I recently started writing after many years and I finally figured out why it took me so long! I am something of a perfectionist and believe one of the reasons I stopped writing was because I compared myself with top writers in my field. If you compare yourself with the very best, it’s probably a given that you won’t measure up initially.
I took a step back and gave myself some slack because I am sure that even the best writers needed time to find their own voice and this probably did not happen overnight. In society today, many seek instant gratification but I believe there is something to be said for those who practice their craft, getting better and better as they learn from theirĀ mistakes and from those who have traveled this path before, slogging through rough drafts and studies of correct grammar.
Another encouragement for me is the establishment of self-publishing – I don’t think I would have ventured back into writing without all the options available to publish my own work. It has been lots of fun to experiment with words and search inside for that book just waiting to be written!
Why exactly do you write? Is it to get a handle on your own feelings, exorcise personal demons, or share a vision with others?