Get Rid of Donnie Doubt, Freddie Frustration and Aggie Aggravation!

If there is a list of traits needed to be a writer, I think the last line in the quote above should be the headliner. 

Always believe in yourself. Four simple words that can carry you on your writing journey forever. 

It sounds so easy to believe in yourself but outside factors move in and create problems. Donnie Doubt may cross your path on a frequent basis. He makes us wonder if we're good enough to get published. He points his finger and asks "Are you sure you can do this?" 

Freddie Frustration comes to call now and then making it hard to believe in yourself. Every time you submit your work and it comes rolling back with a NO, Freddie claps his hands in glee. "Told you so," he crows at you. 

Aggie Agravation drops in to visit once in awhile. She makes sure there are just enough glitches in your writing life that you step back from believing in yourself. "Take that," she says as she tosses a dart in your path.

Your job is to sweep these three right out of your life. Each time one comes to call, close your ears and your eyes and send them out the door. Be like the bird in our quote. Rely on your own wings. Know that you are the one person in control. Doubt, frustration and aggravation are only blips on the radar screen. Listen to yourself, not them. 

Always believe in yourself doesen't mean that your writing life will be stress-free. Far from it as there are always ups and downs. It does mean that you can handle whatever comes yoru way. That you can meet the down parts with strength and determination and move on. 

Make 2015 a writing year in which you Always believe in yourself. If you do, others will believe in you, too. 

Believe In Yourself

Today our nation celebrates Martin Luther King Day. I saw a quote of his on facebook this morning which can apply to to many things in our lives. It figures easily into our writing lives, too. 

When a writer is hit with an inspiratin for a story, he/she never knows where it is going to go. Will it be a piece of fluff that never sees the light of day outside his/her own computer? Or might it be the best thing ever written by that writer? Will it end up dying in a file somewhere, or will it be published and perhaps even become an award winner? 

When we sit down to write a story, essay, article or poem, we have no idea what will occur, do we? But we take that first step with the faith that, if it's meant to be, our story will be ascending that unseen staircase to publication and recognition. 

Note that the very first step is writing the story. After that, it's an unknown but I do think that the writer can help the story move up that staircase step by step. It means revising, editing and then doing it all over again so that it is the very best quality possible for the person who wrote the story. 

Next, find a good fit with story and publication. Look for publishers that mesh with your work. It means a lot of time spent studying the guidelines and past issues of magazines, newspapers, and books to find a place that would be appropriate for your story. Then submit!

After that, it's out of your hands. You still can't see the whole staircase, but you've moved up several steps already. Hope and faith now come into play. And that eternally distasteful waiting game. 

Have the faith in yourself to take that first step. Write the story!