I Want to Be a Writer

by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

My first writers conference was . . . well . . . intimating. I attended alone. It was the days prior to GPS and maneuvering my way through the one-way streets of downtown Asheville was a little disorienting. Those were the days before Google maps and you had to do your best to follow poorly devised instructions on Rand McNally.

At the hotel, the line of conferees, three lines thick, waited to check-in. Happy peers reunited and chatter about their writing news or publication filled the room. All I knew was, I wanted to be a writer. I felt like a fish out of water.

If this wasn’t enough, I was covered from fingers to elbow with oozing poison ivy. My hand, wrapped loosely in gauze, resembled a mummy, and I tried not to scratch at the muck. It wasn’t long before a young woman sat next to me. She eyed my menagerie of bandages before she leaned close and whispered, “I heard people were itching to get in here. I just didn’t think it was for real. You must really wanna be a writer!”

I stared as the edges of her lips turned up and she burst into laughter. She giggled, I laughed and I’d made my first writing buddy, the wonderful Gina Holmes. That was the better part of ten years ago.

The point is simple. Though I was out of place and uncomfortable, the one thing that kept me prodding through the discomfort, was the desire to be a writer.

Ten years later, that desire has not changed. I still want to be a writer – a better, stronger writer. Getting to the goal is not easy. There’s learning the craft, making time to write, and learning to overcome rejection.

If you want to be a writer your first decision is what type of writer do you want to be? A knuckle-down, determined to be published author or a piddler – a hobbyist. Only you can make that decision. As you weave your way down the writing pathway, it’s important to have a clear view of your passion. If writing for joy is all you want to do, that’s fine. Then learn to write to the best of your ability. But if your desire is to be published, accept the challenge that follows:

1. Publication is a slow process – Unfortunately, it’s one that can’t be rushed. I had to “wait” on publication. There was no self-publishing, but I was willing to earn my scars. I wanted to work my way through learning the craft and improving with each piece of work, knowing that when I finally did secure a contract, it was for a work well done. I still believe there is something to the skill of waiting.

2. Believing in myself – I had to learn to accept rejection as part of the process of learning. It wasn’t personal. My work wasn’t rejected because I wasn’t nice enough. It was rejected because it wasn’t ready, and I needed to keep honing until it worked. I had to believe in the desire that burned in my heart – to be a writer and make the strides to continually improve.

3. Resist the urge to quit - This evil 4-letter word wreaks havoc on every writer at some point. Frustration, the feelings of spinning our wheels – quitting seems to be the right thing to do. Learning to resist this urge is vital. Give yourself a 30-minute pity party and then get back to work.

4. Understanding “the moment” – My friend, who’d published three books ahead of me, asked, “Cin, where do you stand on this novel?” I smiled and replied, “Don’t have a clue. I’ve finished the project, handed it over to my agent, and now I’m on to something else.” No one was more stunned than me when she said, “Then you’ll publish soon. You’re in the moment.” I wasn’t sure what she meant until she explained the instant when you’ve done all you can do to the best of your ability, and you’re able to hand it over and move on. Then your writing has reached a new level. The quality will be excellent, but more so, you are able to look at it and smile with satisfaction, knowing you’ve done the best you can do. You let it go, and move ahead.

My friend was right. It was only three months before I received my first contract. Her words were some of the greatest wisdom I’ve ever had. Understanding the moment. It’s a place you must grow to reach, and once you’re there, you’ll know it.

5. Keeping the passion alive – I knew as a child, writing was something I wanted to continue to do. Telling stories meant something to me and my mind could always see plots and characters in my everyday childhood play. But that desire to be a writer . . . only grew as time passed. I was excited to keep it alive.

Writing is a tough business, but what keeps us clicking away at the keys, is the passion of forming words into sentences and painting an imaginary picture in the minds of those who read our work.

Focus on the goal. Learn the craft. Live the passion of writing and before you know it, you’ll no longer be saying, “I wanna be a writer.” You simply will be one.

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Focus on the goal, learn the craft of #writing & you'll reach your goal - @CindyDevoted (Click to Tweet)

Cindy Sproles is an award-winning author and popular speaker. She is the cofounder of Christian Devotions ministries and managing editor of Straight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. Cindy is the executive editor of www.christiandevotions.us and www.inspireafire.com. She teaches at writers conferences nationwide and directs The Asheville Christian Writers Conference - Writers Boot Camp. 

She is the author of two devotionals, He Said, She Said - Learning to Live a Life of Passion and New Sheets - Thirty Days to Refine You into the Woman You Can Be. Cindy's debut novel, Mercy's Rain, is available at major retailers. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com and book her for your next conference or ladies retreat. Also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.