Benjamin Franklin once wrote that we should either write something worth reading or do something worth writing. I believe that we all aspire for greatness, one way or another.
I also believe that sometimes all we need is a little bit of confidence. We can be better, smarter or faster.
A century ago, people were dreaming of flying, trying and failing, falling on the ground. But why do people fall? Why do they continue to fight when all hope seems to be lost? I believe it is because it is in our nature to fight, to try to find something in the darkness of the things we do not understand, in the chaos that surrounds us.
There’s but a thin line between success and failure. Tell yourself that until you believe it.
I know a lot of young, aspiring writers who don’t want the pain. They don’t want the stress and they don’t want to put in the effort that is required to create something great. They spend way too much time waiting for some stupid muse to come their way, they want for everything they write to be brilliant.
They don’t want sentences that don’t make sense, they don’t want to produce page after page of bad writing. They want instant greatness.
Some believe this is how things are. They are wrong. You have to be willing to fail hundreds and hundreds of times before you create something wonderful. It’s all trial and error, and what really separates us is how much we are willing to work before we tell ourselves our stories are ready.
That is all.
Don’t over think it, don’t tell yourself what you are doing is more than what it is, don’t try to impress anyone. Don’t play it safe either.
Simply write like yourself, and write exactly what you’d want to read.
Our greatness is limited only but what we believe to be the very best we can do.
Okay, you were thinking of me when you wrote. I know.
Bravo!
I do that when I go into prose mode instead of essay mode. My prose is the most popular on here. Thanks for the reminder.
I could look at this GIF forever. This delicate ink-tainted fingers thoughtfully tapping a pen on her desk while staring at a white sheet, thinking about the right words to formulate the thoughts that are swirling through her head. Ink and paper are a less forgiving medium than a word-processor. I still used it by myself from time to time; for exactly the same reason. It obliges me to think before writing something down.
It has taken me fifty years (since 9th grade) to develop my craft to where it is now–and I’ve loved every cringe-worthy draft of it.
Thank you for the succinct, wise words of encouragement. Off to write.
My pleasure, Tylor!
šššš» I admire what you said about writing
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