Thanks for the advice, Walter. I appreciate the way you encourage others to do their thing. I have to admit, I am a constant tweaker. No, I don't do crystal meth, I mean I read and re-read my essays, making adjustments here and there. I actually like that part of creating something readable. Finding the correct word or phrase, or discovering how to make what I've written flow in a better way, is like finding a nugget of gold in a clear mountain stream. I do fall into the trap of not writing anything unless I have a good idea of where I want to go with it, which causes me to spend too much time thinking about writing, rather than just doing it. I hope to get better at that, but we all have to find our own way, I guess.
Every now and then I write something without any idea where it's going. It's relaxing. I don't always write like that, but I like to mix it up. Sometimes those articles end up being very successful!
Hi Walter, this is another super duper fantastic article and it couldn't come at a better point in my life. The other day Friday the 21st to be exact I turned 54 and for some reason, I started reflecting on my life, particularly my writing. Ever since I was a kid at 12 after reading Stephen King's Fire Starter I said I want to be a writer and be like Mr. King. But through the years and I hate to say this certain family members whom I loved dearly would I say I am living a pipe dream. Long story short it kind of added to my anxiety in a sense and I would second guess a lot of things I wrote which would wind up in the junk folder on my computer or trashcan. If I had a penny every time this happened I would be fairly wealthy I bet. Throughout my life, I would start writing then stop then come back to it. I have been doing this for as long as I can remember. However back in July, I was moving and working under a very toxic boss and toxic roommate which I wrote an article on Medium, and with my mental health and everything else my brain and body needed a break. I went out on Short Term Disability after being put on a 3-month final warning for my metrics by my toxic boss which I did get off my record working my tail off. The consequence was mental anguish hence my mini breakdown and needing a leave. During my time away from work I was writing daily hence coming to Medium and finding Substack and all these terrific things here. Once I went back to Ms. Toxic in September my writing went down. I'd write trash the material take a few days off and repeat. Thankfully I got away from her in January when I accepted a position in a different department. This department has a much nicer culture and environment I can't believe the difference it almost feels like a different company. At any rate, I am writing more but still struggle with consistency wanting my prose perfect etc, etc. I am also creating my first Substack here so I am trying to learn the ins and outs of it all. My goal is if it is even possible to make my writing a supplemental income someday with the short stories, my novel, and my Substack. I am having more consistency with my writing as my therapist put me on a new med to help with my ADHD. I am writing more but still struggle. Your post gave me hope that even though half of my life is over at 54 I can maybe still make it as a writer. Thanks again for looking out for us writers and members of my community LGQBT+. That means a lot to me, man. Thanks again. Sorry for the novel it is one of those days where the words are flowing like a river. Thanks, you rock Walter. :)
Thank you Bill! Another reader just asked me about getting started on Substack. I plan on doing an article addressing her question later this week.
I do offer my regular Q&As for writers in the form of a Zoom meeting. You should stop by one of those. It's a good way to answer questions and help get you started.
Don't throw your stuff away. Publish it! If it's no good, nobody will read it, but you might be surprised at how many people resonate with your words. Cheers!
Thank you will do Walter. Question though your sessions are normally during when I work. Do you ever have them at night or on weekends if not I understand. Thank you for letting me know. :) Blessings. :)
Limiting beliefs are just beliefs, not reality. The sooner you find a way to disregard them or tell them to shut up, the sooner you can go on with the reality of being a writer/artist/creative!
Thanks for the advice, Walter. I appreciate the way you encourage others to do their thing. I have to admit, I am a constant tweaker. No, I don't do crystal meth, I mean I read and re-read my essays, making adjustments here and there. I actually like that part of creating something readable. Finding the correct word or phrase, or discovering how to make what I've written flow in a better way, is like finding a nugget of gold in a clear mountain stream. I do fall into the trap of not writing anything unless I have a good idea of where I want to go with it, which causes me to spend too much time thinking about writing, rather than just doing it. I hope to get better at that, but we all have to find our own way, I guess.
Every now and then I write something without any idea where it's going. It's relaxing. I don't always write like that, but I like to mix it up. Sometimes those articles end up being very successful!
Hi Walter, this is another super duper fantastic article and it couldn't come at a better point in my life. The other day Friday the 21st to be exact I turned 54 and for some reason, I started reflecting on my life, particularly my writing. Ever since I was a kid at 12 after reading Stephen King's Fire Starter I said I want to be a writer and be like Mr. King. But through the years and I hate to say this certain family members whom I loved dearly would I say I am living a pipe dream. Long story short it kind of added to my anxiety in a sense and I would second guess a lot of things I wrote which would wind up in the junk folder on my computer or trashcan. If I had a penny every time this happened I would be fairly wealthy I bet. Throughout my life, I would start writing then stop then come back to it. I have been doing this for as long as I can remember. However back in July, I was moving and working under a very toxic boss and toxic roommate which I wrote an article on Medium, and with my mental health and everything else my brain and body needed a break. I went out on Short Term Disability after being put on a 3-month final warning for my metrics by my toxic boss which I did get off my record working my tail off. The consequence was mental anguish hence my mini breakdown and needing a leave. During my time away from work I was writing daily hence coming to Medium and finding Substack and all these terrific things here. Once I went back to Ms. Toxic in September my writing went down. I'd write trash the material take a few days off and repeat. Thankfully I got away from her in January when I accepted a position in a different department. This department has a much nicer culture and environment I can't believe the difference it almost feels like a different company. At any rate, I am writing more but still struggle with consistency wanting my prose perfect etc, etc. I am also creating my first Substack here so I am trying to learn the ins and outs of it all. My goal is if it is even possible to make my writing a supplemental income someday with the short stories, my novel, and my Substack. I am having more consistency with my writing as my therapist put me on a new med to help with my ADHD. I am writing more but still struggle. Your post gave me hope that even though half of my life is over at 54 I can maybe still make it as a writer. Thanks again for looking out for us writers and members of my community LGQBT+. That means a lot to me, man. Thanks again. Sorry for the novel it is one of those days where the words are flowing like a river. Thanks, you rock Walter. :)
Thank you Bill! Another reader just asked me about getting started on Substack. I plan on doing an article addressing her question later this week.
I do offer my regular Q&As for writers in the form of a Zoom meeting. You should stop by one of those. It's a good way to answer questions and help get you started.
Don't throw your stuff away. Publish it! If it's no good, nobody will read it, but you might be surprised at how many people resonate with your words. Cheers!
Thank you will do Walter. Question though your sessions are normally during when I work. Do you ever have them at night or on weekends if not I understand. Thank you for letting me know. :) Blessings. :)
I can schedule an evening session. I'll float some times in the post.
Limiting beliefs are just beliefs, not reality. The sooner you find a way to disregard them or tell them to shut up, the sooner you can go on with the reality of being a writer/artist/creative!
What a wonderful article. Thank you.
A writer.
Thank you Marilyn!
Good advice from a farmer of phrases
"Farmer of phrases" is a nice line :)
My writing hit a slump & never really recovered. Maybe OSMOSIS will come into play.
IN THE MEANTIME, I'm gonna do a large phallus image. My digital imagery software will ABSOLUTELY LOVE THAT !
Haha! Whenever I hit a slump, I just read another writer and usually it makes me want to create something.
A guy posted a photo essay inspired by a German Expressionist - inspired film. I'm gonna see if that influences my writing OR art.
I did an entire series around a sexy female demon. MY GOD, I COULD DO MANGA ! 😝🤔
Thank you! This is beautiful. Now I, too, need to search for such a demon...