Your Writer’s Journey is Long

Calm Down, My Young Writer Friend

You’ll Get Where You Want to Be With Productivity and Patience

One aspect I struggle with daily in this Writer’s Journey of mine is being patient with my progress. Most days of being a full-time paid writer are pretty cool. But occasionally though, I struggle with it.

There are a number of reasons this happens. When it does, I remind myself to look at the bigger picture. I’m still in the infant stage of my writing career. I shouldn’t expect as much as I do.

I’ve been writing for just over two years now. Prior to deciding to become a paid writer, I hadn’t written with any regularity. Unless you count funny Facebook status updates. While there is a certain level of creativity involved in writing jokes and funnies for social media, it’s definitely not the same as writing daily blogs and articles.

Struggling with patience as it relates to my targets, goals, and dreams has always been an issue for me. I’ve been an achiever since way back. I was the kid who couldn’t wait to take a quiz or test and see what kind of usually high grade I’d gotten.

This started in grade school when we’d have to bring our test up to the teacher when we had finished it. I was almost always one of the first kids to drop it off at their desk. I’d get frustrated if we didn’t get them back by the next day or so. I probably should have been more patient.

This tendency of mine continued through during college, jobs after college, and into my own real estate career. I wanted to push harder for more sales, more satisfied clients, more referrals, and more income.

With this sort of self-imposed pressure comes a bit of stress. When things are going well, it’s wonderful. I’m proud of myself when I reach targets and goals. It’s good for my self-esteem to be an achiever and a hard worker.

However, when things take a wrong turn and I find myself parked on the side of the road, temporarily broken down on the outskirts of Negativeville, it can be ugly. I’ve never been one of those people who deal well with stress when the chips are down.

I’ve traditionally had tendencies to panic. To get angry, sad, and easily frustrated. I’ve had to work on these character flaws over the years. My counselor Bride has helped me tremendously in this regard.

Let’s say the radiator is overheating and we need a ride into town to fix it. Time to hike up my pant leg, stick my thumb out, and hitch a ride with the next person driving by in a Plymouth Positivity.

I’m just glad I still have nice enough legs to have been offered a ride. I’ll take solace in the fact that the person who pitied me enough to pick me up doesn’t SEEM to be a raving lunatic. I’m keeping my trigger finger on the pepper spray in coat pocket, just in case.

Once the tow truck gets my writer’s vehicle back into town, I have time to stop, get lunch, and reflect on how I’m stuck in Negativeville again. I’m feeling a bit better now. Time to feed and reflect for a bit.

I focus on the positive aspects of my Writer’s Journey. I have made wonderful friends, that’s first and foremost. I’ve reached that four-figure income goal I have for myself from blogging. I’m fortunate enough to be building a larger following. And I’m just a toddler at this stage.

I’m only two years into my Medium travels. I sometimes think back to Day One all the way to now. Viewing it in terms of a rest-of-my-life type of venture, I’d say I’m doing pretty damn well. I’m pleased with my progress so far.

I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to keep writing funny, entertaining, and occasionally thought-provoking blogs and articles for years to come. I’m optimistic that I can take the 50,000+ followers I’ve built and keep growing it. I can see that happening by working hard on my audience-developing tactics I’ve come up with.

The bottom line: I’ll stick around. I plan to keep enjoying writing the daily blogs I’m putting out into the cyber world. I will truly enjoy building the connections and friendships with my favorite people on here.

I’ll keep working at my professor gig every day as well. As much as I love writing funny, comedic, ridiculous blogs, I truly also enjoy helping others. This secondary teaching profile has sure been fun and I hope, helpful to you all.

If I can help you streamline your progress, offer you the writing tips I’ve learned, or help teach you to build a larger following here on Medium, consider it done. I want all of my friends to come along for the ride with me.

So let’s pack up the moving van and leave Negativeville behind. Success City is waiting for our arrival. The trip may be a long one, but we’re ready. I have the beef jerky, some sunflower seeds, and many hours of 60s to 90s classic rock we can blast.

Who’s coming with me? &:^)

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