Having been involved in different writing circles and forums over the years, there is one thing that stands out in my observations. The majority of writer’s or would be writer’s have a lousy outlook toward the writing process.
I know many of us do a measure of good natured kidding around. However, I have seen a lot of people state, “I’m going to try and write something, but I don’t think I’ll be able to do it and I’m going to fail at it anyway”. Whoa!…what a mindset.
Why would anyone undertake anything with the thought that they are not going to do it anyway? If you are going to try something, do it with the expectation that you are going to complete it successfully.
Any writer who has written a published manuscript knows how hard writing can be. Whether you are writing an article, a short story or a full-length novel – it takes real effort. They know the kind of dedication, determination and perseverance it takes to complete a piece of publishable writing. One thing I don’t see among active and/or published writers is the mindset of “I’ll give it a shot, but I know I’ll fail.”
Writing is the only avocation I know of where people use the excuse they can’t write or work because they are “blocked”, or that the muse wasn’t talking to them today. I had a friend that worked for a newspaper. She needed to produce an article every day and said if she ever used the excuse of being blocked, she’d have lost her job right away. If you make up your mind to really do something, you’ll find a way to get it done.
“If you think you can do a thing or think you can’t do a thing, you’re right.”
- Henry Ford -
“Do, or do not. There is no try”
- Jedi Master Yoda -
Mr. Ford and Yoda are both right. If you tell yourself that you are going to do something and believe that you can do it – then it will get done. However, if you tell yourself that you are going to try and do something, but don’t think or believe that you can – then you won’t. Change your self-talk and change the way you look at things and you’ll find the things you look at change.
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Posted by WFMeyer 
