Post by millilou on May 16, 2003 15:12:38 GMT -5
There are a lot of people who thing about writing. But's that's about as far as most of them go, just thinking. For one reason or another they just never get around to it, always finding excuses why there's not enought time or maybe just no place they can write. Some people may dabble at it for a while, going about the task of writing in a half-hearted way. They just seem to give up after a few rejections, never knowing for sure if they could have succeeded as a writer. A few people persevere and strive to reach their dreams. So, then, how can a person tell when he or she become a REAL writer?
You know you're a REAL writer when...
...you'd rather write than eat, sleep, watch tv, go out or do almost anything else.
...the coming of the mailman is the highlight of the day.
You get so depressed on Monday holidays that only the delivery of the mail on Tuesday brings relief.
...almost everything you see and hear makes you say, "Wow, that would make a great story or poem."
...the hour you allow yourself for writing suddenly turns into four and you don't know where the time went.
...the only thing you want more than typing paper and envelopes for birthdays and Christmas is a book of postage stamps.
...the only thing you do when not writing is reading about writing, or about anything for than matter.
...you make sure that at least a part of every day is spent in actual, active writing.
...that manuscript you really believe in came back for the tenth time and you promptly sent it out again.
...the article you sold last week for copies was just as exciting to you as the earlier one you sold for big bucks.
...you find yourself say more and more..."I could have written that, even better."
...you no longer look upon rejection in a negative way. You see it as more of a challenge, trying to prove to yourself and others that you will sell that article, story or poem somewhere.
...you make sure you have something new to send out into the marketplace each week.
...you are ask what you do for a living and you don't hesitate one second or cringe in embarassment but say proudly, "I'm a writer!"
If writing is a dream of yours, don't give up. It can be a long and difficult road, paved with hard work and rejection slips. But the REAL writer will travel that road, no matter the price. The REAL writer will face the odds and come out a winner.
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This article was published in 1994 in The Write Touch journal.
Thanks for reading...Milli
