“To defend what you’ve written is a sign that you are alive.”
—William Zinsser
“I don’t need an alarm clock. My ideas wake me.”
—Ray Bradbury
The two main reasons why it takes time to develop as a writer is because we have to (1) trust our writing, and (2) turn the tables around and realize we are writing to someone else. It’s a matter of calming the ego and not finding fault with what you’re going to tell the reader.
Feel the inner love–and it will come through in your writing.
Getting clear is all about your self-confidence first. Keep your self-esteem raised. Honor yourself and it will show.
Make time to develop yourself and find your value. Start by appreciating yourself fully inside.
Don’t wait for anyone to give you credit right now. Just begin.
If you wait for someone to give you the go-ahead to be who you’re meant to be, you may be waiting longer than needed. It’s nothing personal, but, you need to take the reins of your life. Take your self-worth into your own hands. Begin by knowing that you’ve already arrived. Give yourself the nudge. Realize, hey, yeah, I am just as brilliant as the next person. Why not me?
Decide to be happy now. Start smiling. Breathe slower. These actions change lives. You need to feel good. Nothing is more important.
Stop looking for approval or permission to be a writer. You don’t need either. Be your own person. Once you are fully involved with your unique self, you will attract the right experiences, people, and miracles to your life.
Rise above it all. Believe in yourself completely. Realize the value you hold—and let nothing stop you.
Your attitude is everything. Keep working on it every day.
So, what does all of this have to do with writing clearly?
We can’t write clearly if we’re not yet clear inside.
“Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”
––Ralph Waldo Emerson
It’s okay to have a need to find inspiration to write too. We all need time to observe, think, listen. Step back. Inspiration finds us when we’re in tune with our immediate surroundings. We get an amazing idea–and jump to make it happen. Thinking twice will usually stunt the growth of inspiration. Of course it makes sense to think rationally, but listening to our inner buzz is usually how to remain on track. That is… if you decide to believe in it, and go for the ride. The ride that you never expected.
“My projects are the high joy of freedom.”
––Christo
You don’t need to doubt yourself. And you may have heard this before, but it all comes from within you first. Meaning, you control your life. Nothing else controls it. It’s you.
Life can be amazing and effortless when you are in a flow. Being in creative flow is where everything happens. If you have been waiting for a while to be great, please let yourself know that you are—right now. As you are.
You have it in you. Don’t let anyone make you believe otherwise. Look around for inspiration. Inspiration can be hard to come by when you’re not looking for it. So, start making yourself begin to look around—like, really look! Become inspired again.
“It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way.”
—Ernest Hemingway
“You do not have to explain every single drop of water contained in a rain barrel. You have to explain one drop—H2O. The reader will get it.”
—George Singleton
Re-awaken your inspired mind. Do it daily. Make yourself! It works. This is your life.
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Jessica, I very much enjoyed your piece. I’ve been writing since I was a kid. I stopped for a long time when a few teachers shamed me and discouraged my writing. I began again when I was in my 30s and wanted to write a book to help make sense of my life. Inside Out: Becoming My Own Man came out in 1983. Since then I have written 14 books and have been writing weekly posts for the Good Men Project since it first launched eight years ago. A few other thoughts that are suggested in your fine article: 1.… Read more »
Wonderful, Jed! Thank you for your response. I agree with your additional thoughts. Encouragement certainly goes a long way! All the best to you.