Writers, Take One Step at a Time

One step at a time

If you're a writer, you know that one of the first lessons learned is 'one step at a time.' At least, I hope you have gained that bit of knowledge and remind yourself of it now and then. 

Our photo today shows stepping stones to help you cross a body of water. You're not going to run across those stones. What if you plopped right into the water? You'd probably be cold, and definitely be sopping wet. Instead, you'd move from one stone to the other carefully to reach the other side, which is your goal. 

When you first started writing, you didn't leap forward straight into publication. If only it worked that way! We do have to move on our writing journey one step at a time. 

Writers whose dream is to write a novel and have it published should not dive right into writing a 400 page book. Write shorter pieces until you feel they show strong writing. Submit to publications to see if what you have written is worthy of publication. Publish a few short things before delving into the deep waters of novel writing. 

Take another step by reading as much as you can about the craft of writing. Read magazines like Writer's Digest, Writers and Poets, and The Writer. If you don't want to pay for a subscription, check to see if your library carries any of them. Mine does, and that's where I read The Writer off and on. The articles in this type of magazine can be inspiring as well as informative. Check your library for books on writing. If you find one you especially like, go ahead and buy it so you'll have a copy to refer to off and on. If you're so inclined, purchase books on writing and build your own library. Don't let them just sit on the shelf. Go through each one now and then to refresh what you learned from them.

One more step is to surround yourself with other writers now and then. Have coffee with one or two. No one understands a writer better than another writer. Go to workshops or conventions and mingle with many writers. Doing so can inspire you to write. 

The point here is that becoming a published writer takes a series of steps. It's a long process. I've been writing for almost thirty years, but I am still learning, and I'm still trying to become a better writer. Don't expect miracles to happen in a short time. Keep moving across those stepping stones, one at a time, and do it carefully.

 

Writers and Patience

 

The quote on today's poster can be summed up in one word: Patience. New writers are filled with inspiration and want to be published asap. Experienced writers look back at that feeling and know that being published doesn't happen only because a writer wants it.

We don't get in a writing elevator and zoom to the top floor without making a stop. We must go step by step. Between each step, we can get tired. We can get frustrated. We can become disappointed. We can become angry. 

It's important to realize that the writing journey is made one step at a time. We stay on some of the steps longer than others. A lot depends on how open a writer is to getting critiques from other writers, taking time to read a great deal about the writing world, and how patient that writer is.

Patience is a virtue. We know that. Even so, we can't run out and buy a quart of patience. We can't put it on like a shawl or Batman's cape. We can't wave a magic wand and have patience rain upon us with sparkle and glitter. Each one of us must acquire patience in our writing world a little bit at a time. We must keep reminding ourselves that waiting is what is needed in many instances in our writing world. 

Patience is of prime importance when we submit for publication. Very few editors make decisions as soon as they read what we send. Some take a great deal longer than others. Meanwhile, the writers must use patience while waiting to get a response. When you submit a piece, start working on another, or submit something else right away. Don't sit around and chew your nails waiting to hear. Sadly, some publications contact the writer only if the submission is accepted. A long silence means your work was rejected, and you'll never know the reason. All writers hate that, but it's something we learn to take in stride. 

We also should learn to have patience with ourselves. Don't beat yourself up when things don't happen as you hoped. If something you're working on doesn't work out today, maybe it will tomorrow, or next week. If you're not a roaring success in a year, keep working, keep reading about writing, keep growing. The word that goes hand in hand with patience for writers is perseverance. 

Don't expect miracles overnight. Keep moving on your writing journey one step at a time. If you are truly passionate about writing, it will be worthwhile.