On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

In her latest release, 1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round, novelist Jami Attenberg shares her advice and that of over 50 other writers.

Here’s an inspiring essay from Jami Attenberg:

I can sit here and write about the pandemic and say it was an extraordinary historical moment where many of our lives shifted if not only in terms of physical or mental health or relationships but also in how and where we work. It happened on a grand scale. But there will always be one life event or another that can distract you. Be prepared for this. I don’t live in fear of this but merely accept it as the truth. No one lives an entire life without a crisis at some point or another. And this may distract you from your daily practice.

After a family member was diagnosed with dementia, every time I visited them, I found it threw me off my work for a few days, if not longer. Eventually I began to find myself rushing to finish work before a family visit so I wouldn’t fall behind afterward. Because I knew I would need time to decompress, and I would not be able to be my best creative self. I thought, There is nothing I can do to change this moment of time in all our lives, and I need to be as present as possible. Something had to give, and work was it. I didn’t like how it affected me, but I had no choice. I, like you, am only human.

What I do not recommend is being angry with yourself for not getting your work done. None of us need to make ourselves feel bad twice. All we would be doing is building yet another hurdle for ourselves. Most of us need to feel comfortable, relaxed, and at ease in order to work, or at least able to trick our brains into feeling that way for a period of time. Being in a moment of crisis, and then being angry at yourself for being in that moment of crisis, will make it even harder to get work done. Everything takes time. And the work will be waiting for you when you are ready for it.

The crisis is temporary. Your work will be there for you forever.

Source: 1000 Words, p. 191

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

In her latest release, 1000 Words: A Writer’s Guide to Staying Creative, Focused, and Productive All Year Round, novelist Jami Attenberg shares her advice and that of over 50 other writers.

Here’s an inspiring essay from Michael Weber:

Here’s something you probably already know: it’s too easy to avoid writing.

So my advice is to be hard on yourself about finding the time to write—extremely hard—but then be kind to yourself after that. Don’t worry about quality. Just put the time in, day after day. Make writing more important than any other things in your life. Because anyone can write when they feel like it, when they have a good idea, when they’re not sick or hungover or tired. I recommend writing when you don’t feel like it, when you have no good ideas, when you couldn’t be more busy and have a hundred reasons not to write. Turn writing into something you have to do.

My self-esteem is tied to my productivity. If I don’t write, I don’t feel good about myself. I’m no longer scared to write poorly because the worst feeling is not writing at all.

Source: 1000 Words, p. 161

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

Librarian and author Terah Shelton Harris shared the following thought-provoking advice in a recent post on the Writer Unboxed blog:

As a published writer, how do you define success?

That’s the question I posed to myself and two of my writing besties, Jason Powell, author of No Man’s Ghost, and Meagan Church, bestselling author of The Girls We Sent Away. Their answers, as well as mine, truly surprised me.

There are thousands of authors who never get their books in front of audiences. And thousands more who do, but never get any acclaim, Powell says. He believes it’s a cliché to tell an author that just being published is a victory and a mark of success if that author doesn’t yet feel accomplished. And some may feel a sense of accomplishment for having finished a book they felt comfortable sending out, because that was their goal.

“Make a list, no matter if it’s one item long or a hundred. I think even if one of those things is checked off, you’re a success,” he said.

Powell says his book is successful because people he didn’t send it to have read it. “It’s a weird feeling opening up something you’ve created to public opinion, but not a totally unpleasant one. I wanted this opportunity and I’m thankful to God and so many people that I’ve had it. It’s such a win to have someone pay money to read my thoughts.”

For Church, success for her as an author is if her books are widely available in stores and libraries, well received by readers, and bring financial returns for her.

“My goal is to write emotionally charged stories that engage the reader,” she says. “So, to be successful, I need for my books to have the opportunity to get into the hands of readers who will connect with them and do so in a way that I can afford to invest more time into writing more stories.”

Both of Church’s books have enjoyed wide distribution in bookstores and libraries and have certainly gotten into the hands of readers who are connecting with the stories on deep levels and in favorable ways, she says.

“Because my books released in 2023 and 2024, and taking into account the pace of reporting, we are still early in the financial part of the equation, but I was thrilled that I earned out my first book on my first statement. Now, future royalties will be earnings, giving me the ability to keep writing.”

The definition of success differs from writer to writer. It’s not always what you think it is. It could be as lofty as making the New York Times bestselling list or earning out an advance or simply finishing a book. Armed with their answers as well as my own self-reflection, I was finally able to define success and it’s what I originally imagined it to be.

My book is successful because it exists, because people have read it, and that’s enough for me.

Read the rest of the post here.

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

Whenever I need a boost, I reread Write Smart, Write Happy by award-winning author Cheryl St. John. Here’s an uplifting excerpt:

Remember to celebrate the goals you achieve; don’t dwell on what didn’t work. Never compare yourself to anyone, because you’re special just the way you are. You have the ability to dream a dream no one else can. You’re going to write the books only you can write.

Continue to learn. Be aware, curious, and open-minded. Be a reader. Most of us came to be writers because of our love of reading. When we get busy with deadlines, it’s easy to let that first love slip away. Renew that love. Fill the well. Remind yourself why you love stories, why you want to write.

And above everything else: Believe in yourself. Draw on and draw out the writer inside. You’re the only writer like you—the only person who can write your unique individual stories. You’re the only person who can make your dream come true. You have the tools and the desire. Hold onto the unshakeable truth that you can do this and you will move forward.

Source: Write Smart, Write Happy by Cheryl St. John, p. 261