Summary

The article discusses the emotional rollercoaster of a writer's journey, emphasizing the importance of managing expectations and persevering through highs and lows.

Abstract

The author shares a personal experience of elation followed by disappointment after an article was published in The Startup, illustrating the extreme emotional shifts that can occur in a writer's life. The piece advises on the necessity of balancing excitement with realistic expectations, acknowledging that success often comes with its share of setbacks. It encourages writers to learn from their experiences, seek feedback, and maintain their passion for writing without being deterred by occasional failures. The author emphasizes that the true essence of writing is in personal growth and the act of storytelling, rather than solely in financial success or recognition.

Opinions

The author believes that while it's okay to be excited about success, one should not let expectations spiral out of control.
Expecting immediate success after a single achievement can lead to disappointment; patience and persistence are key.
Writers should not be quick to give up after facing rejection or lack of engagement; instead, they should view these as opportunities for growth.
Collaboration and feedback from peers are invaluable for improving one's writing and overcoming self-doubt.
Writing should be enjoyable and fulfilling, not just a means to an end; remembering the initial passion for writing can help sustain a writer through tough times.
The pursuit of originality and recognition should not overshadow the authenticity of one's work; writers should remain true to their voice and purpose.
The journey of

The Highs and Lows of Writing, and How to Find the middle

A personal guide to balance your sanity

I am going to be rich! I shared my news on all social media platforms, so the world could witness what a success I was.

I was a few months into blogging, here on Medium, and it happened — The Startup contacted me, wanting to publish an article of mine that was already published. The amount of joy I felt was enough to rival the birth of my daughter. Okay, that’s a bit extreme, but it was a moment of pure excitement. I happily submitted and then googled the cost of yachts.

Every minute or so, I would refresh my browser to see if anything new popped up in my notifications. Where is my hoard of claps and highlights that would whisk me away to my fortune?

Nothing but a clap appeared, and not even for that article.

That day was the highest I have felt and the lowest, all in one. All because of my expectations. My article being in The flipping Startup was the high! The low you ask? The low was realizing that while my article was in The Startup — that hardly meant It would prosper. That realization came swift, and it brought some power in its punch.

Recognizing highs and lows

Throughout your writing journey, much like life, you will experience beautiful highs, and then slip on a banana peel in cyberspace and plummet to your death – metaphorically, of course.

Sometimes, amazing things will happen, as my example above, or even greater ones. However, make sure you remember the old saying, don’t count your chickens before they hatch!

It’s ok to be excited, hell, when I first started blogging here, I was horrible! Still, not the best writer, but I keep my original articles up as examples for myself. So yes, I got excited — that wasn’t the problem; the problem was I allowed myself to assume I went from a blogger to a dang billionaire at the first taste of victory.

While not all successes have a low, most do, especially when you’re new to the game. It’s essential to remember that just because you don’t hit a home run, or even get to first base, not to stop trying. You’re going to strike out — unless you’re in the Ivy League, expect, and grow from your lows.

Ways to handle the lows

Do not give up. More times than most, writers will take defeat and walk hand in hand, out of the door. I have sat in front of my laptop with my finger hovering over the delete button more times than I’m comfortable to confess. However, I always remind myself, hard work and dedication is the only way you can push past your insecurities, fears, and self-doubt.

If at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again.

This is what helps me when I start to feel inadequate, and I sincerely suggest you try these on for size.

When you start a draft, get the input of others. More times than not, your peers can catch grammatical errors and overall flaws in your structure that you may have missed – the second set of eyes can help you grow within your writing capabilities.
Relax! Writing is supposed to be fun; sure, it can be a source of income but don’t forget the reasons you started to write. Get back in touch with the heart of the job, not just the success.
Don’t rush it! I know you’re excited to submit, but when you rush your draft into full-blown publish mode, you will fail, not because your work is terrible, but because the lack of dedication and love will show.
Go back to your writing roots. Do you remember why you started writing? I do, I enjoyed using words to describe my dreams, in vivid detail. I loved to tell stories. And then, I saw that you could make money from writing, and that made me write with lust, not love.
If writing is your passion, you have no choice but to accept defeat every once in a while. If you quit, it’s not your passion; it’s your hobby.

The goal

Don’t worry about what-if and what-not, worry about you being true to what you do. While you’re struggling to come up with a piece that hasn’t been done before, just for the sake of being acknowledged, you’re not a writer anymore, you’re a robot.

You have to realize that your ups and downs are a product of growth, they are not failures or Successes, they are stepping stones. The stones that create a path leading to your final destination, even if it’s not wealth, it is your existence in the form of words.

Do not give up.