How to Write - 8/2: Setting Smart, Achievable Goals (But Aim HIGH, Very HIGH) - Part 2

Chapter 4: Keeping Your Writing Fire Burning

4.1 Making Sure You Want to Write

This part is about how to stay excited about writing. Think of excitement as the energy that helps you keep writing. If you don’t have it, writing can become difficult. But don’t worry, we’ve got easy and effective ways to help you stay excited.

1. Making a Daily Writing Plan: Have you ever made a daily plan? It’s like setting up a schedule for yourself. For writers, this means choosing certain times for writing every day. Imagine starting your day knowing exactly when you’ll write. It makes the task smoother and keeps you eager to write.

• Example: Imagine a writer named Mark. He used to have trouble finding time to write. Then, he made a plan to write for an hour every morning. This small change helped him write more and stay eager about it.

2. Learning from Real-Life Writers: Seeing other writers succeed can give you a boost. Let’s hear about some writers who stayed excited about writing despite challenges. These writers faced challenges but never gave up on their writing dreams.

• Example: J.K. Rowling, the famous author of the Harry Potter series. She faced many rejections before her books got famous. Her journey of not giving up can motivate you to keep trying, even when it’s tough.

4.2 Getting Past Tough Times

Life is unpredictable, and writers often face challenges. Here, we’ll look at ways to keep going even when things get tough.

1. Taking Inspiration from Tough Writers: Being tough means you keep going even when things are hard. Think about famous writers who didn’t stop writing even when they were rejected or criticized. They show us that you can keep writing no matter what.

• Example: Ernest Hemingway, a famous writer, got many rejections at the start of his career. But he didn’t stop writing. He continued and became well-known. His experience teaches us that you can overcome challenges.

2. Learning from Mistakes: Setbacks can actually be good for you. We’ll discuss how mistakes can help you grow. Instead of stopping when you face a problem, you can learn and become a better writer.

• Example: Imagine a writer who got a no from a publisher. Instead of feeling bad, they used the feedback to get better at writing. Later, they found someone to publish their work. Problems can help you move forward.

3. Changing Plans When Needed: Life can be unpredictable. Sometimes, unexpected events can affect your writing goals. We’ll talk about how to change your goals to fit new situations. Being able to adjust your plans can keep you moving towards your writing dreams.

• Example: Imagine a writer who had set a goal to write a certain number of words every day. But then a family emergency happened. They adjusted their goal to fit their situation without feeling overwhelmed.

Chapter 5: Perfecting Your Writing through Revision and Feedback

5.1 The Importance of Revision

This part is all about changing and improving your writing. Writing is like making a sculpture. Your first try is just the beginning. You need to shape and fix it to make it really good. In this chapter, we’ll focus on how to do that.

5.1.1. Revising Your Work: Revising means making your writing better. Your first draft is like a rough sketch, and revising is where you add the details. We’ll explore how to go from a messy draft to a polished piece.

• Example: A chef creating a recipe. They start with a basic idea, but they keep tasting and adjusting until it’s perfect. That’s what revising is like for writers.

5.1.2. The Ongoing Process: Writing isn’t something you finish all at once. You write, then revise and change it, then write some more. It’s not a straight path; it’s more like a circle. You’ll get to enjoy making your writing better each time you change it.

• Example: It’s like making a sculpture out of sand. You don’t just make it once. You keep shaping it, adding details, and making it better until it’s just right.

5.2 Valuing Others’ Suggestions

Think of feedback as advice from someone who wants to help you make your work better. It’s very useful when you know how to use it. In this part, we’ll talk about how to make the most of feedback.

5.2.1. Seeking Feedback: To get suggestions, you need to ask the right people. It’s like asking an expert to help you improve. We’ll look at how to find mentors, join groups of writers, and meet other people who write.

• Example: Sport coaches help players and athletes do better by offering suggestions and advice. Finding a good mentor or writing group can help you in the same way with your writing.

5.2.2. Using Feedback and Suggestions Wisely: Not all suggestions are equally useful. Some are really valuable, while others might not help as much. We’ll learn how to tell the difference and use suggestions to make your writing better.

Example:

Imagine you’re taking care of your garden. You want your plants to grow well. Then, someone comes by and gives you tips on gardening. Just like you’d use those tips to help your plants, you can use suggestions to improve your writing.

To access my other articles in the ’How to Write’ series, you can explore my list below:

5.2.3. Finding Skilled Advisers: Just like in gardening, not everyone who gives you advice is really good at it. Some might just tell you their own ideas, while others really know what they’re talking about. It’s important to figure out who the real experts are in writing.

