10 Things I Would Tell My Younger Writer Self
1. “Think positive thoughts!”
The more you worry, the more you freak out, the more you bring those fears into your life. Think about all the good stuff that is happening. You are publishing a book! Your story is alive and in your hands. This is freaking amaze-balls!
2. “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Not everything runs smoothly in publishing. It’s just like any other business. Sometimes things go smoothly, sometimes there’s an error or a sudden looming deadline. Go with the flow, you’ll be fine. This is publishing! Your dream job!
3. “This book is GOOD!”
The publisher wouldn’t have offered you a contract if it was garbage. C’mon, Kel. You love your characters and readers will have the chance to as well. Let readers decide for themselves.
4. “Don’t live in a Wayne’s World movie, You ARE worthy!”
You wrote the book, didn’t you? You spent chunks of your life writing it? You stayed up late while the family slept just so you could write when it was quiet? You worked your ass off writing it, plotting it, typing it, editing it, dreaming it, creating it, right? Yes, you. You deserve this and you are worthy of being published. Forget about the rejections you got before. You found the right agent and the right editor. It all came together for you because you deserve this. You go, girl!
5. “Be grateful.”
Instead of stressing out, be grateful. The Universe wants you to love the things in your life that you want to keep. So be grateful for this moment and wish for more.
6. “Don’t be embarrassed by attention. It comes with being a published writer.”
Okay, so you’re in your twenties, you’re still young. You’re still a little shy. Suck it up, Buttercup. A little attention and standing in front of people comes with the territory. But guess what? You’ll do just fiiiiiiine.
7. “Be like Taylor and shake it off.”
So agents and editors are business people. The successful ones are pretty straight to the point, no filter, blunt by birth individuals. That’s okay. They are going to help you get published. They are going to tell you what’s wrong with your book and hopefully how to fix it. It’s not personal. Yeah, it might feel like they are criticizing your child—or you—but it’s a book. They know the biz. You want to get in the biz. You shake off the tough comments and you get that baby polished and ready for the world.
8. “Relax. This is a job, not a ticket to happiness.”
Being an author is a job. Let’s not forget. Even if you don’t have a contract, you’re still a writer. No one can take that away from you except YOU.
9. “Live the Joy!”
Have fun! Mingle. Share your book! Share your story! Dance in your living room! Live the joy of writing! Live the joy of creating! Live the joy of storytelling! Live the joy of doing something you love!
10. “Just write.”
This is how it all started. You. Sitting. At. Your. Computer. WRITING. That’s what you want to keep doing. You just writing. You got it now. Just write.