Setting Self Doubt on Fire: The Importance of perseverance

Hi, everyone! I’m back with some more self-doubt fighting words. So what do I have for you today? Well, today I will be discussing why, as writers, it is important to persevere even when the writing journey hits a brick wall.

There have been many times when I wanted to give up, delete all of my stories, and forget about writing. However, while you may feel this way, you need to remember that perseverance does pay off. It might not be today, tomorrow, next month or next year, but one day you shall reap the rewards. There are many authors who have achieved success due to not giving up: Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the wind” was rejected 38 times, Stephen King’s “Carrie” was rejected 30 times, and J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone” was rejected 12 times. However, it’s not always easy to persevere, so below I have some tips for you.

How to keep going:

• Celebrate all achievements even the small ones. If you come up with an interesting character or story idea, celebrate. If you finish your first draft, celebrate. If you submit a story, celebrate. All these are positives and something that you need to focus on.
• Start a blog or journal documenting your writing journey. This is one of the reasons why I started my blog. I wanted to record my writing journey, so I could see how far I have come. There are many places where you can create free websites and blogs: wordpress.com, weebly.com, etc.
• Remember, you wouldn’t have achieved all that you have if you had given up. After receiving rejections, one after another (this was at the start of my writing journey) I was close to quitting (it all hurt just too much). However, if I had given up, then I wouldn’t be where I am today, and yeah, I’m not a novelist yet, but I’m doing better than I ever thought I would.
• Upload your stories (or poems) to websites, such as Shortbread stories. Websites like these allow you to receive feedback and positive comments about your work. I did this when I was on the verge of giving up, and it was a great confidence boost. There’s also WritersCafe.org. I haven’t used that website yet, but another writer has recommended it.
• Imagine what your life would be like without writing. This often works for me because the thought of never writing again fills me with dread. Writing has become a big part of my life, and without it I think I would feel quite empty.
• Remember why you write and enjoy it. Sometimes you can focus too much on being published to remember why you write in the first place. So instead of chasing deadlines, take a moment to enjoy the process. Go for a walk (with a notepad), and write the first story that comes into your mind, or read your old stories.

There are many ways to keep going, but no matter what you do, make sure that you do keep writing, keep editing, and keep submitting. Because, as Maya Angelou said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

To end this post, here is another inspirational quote:

“Nothing worthwhile comes easily. Work, continuous work and hard work, is the only way to accomplish results that last.” – Hamilton Holt