• Example: Suppose you’re trying to grow beautiful roses, and someone who has a lot of experience growing roses gives you advice. You’d probably pay more attention to them because they know a lot about roses.

5.2.4. Checking Who’s Giving Advice: When you get advice, think about who’s giving it. Are they a writer who has published books, an experienced editor, or just someone who likes to write? Knowing about their experience can help you understand how good their advice is.

• Example: It’s like getting gardening advice. You’d value suggestions more from someone who has a green thumb and has grown many plants, rather than from someone who just started gardening.

5.2.5. Looking for Detailed Advice: Good advice is usually very specific and gives you clear steps on what to change. Look for feedback that’s more than just someone’s opinion and gives you actual ideas on how to make your writing better. Detailed feedback is like a precise recipe for improving your garden.

• Example: It’s like if a gardening expert tells you exactly when and how to water your plants, not just saying “water them more.”

5.2.6. Believing in Your Own Choices: While it’s important to listen to feedback, don’t forget that your writing is yours. Believe in your own ideas and choices. Not all advice will fit with what you want to do with your writing.

• Example: Just as a gardener might have a unique vision for their garden and trusts their own decisions, you should trust your own instincts about your writing.

5.2.7. Using Feedback to Get Better: Think of advice as a way to get better at writing. Welcome feedback as a chance to improve your skills and make your work even better. Even if it’s hard to hear sometimes, it’s an opportunity to learn and become a better writer.

• Example: Just like a gardener uses advice to make their garden better, use feedback to grow and improve as a writer. It’s all about learning and getting better over time.

5.3. Keeping Strong in the Face of Criticism

Think of your writing as a sandcastle you’re proud of. It’s hard when someone says it isn’t perfect, just like it’s hard to hear tough feedback about your writing.

5.3.1. Recognizing Your Emotions: When you get tough feedback, you might feel upset, let down, or even question your abilities. It’s important to realize it’s normal to feel this way. It’s like understanding the sting of someone saying your sandcastle isn’t yet perfect.

• Example: Imagine a well-known painter whose early works weren’t well received. They were likely disappointed but didn’t let it stop them. Instead, they used their feelings to drive their art forward.

5.3.2. Aiming for Improvement, Not Perfection: Remember, feedback is really about getting better, not being perfect. It’s a chance to strengthen your writing. Aim to improve bit by bit, rather than trying to be perfect all at once.

• Example: Like an artist working to better their technique, use difficult feedback as a way to improve your writing. It’s about progress, not perfection.

5.3.3. Finding the Helpful Parts: Even in tough feedback, there’s often some good advice. Look for the parts that you can actually use to make your writing better. Think about how you can use those good parts to improve.

• Example: It’s like noticing specific ways to make your sandcastle stronger or more beautiful. There might be good ideas in the feedback that can help you.

5.3.4. Keeping Your Love for Writing: Remember why you started writing. It’s a way to express yourself and use your creativity. Don’t let hard feedback take away your love for writing. Keep doing it because it’s something you enjoy.

• Example: Like a well-known artist who kept creating even when others didn’t like their work, keep writing because it’s what you love to do.

5.3.5. Staying Strong Leads to Success: Many successful writers have faced tough times but didn’t give up. When you get challenging feedback, see it as a chance to get better. Use tough feedback to push yourself to improve and keep going.

• Example: Think about a famous artist whose early work was rejected. They didn’t quit; they kept going. Eventually, their art became famous.

Continue to Part 3:

To access other articles in the ’How to Write’ series, check out the links below:

Current article: How to Write - 8/2: Setting Smart, Achievable Goals (But Aim HIGH, Very HIGH) - Part 2

If you found this article helpful, consider leaving me a tip! Your support helps me continue to create valuable content. To leave a tip, click here to securely process your payment through Stripe. Thank you for your generosity!

Click here to get an email whenever Zoran Rogic publishes: https://medium.com/@Zokimaster/subscribe

#ContentWriting, #WritingTips, #NextTopWriter, #BloggingTips, #ContentStrategy, #CreativeWriting, #WritingGoals, #DailyWritingPlan, #InspiredWriting, #ResilientWriter, #CreativeRevision, #FeedbackMatters, #MentorshipInWriting, #WritingCommunity, #WritingGrowth, #OvercomeChallenges, #WritingSuccess, #EmbraceFeedback, #CreativeJourney, #WritingPassion, #CraftingWords, #WriterInspiration, #WritingResilience, #WritingJourney, #RevisionProcess, #WritingFeedback, #CreativeGrowth, #WritingChallenges.