1. Sometimes writing about your frustration and discouragement is an effective way to cope.
2. The only way to learn to overcome writing challenges is to write despite the challenges.
3. Writers never win on the first try. No one succeeds instantly. It’s OK to feel down, but that shouldn’t stop you from inching closer to your goals.
4. Chances are you’re frustrated because nothing has happened yet, not because of something you or someone else did wrong.
5. You’re frustrated or discouraged for a reason. Writing has problem-solving power. You can work through what’s frustrating/discouraging you and figure out how to handle it just by writing about it.
6. You have stories to tell, and no one will ever tell them the way you’re going to tell them. They’re counting on you.
7. Somewhere along the way someone believed you wouldn’t succeed. You can still prove them wrong.
8. You’ll regret quitting much more than you’ll regret experiencing these negative feelings.
9. You always said you weren’t going to be “the kind of person” who gives up at the first sign of struggle.
10. You know deep down writing is what you want/need to do. You wouldn’t have started doing it if it wasn’t.
11. Every time you write even when you don’t think you can write anymore, it gets a little easier to convince yourself to set aside your discouragement and keep writing anyway.
12. Because these feelings won’t last forever, even if it seems like they will. You will find your light again. Your words can help you get there.
Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is an editor and writer, and a 12-time NaNoWriMo winner. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food, and Star Wars.
Meg Dowell Writes 