I’ve just gotten back from a business conference across the country and am still a bit jet-lagged, so this week I’m resharing a newsletter from 2024 that still resonates with me.
I just finished my first novel and starting the second, I fear that the first one will go nowhere and that the second one will be a waste of time like the first one. So thank you for this post!
I write because it’s helping me come back to myself after a long time hiding to stay safe in unsafe relationships. It’s even helping me return to my love of visual arts too
I agree with this and truly believe it too. The universe provides, sometimes opportunities, sometimes ideas, and always the means to accomplish if you try.
As someone who has decided to FINALLY finish her first novel because that's all she can think about, I feel seen and reassured after reading this newsletter. Thank you. 💜
I love this, I was just thinking about how writing calls to me in many ways and I just can't ignore it. Now I'm writing down ideas that come to my mind and just letting everything come out in hopes to eventually turn it into something once I get down to just doing it!
Saving this to come back to again and again. I have so many ideas and the excitement and passion is there, I just have a lot of personal mental blocks to overcome. 😅
I think it's a healthy dose of crippling perfectionism and a bad case of the I'm Not Good Enoughs, for which I know logically there are steps to overcome, I'm just not quite there. Something that has been helping me though is knowing that my first attempt doesn't have to be good, it just has to exist. I'm hoping repeating that as a mantra will help me take those first steps. 😌
That’s a good mantra! And those are classic feelings for all writers, so if it makes you feel better, you aren’t alone 😉I really struggled with not feeling good enough as I was writing my first book, and what helped was thinking that if other people could figure it out, why couldn’t I? Plus trying to bring fun into it, writing scenes and characters that brought me joy. And hearing from other writers that they dealt with similar thoughts and feelings was helpful too!
This really speaks to me! I remember starting my first book when I was 8 in a little notepad about a group of kids who go back in time on a camping trip and live life with a group of Native Americans for a day.
I write because I have to. I’ve been drawn to it since I was a child. I used to flirt with poetry and journal writing… Then screenplays. I finally got up the nerve to try writing a novel in my early 30s and I have been writing ever since. That means 25 years… It is such a big part of me. I cannot imagine who I would be without it.
I love your journey around all types of writing! And it's amazing that you found your way to novels and have been focused on them for so long. It's such a big part of your identity now!
Love this and it’s so true. For me, it’s feeling like you have to tell the story. I will see it visually in my mind so clearly and it’s impossible to ignore.
Yes, I definitely can’t stop thinking about writing! It does feel like it’s something I’m meant to do. I can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t thinking about writing, even when my perfectionism and fear of failure kept me from actually writing anything.
I just decided to not put such a high standard on myself! I’m writing right now as an outlet for my creativity and to make my life feel full, and am unconcerned about landing a publishing deal at this point. I took the pressure off and am focusing on enjoyment!
This really resonated with me! I've loved writing since forever! The idea for my book is not leaving me alone. I see these both as signs that I am meant to write this book. 🩵
It’s a memoir about my experience as a 1.5 generation immigrant/child of immigrants in the US who is now raising bicultural children. It explores the question, “How do we raise confident, bicultural kids without first examining who we are?”
Ooh I love that! And such a personal topic definitely means you should be writing it, because you are the only person who can write from this lived experience!
Thank you, I will keep repeating this in my mind.
I just finished my first novel and starting the second, I fear that the first one will go nowhere and that the second one will be a waste of time like the first one. So thank you for this post!
You’re welcome! And honestly, you can’t know what’s going to happen with the novels until you finish them and start putting them out there!
I write because it’s helping me come back to myself after a long time hiding to stay safe in unsafe relationships. It’s even helping me return to my love of visual arts too
I love that it’s doing so much for you 💜
Such a simple but useful mantra to remember. Thanks for this read
I’m so glad it resonated 💜
been wrestling with this a lot lately, loved reading this!
I’m glad it was helpful!
