Being A Writer Isn't About Trying to Win

Being a writer isn't about trying to win.

So why do so many writers act like it is, guarding their experiences, both good and bad, like they are state secrets? Or worse yet, piling on unwarranted criticism on fledgling writers trying to find their 'writer legs'.

You Win

Whether I'm editing a piece for a client or a friend, I'm always encouraging. Writing is a very solitary endeavor, hours invested in discovering the proper voice for the piece, getting the dialogue to crackle, and bringing the setting alive with engaging characters. All of us, no matter how vast our publishing history is, need some kind of validation, whether from a friend's comments after giving it a read or a family member. But nothing compares to those comments from contemporaries, the other solitary souls wringing out their fears and dreams within the pages of their manuscript, just like we are.

Think about it.

When you were growing up and your mom and dad said you'd done well on a test or in a game, it didn't mean the same as hearing those things from a teacher, a student, a fellow teammate, or even a coach. Those people toiling with you day in and day out knew what it took to produce on the field and in the classroom. They were there with you in the trenches.

It's the same for writers.

Hearing your mom say what you've written is the greatest thing ever, is not the same as a fellow writer saying those same words, particularly if they have some publishing credits to their name.

All of us who take up the pen to pour ourselves on the page should help each other. There is nothing more rewarding than helping a fellow author by leaving a review, editing a piece, or providing encouragement.

Doesn't take much.

A few words.

A few minutes.

It can mean the world to a struggling author.

Never forget to always write ON!