For Writers
There's a quote on the bulletin board by my desk. The quote is:
"There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings." ~Hodding Carter Jr.~
I thought this week how a writer can apply that quote to his/her life. The 'roots' of a writer's life must run deep if you're to make it in the world of writing. Because there will be some tough winds along the way. Winds of discouragement: Family, friends, loved ones who may not support your writing, who may wonder why you don't get a 'real' job. (This is not the case in my life, but in the lives of some of my writer friends). The hours are long for the pay involved. Rejections will come. Sometimes falling faster than raindrops.
Put down roots to determine that you won't quit, you won't give up on your writing goals or dreams despite what comes. You'll make your roots out of determination, hard work and a thick skin.
The wings of a writer's life? Dreams. Aim for your dreams. Henry Ford said, "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." No matter what happens, keep your eyes on your dreams, whatever they may be. Give yourself wings. Like a new baby bird just learning to fly, you won't be the most graceful bird in the air. Understand that when you first begin to write, you might not think you're any good (and from talking to many writers, both unpublished and published) I can tell you that writers often doubt themselves, doubt their abilities. I'm talking about best selling, award winning writers.
What they did differently is they flew anyway, not knowing where they were headed, knowing only that they had to answer the call in their heart and fly.
One writer said she wrote her novel with the mindset she'd be the only to see it. When she finished, she decided to send it off anyway. So she did. Her book climbed the charts. I read her novel. She broke every writing 'rule' I've ever read or heard.
She went with her heart. Today, she's soaring on the wings of her dreams. Don't give up.
"There are two lasting bequests we can give our children. One is roots. The other is wings." ~Hodding Carter Jr.~
I thought this week how a writer can apply that quote to his/her life. The 'roots' of a writer's life must run deep if you're to make it in the world of writing. Because there will be some tough winds along the way. Winds of discouragement: Family, friends, loved ones who may not support your writing, who may wonder why you don't get a 'real' job. (This is not the case in my life, but in the lives of some of my writer friends). The hours are long for the pay involved. Rejections will come. Sometimes falling faster than raindrops.
Put down roots to determine that you won't quit, you won't give up on your writing goals or dreams despite what comes. You'll make your roots out of determination, hard work and a thick skin.
The wings of a writer's life? Dreams. Aim for your dreams. Henry Ford said, "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal." No matter what happens, keep your eyes on your dreams, whatever they may be. Give yourself wings. Like a new baby bird just learning to fly, you won't be the most graceful bird in the air. Understand that when you first begin to write, you might not think you're any good (and from talking to many writers, both unpublished and published) I can tell you that writers often doubt themselves, doubt their abilities. I'm talking about best selling, award winning writers.
What they did differently is they flew anyway, not knowing where they were headed, knowing only that they had to answer the call in their heart and fly.
One writer said she wrote her novel with the mindset she'd be the only to see it. When she finished, she decided to send it off anyway. So she did. Her book climbed the charts. I read her novel. She broke every writing 'rule' I've ever read or heard.
She went with her heart. Today, she's soaring on the wings of her dreams. Don't give up.
