Confidence.
The one thing every successful writer must have is confidence in the work they
do. Why is it then that so many writers, regardless of what it is
they write, are lacking in that department?
Perhaps
it's because we put our hearts on our sleeve. For months to years we
toil tirelessly with our writing, doing all we can to ensure that the
reader gets what they were looking for. Those of us who write
fiction need to also ensure that the reader is entertained by the
story and identifies with the characters. That's not as easy to do
as it sounds, and it doesn't sound easy at all!
Before
I had ever considered writing a novel, I would be amazed to see what
my favorite authors had achieved. The words on the page appeared to
flow effortlessly and the plots fit in their proper places. The end
result was a story and world that I could immerse myself in and
characters I wanted to know more about. Those books were an escape
from the world around me and a way to let my imagination take hold.
Now
that I write, I've come to realize that what I once perceived as
being effortless actually takes a lot of time, mental anguish, and
perseverance to create. The authors of my favorite novels didn't sit
down to the computer one day, type up the story, and then send it
off. They slaved at that computer, or over pen and paper, till they
had the best story they could design. Even then, they weren't
finished.
Writers
are artists and our medium is the written word. We create, either
from our own minds or with influences from the world around us, and
we design. We weave a tapestry that tells a tale and hope that you,
the reader, will be caught up in the imagery we provide.
With
all of the work and dedication that goes into writing, I suppose it's
easier to understand why many aren't as confident as they would like.
I can have a thousand people praise my writing and tell me how
amazing of an author I am, yet it would only take one person, with a
harsh complaint and who hated what I wrote, to destroy how uplifted I
felt from what those thousands had said.
We
truly do put our hearts and souls out into the world with the hope
that others will connect with our words. Logically speaking, it's
understandable and even expected that there are those out there who
won't be pleased with our writing. Still, that fear of rejection
follows us and messes with our minds.
I
have had a lot of people praise my work. While no one had said that
I'm terrible, I still wonder how I will react when someone finally
does say that. It's inevitable. I don't have a large readership yet
since my novel has yet to be published. All I am going on is what
others have said, both in real life and online. So, I know that one
day I'll get an e-mail or comment that will shatter what little
confidence I've built.
I
hope that when that day arrives, I will be able to handle it with
grace, poise, and not let it get to me. I can't please everyone.
And while my confidence is something I would like to build up, I know
that the foundation of it will one day shake. What I feel I need to
keep that foundation strong is to remember is why I write.
I
write because I have something to say. I write because I have
stories in my head that need to come out. I write because I want to
entertain others and hope that they will enjoy reading my novels as
much as I enjoyed writing them. I don't do it for posterity or
fortune. I do it because I love to write and create.
That
is my focus. That is how I overcome obstacles such as a lack of
confidence or fear of rejection. I remember the reasons why I write.
I remember the reasons why I'm independent. Most of all, I remember
that for every person that hates my stories there are plenty who will
like or even love them. Because truly, when it's all said and done,
those readers are the reason behind what drives me to put out the
best novels that I can.
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