Welcome to the August 2013 edition of the WITS newsletter!
Lately, I have been thinking about the roles of inspiration and confidence (or lack thereof) in a writer’s success. If you are thinking, “Well, duh, what writer isn’t obsessed with these things?”, just bear with me. We pray for that flash of inspiration, that a-ha book idea; however, the a-ha is often followed by the uh-oh. We start thinking, “How would I make this work?”, or “That would never be believable.”, or–my favorite—“No one would buy this idea!”
Creative people tend to compare themselves (negatively) to the superstars in their respective fields (because, let’s face it, we never hear of the actor who didn’t get the part). This makes it difficult, particularly in times of self-doubt, to imagine that we can achieve our goals. In these moments, it would behoove us to remember that JK Rowling was unknown—and destitute—when she starting jotting down ideas for Harry Potter. But she refused to give up, and she made publishing history.
If that doesn’t convince you, I recommend checking out the Writer’s Room, a new show on the Sundance Channel. Each week, the writers from highly acclaimed shows (i.e., Breaking Bad) talk about their creative process and how hard they worked to convince TV execs that their stories would work on the screen. Here’s a hint: they didn’t do it by comparing themselves to others, but by distinguishing themselves from others.
Happy Writing!
Dana Micheli
Writer and editor, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com
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Writers in the Sky is a team of ghostwriters, editors, and book marketing specialists committed to the craft and business of writing. We work with our clients on all levels of the publishing process, from editing and manuscript assessments to book formatting and marketing. So whether you are a first-time author or a veteran of the craft, let Writers in the Sky help you get your book out into the world. We also provide assistance with résumés, business documents, and academic essays. For more information, visit www.writersinthesky.com.
Lately, I have been thinking about the roles of inspiration and confidence (or lack thereof) in a writer’s success. If you are thinking, “Well, duh, what writer isn’t obsessed with these things?”, just bear with me. We pray for that flash of inspiration, that a-ha book idea; however, the a-ha is often followed by the uh-oh. We start thinking, “How would I make this work?”, or “That would never be believable.”, or–my favorite—“No one would buy this idea!”
Creative people tend to compare themselves (negatively) to the superstars in their respective fields (because, let’s face it, we never hear of the actor who didn’t get the part). This makes it difficult, particularly in times of self-doubt, to imagine that we can achieve our goals. In these moments, it would behoove us to remember that JK Rowling was unknown—and destitute—when she starting jotting down ideas for Harry Potter. But she refused to give up, and she made publishing history.
If that doesn’t convince you, I recommend checking out the Writer’s Room, a new show on the Sundance Channel. Each week, the writers from highly acclaimed shows (i.e., Breaking Bad) talk about their creative process and how hard they worked to convince TV execs that their stories would work on the screen. Here’s a hint: they didn’t do it by comparing themselves to others, but by distinguishing themselves from others.
Happy Writing!
Dana Micheli
Writer and editor, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services
http://writersinthesky.com
Writers in the Sky is a team of ghostwriters, editors, and book marketing specialists committed to the craft and business of writing. We work with our clients on all levels of the publishing process, from editing and manuscript assessments to book formatting and marketing. So whether you are a first-time author or a veteran of the craft, let Writers in the Sky help you get your book out into the world. We also provide assistance with résumés, business documents, and academic essays. For more information, visit www.writersinthesky.com.
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