Welcome back this last week of January. I’m sure many of you reading this are quite ready for winter to end. As for us on the west coast, this was the winter that wasn’t. Soon, and I mean soon if this weather continues, it will be time to start the garden……sheez, I’m not ready for that!
Let’s talk about instant gratification today. So many people want it. We want to laugh immediately when watching a comedy. We want our burger and fries immediately when at a fast food restaurant. We want instant success as a writer, yes? We write an article and want hundreds to read it that same day. We write a book and want a publisher to knock on our door offering us five figures for a bonus signing.
Nope, doesn’t happen!
Success in writing is a methodical process. You have to slowly build your platform and you have to keep improving, all the while the voice screams inside your head that you are wasting your time and what an idiot you are.
Well you aren’t an idiot….you are a writer.
If you have been writing for some time now, say one, two or three years, think back to when you first started. Can you see the progress you have made? My goodness I can. I can’t believe how far I have come in three years. Over 400,000 views…a novel….several other ebooks….one novel ¾ done…two others waiting in the wings….oh my goodness yes, progress has been made.
Have I been approached by a traditional publisher yet? No, but that just means my time hasn’t arrived for that milestone yet….yet….so I keep writing, keep improving, keep doing the things that are necessary so that I will, eventually, be approached by an agent or publisher.
You have to pay your dues in this business; there is no other way.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“All life demands struggle. Those who have everything given to them become lazy, selfish, and insensitive to the real values of life. The very striving and hard work that we so constantly try to avoid is the major building block in the person we are today.”
Pope Paul VI
TIP OF THE DAY
Make one new contact today…set a goal to make one new contact each week. A peer in the writing business, a new agent, a new bookstore owner…someone who might be a valuable contact in your future. It’s all part of building your writing platform.
PROMPT OF THE DAY
You know what to do. Give me 200 words based on this picture. I know you can do it.
CONTEST OF THE DAY
The Erma Bombeck Writing Competition is accepting entries now through February 17th. You can read all about it here.
SUGGESTION OF THE DAY
If you have your own blog may I suggest that you highlight a new writer each week? Spread the love and the love will come back to you.
MORE ON THURSDAY
My goodness gracious this has been a productive day. I hope it has been for you as well. I’ll see you in a couple days. Until then, keep writing and await your turn for success.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 