There isn’t a writer out there — aspiring or otherwise — who has never doubted themselves. Every single one of us has experienced moments of disappointment, exhaustion, and fear. We have all wondered if all of our work has been for nothing. We have all been afraid that we’ll never achieve our dreams. But what sets dreamers apart from achievers is the ability to push through the doubt and continue putting in the work.
It’s in those moments you most want to quit when you’ll need to remind yourself the point of all of this. And if you don’t define those reasons for yourself, you’re never going to make it to the end of your personal finish line.
Your ‘Why’ Is Your Lifeline
As you venture down the uncertain path toward becoming a professional writer, you need to ask yourself one essential question — one that you will likely come back to over and over as time goes on: Why is writing so important to me?
Everyone will have different answers to this question, and while many of those answers will overlap from person to person, your “why” is yours. It will become the most important driving factor behind every single word you write. And when writing becomes difficult — because it always will for a period of time, many times over — your “why” might be the only thing that gives you the strength to keep going. You need to know it, understand it, and believe it.
Your Reasons for Writing Are Sacred
The easiest way to establish your “why” is to keep it to yourself. Sometimes when we’re setting goals, we do so with the idea that others have to know what those goals are — so we hold ourselves back. We shoot lower than our ideal target. We don’t aim for the stars.
Be honest about why you want to be a writer. Who cares if it’s for fame or money? This is a judgment-free zone. If that’s your “why,” then embrace it. Own it. No one else has to know. If you’re dishonest with yourself about what you really want, you’ll never be able to achieve what you really want to achieve. This can be between yourself and you. Whatever motivates you to continue your efforts even on those days you’d rather not bother.
Keep Your Reminders Visible
I’m not good at remembering things that aren’t written down. And if I can’t see something because it’s tucked away in a drawer or sitting on a high shelf, it might as well not exist at all. Sometimes, visual reminders can help writers stay focused on what they’re doing now — but even more important than that, such reminders can help you visualize how the writing you’re doing right now might one day contribute to a much bigger, more exciting accomplishment.
It’s doesn’t matter how you do this. In some of my writing spaces, I’ve had sticky notes on the walls beside my desk saying things like “published” and “writing job.” It doesn’t have to be complicated or cost money. Just something that you can look at as you’re sitting down to write that says, “Hey, listen, this part might not be fun right now, but it’s going to be eventually.”
Don’t forget why you first decided you wanted writing to become a bigger part of your life. That reason is still there inside you somewhere. You might have to do a little digging to find it, but once you do, it might change your life.
Meg Dowell Writes 