Friends & Enemies
“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”
~ Sylvia Plath
The same old adage you teach your kids, “Choose your friends wisely,” is just as applicable to you as a writer. Here’s a few fellas that would be worth making into your new best buddies…
GUTS
Writing takes boldness. Not the part where you squirrel away with your laptop and create fantastical tales. Anyone can do that. It’s the pitching of your work, the querying, the sending out of proposals that takes intestinal fortitude. Why? Because of the dreaded rejection factor. It takes guts to share your best piece of writing knowing that you might receive a this-is-the-worst-writing-I’ve-ever-seen kind of response.
The best way to cultivate a relationship with this new buddy of yours is to stop overthinking yourself. In the words of Nike, sometimes you just gotta do it. Write your best, comply to all the guideline requirements of your chosen agent or publisher, then just send it off. Do not overthink yourself and don’t dwell on the possible negative reply you might get back.
IMPROVISATION
If you wait to write a manuscript until you learn all the writerly rules, you’ll never begin. Sometimes you just have to improvise. Go with your instincts. Take a risk and wing it. Honestly, sometimes when you improvise your writing, your story takes on a fresh new angle. Throw out your inner editor and let your thoughts flow onto your paper. Improv is a bff kind of skill.
Now then, there’s one shady character I need to warn you to stay far away from. He’s the creeper that stalks you, draped in a trench coat, and has really bad personal hygiene habits. His name?
SELF-DOUBT
Second guessing yourself is enemy number one. Why beat yourself up when there are so many others who are willing to do it for you? Write your best and don’t be ashamed of it. It is what it is. You’ll always have areas for improvement so it’s a waste of time to fret over your foibles. Open your hand and let it go.