I agree with this and truly believe it too. The universe provides, sometimes opportunities, sometimes ideas, and always the means to accomplish if you try.
Yes, exactly! Glad it resonated with you 😊
As someone who has decided to FINALLY finish her first novel because that's all she can think about, I feel seen and reassured after reading this newsletter. Thank you. 💜
Yay!! Such a great goal!! Cheering you on over here 🤩
Thank youuuu!
I love this, I was just thinking about how writing calls to me in many ways and I just can't ignore it. Now I'm writing down ideas that come to my mind and just letting everything come out in hopes to eventually turn it into something once I get down to just doing it!
I'm so glad this resonated! It truly is a calling, and it's so important to make space in our lives for it.
Saving this to come back to again and again. I have so many ideas and the excitement and passion is there, I just have a lot of personal mental blocks to overcome. 😅
I’m glad it resonated! What would you say is your biggest block?
I think it's a healthy dose of crippling perfectionism and a bad case of the I'm Not Good Enoughs, for which I know logically there are steps to overcome, I'm just not quite there. Something that has been helping me though is knowing that my first attempt doesn't have to be good, it just has to exist. I'm hoping repeating that as a mantra will help me take those first steps. 😌
That’s a good mantra! And those are classic feelings for all writers, so if it makes you feel better, you aren’t alone 😉I really struggled with not feeling good enough as I was writing my first book, and what helped was thinking that if other people could figure it out, why couldn’t I? Plus trying to bring fun into it, writing scenes and characters that brought me joy. And hearing from other writers that they dealt with similar thoughts and feelings was helpful too!
Thanks for sharing this, a helpful reminder as other things are fighting for my attention!
Glad it’s helpful. It’ll always fight for attention with other priorities, and it’s always important to find the space and time for it.
Thank you for this beautiful reminder today. I'll keep it close when I get discouraged our burnt out, or just feel like the words aren't coming.
I’m so glad it resonated 💜
This really speaks to me! I remember starting my first book when I was 8 in a little notepad about a group of kids who go back in time on a camping trip and live life with a group of Native Americans for a day.
What an interesting premise! Did the story end up going anywhere?
I write because I have to. I’ve been drawn to it since I was a child. I used to flirt with poetry and journal writing… Then screenplays. I finally got up the nerve to try writing a novel in my early 30s and I have been writing ever since. That means 25 years… It is such a big part of me. I cannot imagine who I would be without it.
I love your journey around all types of writing! And it's amazing that you found your way to novels and have been focused on them for so long. It's such a big part of your identity now!
Thanks Josee!! Great to connect with you!
Oh I love this, needed this reminder today 💛
I’m so glad it was helpful 💜
Love this and it’s so true. For me, it’s feeling like you have to tell the story. I will see it visually in my mind so clearly and it’s impossible to ignore.
Yes, exactly! I definitely visualize certain scenes and have to get them out.
Yes, I definitely can’t stop thinking about writing! It does feel like it’s something I’m meant to do. I can’t remember a time in my life when I wasn’t thinking about writing, even when my perfectionism and fear of failure kept me from actually writing anything.
I love that you’re still going for it! How do you get past the perfectionism and fear of failure?
I just decided to not put such a high standard on myself! I’m writing right now as an outlet for my creativity and to make my life feel full, and am unconcerned about landing a publishing deal at this point. I took the pressure off and am focusing on enjoyment!
That's awesome! Taking the pressure off is key.
This really resonated with me! I've loved writing since forever! The idea for my book is not leaving me alone. I see these both as signs that I am meant to write this book. 🩵
I’m so glad it resonates, and you are definitely meant to write this book! What’s it about?
It’s a memoir about my experience as a 1.5 generation immigrant/child of immigrants in the US who is now raising bicultural children. It explores the question, “How do we raise confident, bicultural kids without first examining who we are?”
Ooh I love that! And such a personal topic definitely means you should be writing it, because you are the only person who can write from this lived experience!