“Be an unstoppable force. Write with an imaginary machete strapped to your thigh. This is not wishy-washy, polite, drinking-tea-with-your-pinkie-sticking-out stuff. It’s who you want to be, your most powerful self. Write your books. Finish them, then make them better. Find the way. No one will make this dream come true for you but you.” ~Laini Taylor
This quote is incredible! I’ve never read any of Laini Taylor’s books (yet) but she has a huge fan base and knows what she’s talking about. I saw this quote and had to reread it a few times to take it all in.
If you are truly passionate about something, writing, art, starting a business, founding a charity, anything, you have to go at it with everything you have. Through the blood, sweat, and tears. Through the creative blocks. Through the self-doubt, critics, and trolls. Keep going. Keep improving. Keep working. It’s not going to be easy. But, that’s what makes all the hard work worth it in the end. Holding your book in your hands, or seeing whatever project you have come to completion, is the most satisfying feeling in the world.
I’ve been watching Jenna Moreci’s YouTube channel a lot lately as she nears the release date of her book. (Which, by the way, is tomorrow. Check out my post about it because I am so excited for it) She did an unboxing of her ARCs and the genuine delight, excitement, joy, on her face as she held her book in her hands was an emotional experience. I felt myself choking up. It was also adorable to see the pride in her fiancé’s eyes as he saw all her hard work embodied in this book. She’s come so far from her debut novel in her career and it’s something I, and many writers, aspire to achieve.
I have a friend who is a talented artist. She is also a real estate agent. Achieving her license and getting a start in this field is incredibly hard. She worked and studied, while helping me plan my wedding, sewing her bridesmaid dress, and taking care of her family. And, now that she’s 7 months in, she loves it. It’s still hard work. She says it takes at least 2 years to be able to make a solid living in that field. But, she always has positive things to say about her team, the excitement when she helps someone buy their first home, makes all the stress, missed calls, additional hours pay off in the end.
Same can be said for writing. I’ve been trying to release my book for 3 years now. But, the setbacks have not deterred me. I keep looking for ways around the roadblocks. This weekend, I’m attending a writers conference. Maybe I can pitch to a publisher. Or, I can find an editor who will help me polish the final draft so I can self publish. Or, maybe I can just learn more about the craft of writing and the industry as a whole. It’s still an opportunity I could not pass on and I’ll take advantage of wherever it may lead.
So, keep going. Keep pushing. It’s hard but worth it. I believe in you!