Why you’ve got to keep going

SHAKING THE TREE #143

Photo by Mark Duffel on Unsplash

At some point, every writer faces moments of doubt, frustration, and fear.

Doubt that anyone’s reading.

Frustration at not seeing results quickly.

Fear that they’re wasting their time.

It’s at moments like this that the temptation to quit rears its head.

But that’s the time when it’s crucial to keep going.

Writing is a little like learning to play a musical instrument.

No one starts out being a brilliant player.

Everyone starts out sounding like crap.

And as with guitar, piano, or even the bagpipes, EVERYTHING improves with practice, and this is particularly true of writing.

Every note, every draft, every through no matter how shoddy or rough, every scrap of an idea is a small step toward becoming more comfortable using your voice; every step is a chance to produce something better.

The real growth in writing rarely happens in one fell swoop. Finished first drafts are seldom perfect. It’s only through revision and tweaking that things get better.

Your passion for writing will probably wane when you’re faced with difficulties like writer’s block, or when you’re stressed or bored. So it’s at times like this when you need to remember why you started writing in the first place.

Road blocks and slow downs are a natural part of the creative process and rather than being used as excuses to stop, they need to be seen as an opportunity to learn and to take stock. Most authors have faced setbacks before finding their stride, and sadly, you’re no different.

My first stabs at writing were sad, pathetic, self indulgent scraps of crap. It was only through making mistakes that I learned to trust myself to grow as a writer.

I’ve found that the key is to keep going, to embrace the struggle, and to trust that persistence will lead to success.

Every writer who succeeded was once a beginner who chose not to give up.

If that’s where you are now, keep going.

As always, thanks for reading.

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P.S. Next time on Shaking the Tree … Do you REALLY need a degree in English?