As a writer, I’ve grown up hearing various tips and tricks and things that good writers are supposed to do. Recently, I stumbled upon a Lifehack article: a handy-dandy list of all these things, numbered and bullet-ed so it’s easy to follow—just check those off and BAM, you’re an excellent writer!

Okay, that was obviously sarcastic, but it was interesting going through the list. I couldn’t help but start to wonder—am I actually a bad writer if I don’t quite meet all of these checkpoints?

Here are the main ones:

1. Keeping a notebook/journal with you at all times.

Hypothetically, good writers bring a notebook with them everywhere and use it to journal and/or write interesting little observations or ideas that pop into their minds while they’re sitting on a park bench or riding the underground, etc. etc. Now, this sounds like a great thing. Right?

The problem is, I’ve kept the same little black notebook with me for years (literally, years) and I’ve probably written one spur-of-the-moment, light bulb idea in it. Does that mean that I’m not observant enough? Do I not even have ideas? What am I even doing with my life?

I think the deal is that when I’m out and about, I’m usually either thinking about all the things I have to do, trying to get said things done, or enjoying the company of other people. I honestly come up with the majority of my story ideas by just sitting in front of my computer and trying to think of an idea. I don’t know why more ideas don’t spontaneously grace my mind--they just don’t. Maybe it’s because I get so engaged in a regular routine. Regardless, this is one piece of advice that has just never seemed to work that well for me.

2. Writing every day.

Okay, I know I know I know this is important—but also, can someone please explain to me how I can possibly fit in a decent amount of writing every day when I’m constantly thinking about what homework I have to do, or doing said homework, or running to meetings, or eating food, or trying to maintain my body’s health via exercise, or everything else that needs to happen on a regular basis? That’d be great to know. It really would.

Whenever I promise myself that I’ll keep up a daily writing routine during school, I end up being able to fit in only about three or four hours a week, at sporadic and constantly-changing times. Obviously, I know that I need to make a non-summer or winter break daily writing routine at some point. But right now, when all I’m trying to do is keep up with everything, get a good amount of sleep every night, and wake up in time to make coffee in the morning, it’s just not that realistic. Does that make me not dedicated enough?

3. Reading A LOT.

I would love to read for inspiration all the time, instead of just during school breaks. I would love to read a bunch of YA novels and find my new favorite author role-model. I would love that. That’d be great. But when I barely have time to finish my reading for my classes, how am I supposed to have time to read for fun/personal writing improvement all the time? If someone also figures this one out, please let me know.

(I feel like this has just become me whining about my schedule; but seriously, that’s the main reason I find myself not fulfilling a lot of these writerly suggestions.)

4. Becoming super chill with rejection and criticism.

Let’s be honest, how much does any writer actually become super chill about this? Some can become close to impervious, some can become numb, but I know that I can never quite eradicate the disappointment. That just doesn’t happen. I can’t do it. I’ve received many many many rejections, and I’ve definitely gotten to where I can read them and say to myself, “Welp, on to the next thing!” But that doesn’t mean that I don’t still feel that twinge of disappointment and wonder to myself, if only for a moment, why didn’t they take this story? What was it this time?

As for criticism, I feel like it takes years (as in decades) of rejection-weathering and critique sessions to become fully comfortable with receiving criticism. I’ve become much more comfortable with it than I used to be, and I recognize how crucial it is to my literary improvement, but I still feel like I have a long way to go before I can actually embrace it. I think that for most writers, it’s mainly the ego that gets in the way of this embracing. We’re competitive people when it comes to writing; it’s kind of hard to help. If someone figures out how to erase that part of our identity, that’d be great to know as well.

5. Ceasing to be critical of yourself and your work.

Another genuinely honest thought here—how possible is this? I mean, really though; I’m pretty confident in myself as a writer, but I obviously still have moments of self-doubt. I’ll still go back to my work and think, why did I ever think this was a good idea? I feel like they’re incredibly hard feelings not to have. The key is not letting them stop you from going for your dreams (thank you, I’ll have my inspirational poster created now, please).

For the millionth time, if someone finds out how to eliminate self-doubt and self-criticism, please let me know.

So, am I a bad writer? Am I not dedicated enough? Do I not have what it takes?

The answer to that, of course, is no. I still feel extremely dedicated, I know what I need to do, and I’m doing what I can. That right there, doing what you can, is one of the main takeaways here—along with the point that you can’t expect to completely succeed in all of these checkpoints. I’m realizing that this is definitely the mindset that I’ve been working under, and honestly, it’s been working pretty well for me so far.