“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.” Ashley Smith
At some point, most of us come to the realization that we must fight to make our dreams reality just as Ashley Smith points out. While dreams may allow our imaginations to soar, dreams alone will not produce anything concrete or lasting. Holding your first published book in your hands will not come about by dreams alone. We all know that.
Nothing is going to get us where we want to be if we don’t do the work involved to get us there. I wish it were easier, that I had some special magic to tell others but, the truth is, it isn’t easy. It’s a lot of work, a lot of making ourselves write when we can think of a hundred other things that requires our attention. It is sitting at our computer while we miss out on another gorgeous day unfolding around us. It is persistence, and determination, and the ability to pick ourselves up as many times as need be. It is writing the story that just won’t go away, the one that occupies our hearts and minds, the story that will make us feel incomplete if we don’t eventually write it down.
I’ve never known any writer who has not, at some point, struggled to remain optimistic in the face of rejection. It is something we can take comfort in, knowing that we are not alone. Surely, the most optimistic person in the world suffers through moments of despair.
When things aren’t going so well, when we look at what we’ve written and totally hate it, it might help to realize that we are not alone with those feelings. I’ve heard tell of some pretty awesome writers who battle with feeling of insecurity, and it doesn’t seem to matter how many books they have had published. Get used to it. We’re all going to be there a time or two. Knowing that those feelings won’t stick around for long usually helps me when I’m feeling down.
I like to get out a paper and pen and write about how miserable I feel and whine about what a horrible writer I am until I cannot whine anymore. I write until the words that come out are words of encouragement and optimism that flow effortless across the page. It’s great to have those around us to help us through those time, but their words of encouragement will not help if we don’t believe it somewhere deep in our being.
Many people in my life come to me for encouragement and I’m always more that glad to give it. It’s the least that anyone of us can do for another. On this blog I will offer what I can in the way of encouragement for anyone, but in return, please promise that you will offer that same encouragement to yourself, remembering that we must all fight to make our dreams reality.
So I’m going to give you the opportunity to write the most encouraging comment to yourself that you can muster. Don’t be shy, tell it like it is. Make that inner you smile. 🙂
Laura Best 
C.B. Wentworth
/ August 27, 2011Well said and so true. Right now, my inner critic is really beating up my confidence. I don’t know why she’s decided to show up at this particular moment, but its been a relentless fight lately. All I keep telling myself is “I am a writer and I’m not going to give up.”
🙂
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Laura Best
/ August 28, 2011Gah that inner critic. Toss her to the curb.. Yes, we must continually use positive affirmations when we find ourselves in the middle of our inner critic’s wrath. It’s not a nice thing for sure..
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pattisj
/ August 27, 2011You are an encourager, Laura. Thanks.
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Laura Best
/ August 28, 2011We all need to be encouraged from time to time, Patti… 🙂
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joylene
/ August 28, 2011Wonderful post, Laura, and a great idea. It wasn’t that long ago that I felt shrouded in doubt and wondered if my dream would ever come true. I could admit to those struggling that yes my dream finally came true, but not a lot changed. I’m the same person I was before, just published now. It doesn’t bring with it instant fame or happiness. That’s something you have to continually strive for. Dream, work hard, believe, and one day it will come true, you’ll hold your book. But never assume being published will fix whatever is wrong or painful in your life. Publishing is the end result of working hard at your writing. All the other stuff is separate.
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Laura Best
/ August 28, 2011What you said, Joylene, is so true. People often think that once they’ve acheived that goal, that dream, that somehow everything in their life will magically correct itself, and they will find happiness.
While being published is a wonderful thing, and having our dreams become reality is oh so sweet, it can’t fix everything. Happiness is something we need to find within us, something that is rock-solid no matter what is going on externally in our lives. I’m glad you pointed this out.
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Lynn
/ August 28, 2011Great post, Laura. Sorry I have not kept up, I do enjoy your posts but I just don’t seem to manage much anymore with the demands on my life now.
The voices keep at me, keep saying that taking time for myself is a waste of time, even writing. But I believe I need to write to let the creative part of me find expression. Even though I don’t write much I still have that desire within me.
My husband and I have always told our four daughters .. “you can do anything you put your mind to.” And they are discovering that. So, now I need to believe that for myself and listen to the other voice .. that I do have something to say, something worth sharing.
Keep writing, Laura. You are inspiring to others.
Blessings.
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Laura Best
/ August 28, 2011Thanks, Lynn. So nice that you were able to drop in. I know how hectic things are for you these days.
Perhaps if you were to commit to writing a certain number of words as day, even if that number is only 100 or so. It would still be a way of allowing that creativity to be expressed.
We all have something to share. One way or another, Lynn. I hope you are able to make the time for your writing, however small it might be at the moment, and work toward your goal. God only knows what you’ll discover when you let yourself go. 🙂
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Leah Saylor-Abney
/ August 29, 2011Laura, what an inspirational post – thank you!
I’ve mastered the art of “butt in chair,” which is a major deal for me. (It only took 31 1/2 years to win that battle. *smile*) But now whenever I read my finished stories all I hear is, “This isn’t good enough. It’s not different enough. It’s too emotional to fit into the horror genre. No one will “get” it.” The two people I allow to read my work – online friends I’ve never met in real life – are supportive and reassuring, and they tell me over and over there is an audience for my style of horror. They don’t let me get away with anything and challenge me with feedback and areas of improvement, which is crucial in writing partners. Also, they keep telling me the only way to find out if my stories resonate is to share them. I stopped posting unfinished and unedited stories on my blog but only because it’ll help [force] me to submit them to live markets. Knowing those feeble stories are still out there makes me cringe but it was good practice and I learned a lot from posting them.
Anywho, all of that to say, I absolutely agree with you. Others can give encouragement day in and day out, but if YOU don’t believe in yourself and your dream and then DO THE WORK you can’t expect it to come true. So, the most encouraging comment I can muster for myself at this moment…
I write every day and now I share those stories with two people who have no reason not to be 100% honest about what they read, and they have yet to say, “I’d rather bleach my eyeballs than read another word you write.” 🙂
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Laura Best
/ August 29, 2011Glad you found something worthwhile in my post, Leah. It’s nice to know when our words have made some impression on someone–as you know.. That is why we write. Isn’t it? I hope you are soon ready to start sending your work out. I found it so helpful once I started receiving feedback from editors. By telling myself that they don’t know me, and if my work sucks, they aren’t going to remember as it was probably sandwiched in between a lot of other horrible writing…Turned out some places didn’t like/want my work, but others did… 🙂
Remember that the difference between a rejection and an acceptance sometimes comes down to one person who either liked or didn’t like what you’ve written…ONE PERSON.
Well, bleached eyeballs certainly gives me a mental image..lol
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