One mistake I see writers making—and probably the biggest—is playing too small. As much as they love writing, they “dabble” in their free time. It’s “a hobby” or “a dream” or “a mirage.” Who would want to hear what they have to say?
I was like that. I used to blush and shrink when people in the real world asked me how “the writing thing” was going.
But our words matter. And we have worlds within us that can only be accessed through writing fiction, ideas that can only be understood through story.
We have to care enough about these words to invest in ourselves and make ourselves into better artists and communicators.
Don’t make yourself small.
Open yourself
Get bigger.
Ask questions.
Take up space.
Go all in.
Write like it matters, because it does.
While I generally agree with these sentiments, I also think it’s okay if people want writing as a hobby and nothing more. Not everyone has to be a professional writer. Some people want to dabble and that’s okay.
I agree with the overall sentiment that people should believe in themselves and feel like they can dream big if they want to. But it’s also okay if they don’t want to dream big. Not everyone wants to give writing their everything. That’s perfectly valid and okay.
This is an excellent point. Not everyone wants to write for a living. This post is directed at those who want to become a successful author but don’t feel worthy of that dream. I’m going to change the wording. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Jyvur.