When one thinks of a writer, one often thinks of famous faces, successful story tellers like E.L. James, Stephanie Meyer and Suzanne Collins. People who create fantasy worlds and soulful characters that the people of today are obsessed with.
No one, other than a writer or a writer's spouse, knows how hard it is to reach the lime light of book signings and posing with movie stars that portray your creations on the silver screen.
To the unrecognized writer, to be successful is only a minor priority. Instead, one must focus on making time to write, making time to take a break from writing and of course, keeping a job to publish your life's work because heaven knows it isn't cheap.
When one might imagine a writer, one probably envisions some lanky bookworm who spends all their hours hunched over a computer, typing or taking books with them to every meal. This is not always the case. A writer, in my general opinion, is a grown-up who hasn't lost their creative sense of imagination. Being a grown-up, or at least a waitress new at working in my case, means you are also bound to responsibility.
In order to be a writer you have to be a great manger of time, which let's face it, nobody is. There will be days when you are extremely inspired to write, but instead must sit through some dull class and take notes over something you are less than passionate about. Then there will be days when you have nothing, but time and are either too exhausted to put pen to paper, or are staring at your lap top in frustration and Googling every remedy for writer's block known to man.
Being a writer means overcoming insecure thoughts about your writing, taking a chill pill and finally letting someone other than yourself read your work aloud. To be a successful writer the most important thing you need in life is someone who believes in you and encourages you, when you are your toughest critic, unable to see your own true talent.
After being a writer for seven years, and spending days writing and then months down the road losing confidence in story after story, I've come to realize this is the ultimate rule. I wouldn't be able to write anything worth reading if I didn't have the constant support and encouragement of my boyfriend, Kaiser.
Stephen King, the prolific author of horror also agrees with this notion. He mentions in a writing guidance article that aside from avoiding adverbs, the tip to strengthen any writer's skill is to stay married and stay in love. I will always cherish King's advice, knowing this one little tip will certainly carry me far. So next time you catch yourself visualizing your little work of art on the shelves at Books a Million or Barnes & Nobles, remember not to be so hard on yourself and to hold those who enlighten your world in endless love and emit encouragement and inspiration close!
