Trust and Try Your Writing Wings

 

It's pretty well established that Fear is a trait most writers deal with at some time or other. Some only occasionally while others must wrestle with their writing fears on a regular basis. It's nothing to be ashamed of, as it's one part of this writing life that a good many writers must deal with. 

Some fear the actual act of putting words on a screen or paper, while others worry themselves sick about submitting their finished work. 

This is a fact:  All the worrying in the world will not change a thing. Easy for me to say, but maybe not so easy for you to believe. You can read the words. You can say them out loud. But that doesn't always mean you're going to truly believe it. You might have to work at it a little at a time. 

Let's look at both problems. First, there are would-be writers who think about writing a lot. They dream of creating characters in a story. They jot an occasional note, but they cannot seem to put butt in chair and proceed. Some fear that what they write will be no good. Some fear that, once they write the story, then they'll need to move on to the next step--submitting to a publisher. 

You don't know how well you can write until you try it. Your first efforts might not be spectacular, but writing on a regular basis helps in becoming a better writer. Reading all you can about the writing world will also aid you in writing better. Joining a critique group can give you help in areas needed. You do have to join a group like this with an open mind and be willing to take their suggestions, not as criticism but as a help in making you a better writer. Writers must develop a tough skin.

Those who fear submitting their writing to an editor or publisher worry that their work will be rejected. Guess what? All writers get rejections. Many of them! In fact, you'll get more rejections than acceptances, and maybe that is what makes the occasional acceptance so wonderful. The rejection is not personal. It's not YOU that is being turned down. Your story or article or essay may be too similar to one they recently published, or the subject matter doesn't fit their theme, or you may not have followed all their guidelines. There are many reasons a submission is rejected. And yes, it is disappointing, but life goes on, Your next step is to submit the same piece somewhere else, after you've taken a good look at it to see if there are any changes you might want to make. 

I love today's poster. It fits writers ever so well. Test your wings by writing and submitting. Repeat. And repeat again. It's an ongoing task.