Do you ever feel like you’re just…done?
You know, lots of frustrating things at the day job, kids won’t listen to anything you say, baby is fussy, house is messy, shoulder and knee still hurt from the auto thingy, and you just want to, I don’t know, die?
Okay, maybe die is a bit extreme. But, man, sometimes I feel just so spent I wonder if all this is worth it. If life would just be so much easier if I gave up on this little writing dream and just lived life.
And then I think about Stephen King having young kids and working odd jobs, staying up late and getting up early, working his ass off before Carrie got published. I think about Howard Tayler, author and artist behind Schlock Mercenary, working full time while raising a handful of small kids, and still putting hours and hours into his passion before it took off.
And then I think about me. (And by extension, any writer or starving artist out there trying to make a career out of their passion.)
The success stories we read about are real. These are real people and the only thing that separates the ones who make it from the ones who don’t, are that the ones who do never quit when things got hard.
The stuff I’m griping about is the exact same stuff every writer, artist, or musician goes through at some point before they become a success, and I’m sure more than a handful go through this stuff after that as well.
So what’s my point?
I don’t know. To share a word of encouragement, I guess.
Because I often say that other writers are not your competition; they are your support group. And I’m sure that you aspiring writers out there often do feel overwhelmed and frustrated, and maybe even alone. And maybe you even feel like quitting, or at least taking a long break.
And I just want to say–don’t. Don’t take a break. Chasing your dreams is hard. Most people don’t get it. Most people settle. So when you’re feeling down about stuff, as I am tonight, remember that.
Remember why you started writing in the first place. And keep pushing. And never settle.
Jason, another great reminder for new writers like me! I was ready to quit recently when an established writer posted on FB how a memoir by a new writer was only questionably marketable. That seemed to be directed right to me so I began questioning myself and quit editing my book for a few weeks. A good editor gave me new enthusiasm so I am now continuing on my journey. Thanks for your encouragement also!
Thanks for the feedback, and good luck to you !
I always think about J. K. Rowling and her success story. She was a self described failure. Dreams do come true, even in the middle of America!
Thanks for the encouraging words. The ones who make it are the ones who don’t quit!