I have been a writer since 2012, and over the years, I have learned a lot about myself, and the writing process. This writing journey really has been a roller coaster ride. So today, I will be sharing ten writing lessons I have learned over the years.
- You need to embrace feedback. Yes, even the negative feedback. You’ll never grow as a writer if no one ever tells you what you are doing wrong. Praise is good, but only if it’s honest praise. However, this doesn’t mean that you need to take on board all feedback, especially if the comment is down to personal opinion.
- You need to give yourself a cut-off point when planning projects. I’m a planner, but sometimes I hide behind the planning stage to avoid the writing; this is mostly due to my self-doubt. However, you don’t need to have a completed plan to start writing. You’ll be surprised how things come together while you write.
- Rejection hurts, but it gets better. Over the years, you will learn to deal with rejection better (practice makes perfect). However, it took me three years to get to this point.
- Perseverance is key to success. If I had given up after my first rejection, I wouldn’t have the publishing success that I have. Yeah, it’s not a huge success, but it’s more than I ever imagined.
- You must protect your writing time. There are many distractions around you that will get in the way of your writing, so regardless of what people think, make sure you make time for your writing.
- You need to be patient with your writing skills. You won’t be a great writer at the beginning. I cringe when I read my earlier stories, but writing is a skill that is continually developed. You’ll always be better than you were the previous year.
- It’s okay to reach out to other writers. I joined a writing group, and it’s great sitting around and being able to talk to people about writing without receiving blank faces. I also find it great when I talk to writers online.
- It’s okay to call yourself a writer. In fact, when you do, it feels great. No one will believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself.
- Write what you love. If you don’t love it, you’ll never finish it. It can be tempting to write the genres that are currently in fashion, but like clothes, what was once fashionable soon becomes old news.
- Don’t be scared to follow new paths. This whole writing journey is a new path to what I had originally planned for myself (I was meant to be a web designer), but it was the right decision. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I had never finally given myself permission to follow the dreams I had as a child.
So there you have it, ten writing lessons I have learned. There are even more things that I could add to this list, but the most important thing I have learned is that it’s okay to follow your dreams.
Keep writing, folks!