Writing Life

Two Words Every New Writer Needs to Delete From Their Vocabulary

And They Aren’t — I’m Great

I love reading writers new on the scene. You can sense the hope and passion exuding from their words as they proudly (and sometimes timidly) publish their labor of love.

Some of them tell us they’re aspiring to be writers, and although I have my own feelings on the use of the word aspiring when discussing whether you’re a writer or not, I’m going to give it a hall pass today. The two words, a new (or even a veteran) writer, needs to drop from their vocabulary right now are:

I Quit.

That’s right. Two simple words which, when strung together, become an open admission of defeat, a realization we’ve let our struggle beat us into submission.

As Ferrin Young once said, “Stick a fork in it. You’re done.”

As an editor on several publications, I often have the opportunity to read some stellar and unfortunately, not so stellar, works by a bevy of new writers. Each time I read, I’m either appalled at some of the basic grammar mistakes or uplifted when a new writer lays out a really concise and resonating piece.

One thing to note. As an editor, I, and the readers, will certainly read more of your work if you demonstrate at least a basic command of the English language.

Sorry, I’m just sayin’.

But I digress. I read a story recently where the writer was proclaiming to the community his/her resolve to make it big as a writer. I’m talking B.I.G. big here. Or is that bigly? Anyway, he/she even spelled out a few lofty and perhaps realistically attainable goals on how he/she intended to get there.

But after getting me rooting for them, I mean cheering them and their passion (and their well-written piece) on, I hit one sentence that deflated me faster than the Hindenburg.

After telling us all the things this writer was going to do to achieve success as a writer, he/she simply said, “or I’ll just quit.”

Wait, what?

You’ll just quit? A writer doesn’t just quit. A real writer never just quits. “I quit” isn’t in a writer’s arsenal of words. And if it is, it shouldn’t be. These two words shouldn’t exist. Unless a writer has one of the characters they’re writing about telling the reader, they quit.

Then that’s okay.

Let me share something with all you new writers out there. First off, welcome to the party. You may have arrived early or you may have slid in through the back door late. But this writing party of ours never quits. Twenty four seven, three hundred and sixty-five days a year.

Round the clock writing party going on right here, folks.

As a plebe writer (and quite possibly a good one), you need to know and understand some basic fundamental truths about this beloved, wacky, stressful, exciting, gut-wrenching, roller coaster ride called writing.

Here they are and in no certain order. The fact you as a new arrival understand them is what’s important.

The Reader Doesn’t Know You Yet.

Remember, you’re new on the scene. Your name doesn’t ring a bell. In fact, the readers don’t even know what you write yet, haven’t heard your voice if you have one, and aren’t familiar with your tone. It will take some time before you start growing on them and develop a relationship with them.

Not Everything You Write Will Be Publish Worthy

Unless you’re the perfect writer (which you’re not — I hate to be the one to break it to you), some of the stuff you write won’t be worth the digital space on your computer screen or the time it took you to write it. The only way to discover what works and doesn’t work is to write and keep writing. Look, we know. Rejection stings like a sonofab*tch, but the only way you’re going to make it around all the rejection is by continuing to write.

Quitting certainly isn’t going to get you there.

Not Everyone Will Read What You Write

Trust me on this one. It doesn’t matter what genre you pick. If you write something, heck anything, in the thousands of genres out there, not everybody in the world will fawn over and adore what you wrote. There are billions of readers in this world of ours, new writers, and none of them possess the same brain, nor always share the same likes and dislikes.

Not Everyone Will Like What You Write When They Do Read It

In this case, beauty is always in the eye of the beholder. A.K.A. the reader. Some may give you a try and really enjoy what you write. And others, well others, will get — if your lucky — half-way through and simply close up shop.

Sorry new writer; they’re just not into you.

It ain’t personal. In the reader’s thoughts, it’s the crappy words you just wrote, and they just tried to read.

So, now you know. And trust all the veteran writers who’ve been there, done that, got the T-shirt and the trophy. We had to figure all this out in trial-by-fire mode just as you will. Those of us still writing, learned the lessons the hard way, and kept writing regardless, because we know this ain’t a sprint, it’s an eternal marathon.

So remember newbie:

The Reader Doesn’t Know You Yet. Not Everything You Write Will Be Publish Worthy. Not Everyone Will Read What You Write Not Everyone Will Like What You Write When They Do Read It

Remember these things and one other thing, and you’ll do just fine.

Never say I quit.

Although we’ve entertained the thought at times (some of us daily), we keep writing. We keep our butts in the chairs and our fingers on the keyboards.

We. Don’t. Quit.

And neither should you.

Thanks So Much For Reading

Let’s keep in touch: [email protected]