Second Star to the Right and Straight on 'till Morning

 

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 There is an idea circulating out there that unless writing comes easy to you, you're not cut out to be a writer.

This is a MYTH. 

Some published writers who claim they dreampt up their story, who claim the words just flowed out of them and bam! it was publishable, and who delightedly chat with interviewers about the wonder and joy of creating fictionary worlds are grossly misleading the general public about how much WORK goes into writing a novel.And it's easy to feel beat down when you see people, whose books are actually selling, acting like that. Sometimes even though you know it takes work, you wonder if you really have the talent to get there, the skills to make it happen and the drive to succeed. Do you want to know what I think?


I think you do. 

  Hang those dumb authors who've forgotten the long hours they logged behind their computer screens late into the night or early morning. Who've forgotten the sacrifices it takes now they they're well-known. Who would make you feel small for believing in a dream that maybe no one but you can see for yourself.

Now, scratch these authors, sometimes it's hard to believe you have it in you when you see great authors who admit how hard it is to craft a seamless plot and multi-dimensional characters telling it like it is! It can be very discouraging. (I know, I feel it too).

But here's the secret antidote to all that: Don't just believe in the fairy tale of publishing, make the fairy tale happen. To YOU. Take Peter Pan..

Many writers sit waiting in their bedrooms as Wendy fills their head with stories of how great it is to be published...the book signings, the interviews, the fans, the following, the ARCs, the friendships with other authors etc.. And soon you're standing by the window waiting for Peter Pan, that inspirational fellow, to show up with pixie dust and grant the ideas of your book in your head into a manuscript and give you the wings to fly right out the window and into that dream world.

And here's the secret of that. He's not coming. Unless you can capture his shadow and hid it in a drawer, unless you do the work to get the attention you deserve,  it's not going to happen. You may have the happy thoughts, you may be waiting for that fairy dust to pour out upon you but you'll be waiting a long time.

This is what sets apart the published writers from the non.You HAVE to BELIEVE in yourself and that you have the talents, the gifts, the abilities, the drive and the will to succeed no matter what else any one thinks or says. No matter how far away that beautiful Neverland of dreams seems, it is always within reach. Find that inspiration that keeps it in sight and never let go of it. Keep sacrificing. Grow the wings to make yourself fly don't wait for Peter.

Yes, it will be hard. It might be painful. It will be discouraging and you'll have to pour every ounce of faith into yourself even when it seems your straining mud through a sieve to get those words out and the dream seems utterly unattainable.

But you can do it.

There will be times when the missing piece of your storyline falls into place with a click, when a new character shyly slips into your mind like a fresh breath of air, when your fingers wear out from a night's work at the laptop where they just couldn't keep up with your brain. When your heart quietly burns within you because you know absolutely this is what you were meant to do. There will be those times too. And they will spur you on through another drought of pure work until you sail through them again.

But only you can make it happen. I believe in you, do you?