I am a writer, and because I am a writer, I will stick my butt in front of that computer, and I will write. I will spend more time writing than I spend blogging, surfing the Internet, and picking my nose combined. I am a writer, and I will write my manuscript.
I will read. I will read so many books my friends will stop asking librarians and independent bookstore owners what books they should read and start asking me. I will read so many books that if Ken Jennings ever challenged me to a duel on Jeopardy, I would totally own him in the “YA Literature” category.
I will revise, revise, revise. I will keep revising until I actually start to like it. Then I’ll revise a little more.
I will write an awesome query. I will not whine about how hard it is or use it as an excuse to not submit my work. I will become the best possible marketer for my manuscript.
I will query my book. I will research, research, research until I can list every agent who represents my genre in alphabetical order forward and backward. Then I’ll research a little more. And on those days I don’t want to query anyone, don’t want to take the risk, I will force myself to send that e-mail, and on those days I want to query every agent in the universe, I will force myself to wait. I will find the best possible advocate for my book. I will.
I will rise above rejection. I may cry a little and even throw my keyboard across the room, but I will not let it defeat me. I will send another query. I will write another book.
I will not compare myself to others. I. Will. Not. Compare. My journey is my journey, and I take ownership of that. When others succeed, I will rejoice with them, and when others fail, I will mourn. Even though we are competing for the same agents’ attention, for the same few spots on our favorite houses’ lists, I will not see them as competitors. I will see them as fellow writers. I will see them as friends.
I am a writer, but I am also a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter. I will let writing define one small part of my life, but I will not let it define the rest. Because if all I ever did was write, I would have nothing to write about.
I will live my life, and I will write my words, and they will make each other beautiful.
Beautiful words! Perfect. Especially that comparing part. :) Time to print and post this above my computer!
ReplyDeleteWell said! I needed this today. Thanks for the encouragement. As a writer, it's hard not to feel alone with your struggles. Reading things like this by inspiring people like yourself, helps me remember that I'm not! Keep it up. :)
ReplyDeleteYes! That's exactly right! Thanks for posting this. I needed to read it, and I bet many others do, too.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully put! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis is really awesome. Must tweet and share. :)
ReplyDeleteHear hear! One of the best and most complete creeds I've ever read.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
ReplyDeleteJust (re)wrote the last chapter this morning. My wife read it and said "I think it's okay."
*sigh*
Revise, revise, revise.
Love this.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a wonderful post, and you said it beautifully.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
GREAT post, very good sentiments. :) Especially the part about spending more time writing than blogging. What? I'm blogging right now? Oops. LOL
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day!
I. Love. This. Post. This is what it means to be a writer!
ReplyDeleteWell said!
ReplyDeleteWhat a manifesto. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI plan to link to this post on my blog. http://theyearofwritingdangerously.blogspot.com/
Beautiful, Krista. These are all the things that I work on (or want to be better at.) Thanks for the post!
ReplyDeleteThank you, everyone, for your enthusiasm, for your kind remarks, and for your support. Thank you for the links and tweets. I usually try to respond to every commenter individually, but I fell a little behind today, so suffice it to say I think you all are wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll print this out and read it when I'm having a "meh" day. I especially love the way you ended it. Write on, my friend!
ReplyDeleteAmen. Amen. And amen.
ReplyDeleteConnie stole my line! :)
ReplyDeleteAmen, Sister!
If you're looking for another great writer's creed on those days when you feel you stink at it, check out Julia Cameron's book The Artist's Way. Great stuff for people feeling creatively blocked.
I will simply say ditto to all the posts here. This is perfect...NO revisions needed. thank you.
ReplyDeleteThis just might be my favorite post that I've ever read. Everything about it is beautiful and inspiring ... beyond that. I'm printing this out and keeping it in my desk for whenever I need these reminders :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this ... more than you know.
AWESOME post - one that every writer should read, and reread and reread again.
ReplyDeleteNot only was it extremely encouraging, but at the same time it let us know that at the end of the day, whether things are going good or bad, there are some things that are more important than writing. Hard to believe, but it's true.
Totally awesome, Krista. Totally.
ReplyDeleteAmy
Beautifully said!
ReplyDeleteI especially love the "my journey is my own" bit. :)
Thanks so much for posting!
Again, thank you for the awesome comments, everyone. It was cathartic to write, and I'm glad you found it cathartic to read.
ReplyDeleteLOVE. THIS. And I think every writer should print it out and tape it to their monitor. A little reminding never hurts.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
We should pray this every night!! :D
ReplyDeleteWell said! And with every rejection I receive I remind myself, writing is not all I am, not all I do. Though it makes me crazy happy, it does not and will never define me. What defines me is my determination, my drive, in all areas of my life.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cambria. And congratulations on landing an agent! That's fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI'd be okay if you just set it to music and sang it instead, Monica;)
Exactly, Jennie Lynn. Couldn't have said it better myself.
What a beautiful post Krista. I love it.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chantele!
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Krista. Not much else to say-- you said it all!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this creed!!!!!! I absolutely love it! It really does sum up what a writer should do. :)
ReplyDeleteWell said, Krista! I love it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words, Stephanie, Esther, and Lorena.
ReplyDeleteAmazing post Krista- sorry for being so late to the party.
ReplyDeleteYou:I will sit my butt in my chair and write.
Me:Yes, I think I will, too.
Happy Writing!
Here here! Awesome creed! Can I just sign it somewhere like the Declaration Of Independence? Because I want me some of that.
ReplyDeleteKelly and LeishaMaw, thank you so much for your comments. I'm glad you liked the post, because I sure liked writing it. It was...liberating:)
ReplyDelete