks BrownEyed 🙂
I’ve eaten over a hundred rejections. If I’m not in it for the long haul, it’s because I forgot there was a haul.
Hehe sometimes I forget why I’m doing this, and I need to remind myself why all those rejections are worth it.