I have written nothing for any of my stories in a while. Writing took a slight backseat while I started learning about my mental health. My characters have still been wreaking havoc in my brain, but the doubts prevented me from writing my ideas on paper. Next, came the inevitable thoughts about not being a writer if you aren’t working on your manuscripts. 

This view seems harsh, but the argument is that if you aren’t writing, you are a person with a dream of publishing a book. Many people think that even if you are thinking about the plot of your book, you are a writer. People get caught up in world-building, and the book never sees the light of day. Someone should enjoy creating stories. Monetary success doesn’t make you a writer either. 

Falling Back in Love with Your Writing

Most people I know cringe at looking back at their old pieces. It’s understandable because your writing style is much like a life experience. The more media you consume, the more ways you’ve learned to tell a story. I love looking back at my writing because I wasn’t worried about someone considering it for publication. My purpose was to have a place where it didn’t matter if a character was in a wheelchair. Her friends wanted to help because they wanted her to hang out with them. It’s okay to write what you need and fix it later. The love for your work matters.

Your work isn’t awful, I promise. There will be something good about it. The process will pay off.

Publishing is Like Dating

The publishing industry is much-like dating. It’s important to do your research before you query. This way, you can use their authors to market your book. Unfortunately, rejection is part of the process but there are various publishers. Even when you have an agent, sometimes it doesn’t work out. Agents will ask you to make changes, but you may search for another agent if someone asks you to change your entire book. Writing isn’t easy, but you never know what lives you will change.