Only You Get This

Us creatives need to stick together

There are some things only writers and creatives get.

• Spending hours on projects you probably won’t be paid for.

• Having a wonderful idea in your head—that just won’t get onto the page!

• Feeling uninspired all day and then waking up at 3am with the most brilliant idea.

Non-creatives just don’t get it.

I was talking to my 16 year old daughter today about working in creative fields.

She wants to be an actor and director. She knows that’s hard, but she’s also already doing it.

We were driving back from her singing lesson, talking about the rollercoaster of emotions that come with doing creative work,

(I know you know)

and she said this:

“I was waiting for the future—when I’ve ‘made it’ to enjoy my acting and then I realized how stupid that was. Why can’t I just enjoy it now?”

Ding!

It’s a light bulb moment for her.

She’s already acting. Yes, maybe not in a Marvel movie like she dreams, but in lead roles in great plays. She’s recently even co-directed her first play.

She’s doing it. Why not enjoy it?

We do this too as writers.

We live in the future—holding off our enjoyment for a viral article, or for being published in NYT Modern Love, or for when our novel becomes a bestseller.

What’s stopping you enjoying it now?

You’re a writer. Already. Today. You’re doing it. Let’s enjoy that!

One way to enjoy it more is to expand your tool belt.

Write in different styles. Learn your craft. Never stop learning!

The more you improve, the more you enjoy the process of writing.

It doesn’t matter where you get published if you actually enjoyed writing a piece.

What piece have you enjoyed writing lately? Let me know in the comments and share a link if it’s published. I love hearing from you!