When Optimism Isn’t Always Enough
I was chatting with a few author friends. We’ve all published at least one novel (some have published more) but none of us is a household name (except, well, in our own households. :))
We keep writing, and we keep publishing and we keep marketing and we keep striving. Not so much for money or fame (though, I’m okay to try those out!) but we strive to broaden our reach and our impact with our words.
And it’s tough. It’s expensive and draining, and demoralizing. “No one knows how hard following your dream really is!” one of my friends said. She’s right. We often like to speak of stars and clouds and reaching for both—the sky’s the limit, aim higher!—yet we gloss over the drudgery and difficulties. Optimism and a positive attitude are wonderful and necessary, but sometimes, they’re just not enough.
Sometimes, you’re just stuck in the muck. Sometimes you feel like you’ll drown in it. Sometimes, your writing goals, no matter what they are, feel hopeless.
Yes, we all need perseverance. Yes, we all need to put in the work and effort, and no one said it would be easy. But when it isn’t easy, it’s hard to remember what it was all for.
Following your dream of being a writer is hard. I can’t tell you to give up or not give up. But I can tell you you’re not alone. And hearing that from my friends is enough to keep me writing. I hope it can be for you, too.