Yes! I'm ready to give up...and I know I shouldn't. It's that same sensation I had at mile 17 of my first (and thankfully, only) marathon. Like--this was a terrible idea--and I'm done. I'm checking out of the race. But I wasn't done. And when 5-ish miles later I crossed the finish line, it once again felt like a FANTASTIC idea/accomplishment--one I'd trained for and earned.
"Here’s the reframe I want to offer, especially if you’ve ever felt frozen by that guessing game: you are not auditioning for the cool kids. You are the cool kid.
You are the one making something from nothing. You are the one sitting alone with a blank page and deciding to put your inner world into words. You are the one taking on the risk of being seen. That’s not beginner energy. That’s not outsider energy. That’s power.
Being “cool” by judging other people’s creative pursuits—by standing on the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending not to care—is only cool in 80s movies. The cool kids now are the artists. The storytellers. The people brave enough to say, this matters to me, even when they don’t yet know who else it will matter to."
I meant more for the writer and all the writers who want to be accepted by the cool kids, and don't know they are the cool kid. I'm a writer and a publisher in South Africa. I know what it is like on both sides of the fence/river ...
On the publishing side of the river, you're running a business, and you've got to sell a work to make any money for yourself and the author. It's got to be marketable to enough people to make it worth your investment in it. I've had more than one agent tell me what I've written is technically very good, but they just don't know how to sell it. On the writer's side of the river, you may be more grounded than I am and be satisfied with having written something you're proud of whether someone publishes it or not. Unfortunately, I'm still hung up on getting the validation that comes with having work published.
Thank you for this wonderful encouragement! So many of us need it.
Of course! So happy to help!
Yes! I'm ready to give up...and I know I shouldn't. It's that same sensation I had at mile 17 of my first (and thankfully, only) marathon. Like--this was a terrible idea--and I'm done. I'm checking out of the race. But I wasn't done. And when 5-ish miles later I crossed the finish line, it once again felt like a FANTASTIC idea/accomplishment--one I'd trained for and earned.
Your encouragement means so much! D
Writing a book seems like a lot less terrible idea than a marathon!! But if you did that, you can do anything!!
Having done both....I agree!!!
Authenticity is beautiful. <3 Thank you for this!
Loved the encouragement and needed to hear it, especially this week as I flounder through a chapter after getting a rejection!
Not your people! You will find yours!
damn, this really resonates!
Hopefully in a good way!
yes, very
"Here’s the reframe I want to offer, especially if you’ve ever felt frozen by that guessing game: you are not auditioning for the cool kids. You are the cool kid.
You are the one making something from nothing. You are the one sitting alone with a blank page and deciding to put your inner world into words. You are the one taking on the risk of being seen. That’s not beginner energy. That’s not outsider energy. That’s power.
Being “cool” by judging other people’s creative pursuits—by standing on the sidelines, arms crossed, pretending not to care—is only cool in 80s movies. The cool kids now are the artists. The storytellers. The people brave enough to say, this matters to me, even when they don’t yet know who else it will matter to."
Love it.
Thank you
You are welcome!!
Ouch, and thank you for sharing this!
I hope it is a good ouch!!
I meant more for the writer and all the writers who want to be accepted by the cool kids, and don't know they are the cool kid. I'm a writer and a publisher in South Africa. I know what it is like on both sides of the fence/river ...
On the publishing side of the river, you're running a business, and you've got to sell a work to make any money for yourself and the author. It's got to be marketable to enough people to make it worth your investment in it. I've had more than one agent tell me what I've written is technically very good, but they just don't know how to sell it. On the writer's side of the river, you may be more grounded than I am and be satisfied with having written something you're proud of whether someone publishes it or not. Unfortunately, I'm still hung up on getting the validation that comes with having work published.
I stall because I run out of story. Never concern myself with what others might think, especially editors/publishers because I don't have any.
Thank you for writing this.
Thank you for this.
You are welcome!