Confusion and Frustration, two feelings that I have come to know very well indeed over the past couple of years. Navigating the world of professional writing and authorship, can feel like you’re trying to find your way through a tangled maze of thorns and grasping weeds, while blind-folded in the middle of the night. A bit dramatic to be sure, but it illustrates my point nicely. So, how have I managed to navigate this maze? The truth is, I’m still working on it, but I have managed to remove the blindfold.
For me, the key to moving forward was simply choosing a path and starting down it. I tried to do all the research in advance thinking that would help prepare me for the adventure. The truth is, all it did was lead to mental overload and wanting to quit before I even began. I ended up sitting back for a couple of weeks and really taking stock of my situation and what my goals really were.
Zeroing in on my goal helped me narrow down the path choices. Which path do I take? Should I work on completing my story? Should I get a copywrite? Should I find a publisher, agent, or editor? Should I get a “real job” (and believe me when I say that I use the term loosely, I’m a stay-at-home mom and recent college graduate) while I get my ducks in a row to pursue my writing career full time? In the end, I simply chose a path and began walking. Once on my path, the blindfold lifted. In case you’re wondering, the path I ended up walking was getting a copywrite.
The hardest part of the copywriting process was choosing one that worked for me. After choosing the copywrite of authorship, which allowed me to copywrite ten unpublished works, I was able to move forward again.
I am still slowly moving along my chosen path and just recently it has joined up with two others. One is the potential job path, and the other is my webpage. I’m still working on my book, but it isn’t an all-consuming task.
My path is still a bit dark, but I can see some light filtering through the tangle. As writers, we all have to choose our own path, sometimes it can be overwhelming, and taking risks is part of it. Build your courage, take that first step, whatever it is, and begin your adventure. Don’t let Fear win.
Writing prompt: Take an emotion and it into a character in a story. It doesn’t have to human, but it has to be a living breathing character.
Good luck!!
Sarah Wilkens 