Over the last month I’ve received over forty emails/tweets/messages asking for advice on writing. This is a pretty high number – and more than I’ve received before in such a short space of time – so I’m guessing there’s something in the air that’s making people feel extra frustrated/blank/exhausted/lost.
Although I’m hardly an oracle, I love that people feel they can come to me and that I can help in some way. It’s a real honour and a pleasure every time. But I suspect that for every writer that manages to ask another for support, there are several others struggling with aspects of their writing career suffering in silence.
I know that I’ve relied on other writers to vent frustrations, ask advice, get a second opinion. But I also know that I’ve worried/stressed/suffered in silence from time to time. I can’t say why exactly – I don’t know why but sometimes, that’s just the way it is. I’m guessing fear is probably the culprit. Fear of failure, of success, of *insert worry here*.
So, in an attempt to help anyone that’s feeling a bit lost but doesn’t know where to turn, I’ve compiled a list of my most popular posts – the ones that seem to be helping people most with the questions/difficulties they’re facing – below. I hope they help.
- For the love of writing, keep going! – a look at overcoming the feeling of failure by enjoying what we do.
- The Wolf We Feed – a post about taking responsibility for our writing and writing career.
- Is your routine good enough? – drawing on other writers’ experiences, this post considers how we write, whether it gives the results we’re looking for and what we can do to make positive changes. (PS My routine has changed completely – maybe it’s time for an updated version of this post?)
- Writing without payment – should we or shouldn’t we?
- Thick-skinned – can rejection ever be positive?
Feel free to post links to some of your own useful posts below. Next time, I’ll be posting a list of recommended blog posts from other writers that offer further advice, inspiration and encouragement.
E.R.Murray 
What a wonderful and generous idea, Elizabeth. I’m sure this post will be a fantastic resource for so many.
As always, you’re being generous yourself, Sinead. Thanks for taking the time to read – do you have a post of your own you can share?
If you wouldn’t mind, Elizabeth, I might just compile one of my own. I’ll link back to yours, of course! I’m all about citing my sources. 🙂
Absolutely! Sounds great & looking forward to reading it 🙂
Thanks for this Elizabeth. Last October after signing the agreement and showing photos to family and friends, I got one very cruel, biting and unexpected response to my happy news. Angered and hurt, I wrote this to reassure myself: http://susanlanigan.wordpress.com/2013/10/27/i-am-good-enough-and-so-are-you/ It’s probably got more likes and responses than any other post I’ve written.
Yes, I remember this post well, Susan. Thanks for sharing in the comments and I’ll add it to my next blog post too. It’s a post worth reading.
Great piece Elizabeth. There are thousands of us at keyboards typing away …must always be for the love of it though, anything else and we’re only fooling ourselves.