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| This was taken during a vacation in California. The words read "Once upon a..." |
The world of a writer is a world full of struggles and doubts. To be a writer is to expose the faults of men so that they may better themselves. To be a writer is to put your soul down on paper with the hopes that instead of mocking it the world will celebrate what you have to say and to teach. That is no simple task.
Of course, the writer must be brave but it isn't always easy to find that kind of courage. Many writers become what are known as "closet writers". They write fantastic stories, weave words together beautifully, but their fear overtakes them and so their writing remains secret, hidden from the world. During my high school years, this was the kind of writer I was. I was determined to someday publish a novel but at the same time I was terrified of being rejected. Today, my hope is to help those closet writers to find the courage to write boldly and to send your brave words off into the world.
It takes a great deal of courage to share any sort of writing, let alone the kind of writing this world needs so desperately. Your duty as a writer is to not only let your very soul shine through your writing but to speak boldly of the things the world needs to hear, words that only you can give. So, with that in mind, I would like to share my own advice of how you might find the bold words within you. Here is my advice:
1. Write for yourself.
This is unbelievably important. Yes, if you want to be very successful, you will have to write for more than just yourself. However, if you only write for others, the things you are passionate about may be lacking in your writing. Here's my solution: first write for yourself, then rewrite for your potential audience. Revisions will help you figure out what works and what doesn't without constricting your passion.
2. Get a thick skin.
I'm not going to lie to you. Getting something out in the world is a lot of hard, brutal work. You'll be shot down more than once. But if you let it get to you, you'll never get anything published. Forget about what all those other people think. They're wrong. You have just as much chance of being the next J. K. Rowling as anyone else.
3. Be brave in everything you do.
Bravery doesn't come naturally to all of us. Don't let that stop you. Practice bravery in everything you do. You've got to put yourself out there, even if that absolutely terrifies you. The more you practice being brave, the more naturally it will feel. You'll be able to write bravely and say what you think rather than what you think you should say.
So that's all I've got for today. Write for yourself, get a thick skin, and be brave in everything you do. Find your voice and don't be afraid to shout. I challenge all you closet writers to share what you have to say with the world. You never know what it could do for someone.
Questions? Comments? Don't be afraid to ask me anything!
