I'm in that group. And so it's been my journey to discover how to write without going insane. For example - to write you need hours of your day to be absolutely alone. Being a homeschooling mother of four kids under the age of eight definitely makes that a challenge.
I'm also discovering how you manage writing in such a way that makes all the time you sacrifice worth it in the end. There are many definitions of the worth of writing, but my personal goal is to get to the place where my writing can enrich and entertain others.
Here are five reasons to keep going if you find yourself in a similar place:
1. IT GETS EASIER.
It becomes more natural to get the words on the page the longer you've been at it. This is provided you are also devoting time to reading the type of books you want to write, and reading books about the writing craft by successful authors. (I highly recommend any by James Scott Bell.) But the more effort you put into learning, the more professional your writing begins to seem.
2. THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE LIKE YOU.
It's very easy for me to believe that I'm all alone. Especially since I spend a great deal of time alone, other than to care for my family. But when I read the author blogs or the see the Twitter and Facebook posts, I realize that there are other people out there that are similar to me.
As a writer, the more you try to be your actual self, the more you realize that your thinking is just a little bit out there. But that's what makes a creative, curious personality able to accomplish the art of crafting stories with words that challenge and entertain. So embrace it, even if you get a few weird looks.
3. IT BECOMES MORE ENJOYABLE.
There are still days when writing is a chore. My creative ability waxes and wanes with how much sleep I've had and my present hormonal state. It's a fact of life, especially for women. So take advantage of the times when the story is exciting and real and seems to write itself through your fingertips. And push through when it doesn't. Write anyway, no matter what else is going on.
4. BIG DREAMS JUST TAKE MORE WORK.
My daughter likes to say "I can't" whenever I ask her to do something that takes effort to get done. This is an unacceptable phrase in our household. Because it isn't true. In fact, usually the more work something requires the more worth doing it really is. Whatever your hands find to do, do it to the absolute extreme of your ability.
5. YOU ARE ACCOMPLISHING MORE THAN JUST WRITING SKILLS.
I don't know about others, but this comforts me. I've reached the point where my writing has become like a full time job. I spend time writing, researching, studying the craft at least six hours a day, usually more like eight. And it scares me a little when I think of how much time I could be wasting if I'm not in fact heading toward publication (aka validation!)
But truthfully, there are no regrets. Learning to use my writing ability has been a valid pursuit, even if I never walk into a bookstore or a library and see my book sitting on the shelf. It has taught me perseverance, faith, self-discipline, and humility. I'm teaching my children that I am also responsible to work hard to achieve my dreams, just as I expect of them.
So, no regrets. If you're a writer at heart and you have things to say, put in the effort and learn how to communicate them so someone will listen and benefit from them.
