You can't skip the learning process
A lot of writers don't feel like legitimate writers until they're published.
Featured Quote... well, meme
This meme is from Mastersboost on IG. You can find their Instagram here.
You can't skip the learning process
I talk with a lot of impatient writers. I'm an impatient writer myself. We want our books & work in the world!
But there is no "skip" button.
In order to get to where we want to be as writers, we write. We practice. We improve our craft, our stories, and we show up.
(Below, you'll see my cat Sky staring at me as I try to write.)
I understand the impatience. A lot of us writers don't feel like legitimate writers until we're published.
We might tell our family and friends that we're writers, and they ask "where is your book" or almost ask for proof.
I want to say: this isn't always intended to be mean or unsupportive. A lot of times, they simply don't get it.
But this type of reaction can leave us scrambling for validity, and that usually comes to feeling impatient as fuck about getting our work out there. Wanting to be an official author.
You are valid now.
Your writing is valid now.
You're allowed to take yourself seriously now. You're allowed to view yourself as worthy now. Even if you aren't published, even if you're in the messy place of writing and feeling like it isn't good enough.
Because you know what gets you to the good? Practice. 💙
Mindset Shift of The Week
Our amygdala is dramatic.
In my Overcome Writer's Resistance Bootcamp (that I'm hosting again soon, btw), I teach about the brain science around why we have so much resistance.
The truth is, all types of people have resistance with anything we do. Our amygdala, the seat of our fight, flight, freeze, and fawn response, doesn't care about our goals.
She just wants us to survive. An conserve energy!
Our prefrontal cortex, which we use to make dreams, does care. But our brains still have an amygdala, and we still have to work with her.
That's why it takes elbow grease to do a lot of the shit we want to do.
Exercising. Eating well. Writing books. Reaching our dreams. Our amygdala will tell us ALL SORTS OF THINGS to stop us from expending lots of energy. She's constantly scanning for threats.
Your amygdala would rather you scroll in front of TikTok and conserve that needed energy!
Next time you're experiencing resistance in something you KNOW you want to do, just notice your powerful amygdala, and thank her for keeping you alive.
And then use that elbow grease. Use your prefrontal cortex to make those dreams come true.
Thank you for being here 💙 As always, feel free to reply to this email. I'd love to hear from you.
I'm Monica, Writing Coach & lover of stories. I specialize in helping writers overcome resistance. ⭐
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