I haven’t worked on my novels in about a year. My stories are a sensitive subject for me. Talent is subjective. Even though many people have praised my writing over the years, I have a hard time believing them. My motivation has been to write for people like me, or my loved ones. 

Recently, a friend reminded me that my stories have merit. The new medication for my ADHD comes with drowsy side effects, so it’s been an adjustment. A tip from a writing group that I attended at the beginning of the pandemic suggested that if you are stuck, read your writing to fall back in love with it. There have been a lot of changes in my life lately, and my stories deserve a place in the world. Life is short, and everyone has a different perspective. Sadly, most people don’t live to see the full scope of the lives they touch. Hopefully, I’m one of the lucky ones. Others’ opinions can stop someone from reaching their full potential. Universal love is not possible. Even the most popular items have critics. It’s popular to dislike pop culture trends.

One person’s favorite book can be another person’s dumpster fire. That’s the beautiful thing about creating something. You never know how something will affect someone else.

The Choice Is Yours

Talent has two definitions for me. The first is something that comes easily to a person. The second definition is something that you love, and are happy to pour your energy toward to succeed in that field. However, this doesn’t mean you have to monetize whatever you create. You may enjoy baking, but you don’t want to sell it. That’s okay. Not every skill someone has needs to be used to make money. Sometimes, I have certain characters that I like to put in whatever crazy situations I come up with to see how they would react. Those stories will never be published because they are only for me. No one is going to force you to sell your passion projects. It’s your decision.