I’m a bit of a control gremlin. I like to be in charge. I prefer knowing what’s going to happen and when. That makes my chosen career path — writer, editor — a strange one, if you think about it. There are tons of things we can’t control as writers. Miraculously, this has taught me to be a lot more comfortable with uncertainty. Everything in writing is a “maybe.” And MAYBE that’s okay!
I could sit here and tell you that the publishing industry has a long list of characteristics that put you at a disadvantage before you even have something ready to publish. I could remind you that nothing in life, not even the dreams we spend that life chasing, is guaranteed. You’re not here for that, though. So I’m going to tell you, instead, how you can use what you CAN control as a writer to your advantage.
Most Things Are Out of Your Control
You have no say in whether or not an agent responds to your query letter. You don’t get to decide if something you submit gets published. There are even times when you have very little control over whether or not you’re able to finish writing something you started. It can be frustrating. Discouraging. It has the power to stop aspiring writers from trying to make a solid career out of writing.
Making peace with the discomfort of uncertainty as a writer is a skill, one only developed gradually over time. But the way I’ve learned to survive it — and how you can do the same — is by knowing what you CAN control and using those things to propel yourself, and your writing career, forward.
But the Most Important Things Are Still All Up to You
You are as in control of your writing life as you want to be. While hard work may not always get you to exactly where you want to be, you still have the power to decide to do that work anyway. You get to decide what you write and when (to a degree). You get to choose who you interact with in the larger writing community, where you submit your work, and which ideas you decide to give a chance for your next work in progress.
There is so much left up to you. The outcomes are a mystery, but your effort isn’t. As long as you are trying, then you are winning. You’re taking steps in the right direction even if you don’t know exactly where this journey will take you.
There Is Hope Despite the Circumstances
As a writer, you can take what control you do have over your work and use it to get closer to where you want to end up. You can self-publish. You can establish an online presence to promote yourself. The more time you spend on your writing and building the career you want, the better you’ll understand yourself — your strengths, your talents, and where you can apply them to give yourself a chance at the opportunities you hope to be able to take advantage of someday.
None of this is easy. But focusing on the right things can and will change your perspective and, hey — maybe even your life — for the better.
Meg Dowell Writes 