A Successful Writer's Secret Weapon

Be careful with whom you share your dreams.

A very wise friend, who just so happens to coauthor this blog with me, has told me this on several occasions. And I’d like to pay the advice forward.

I think writers have very difficult and occupation-specific struggles. We’re proud of our talents and abilities and are eager to share our goals and aspirations with others. But the world is full of people who either deliberately, or sometimes unintentionally, shred our dreams with a careless word. Some are motivated by envy to destroy another’s hope and belief in himself; others are too pessimistic to see a successful future for anyone in such a competitive market.

With that being said, every writer needs to have someone to confide in, to bounce ideas off of, and to celebrate or commiserate with. One of the most powerful tools in a writer’s arsenal is an honest, encouraging confidant—someone who can run alongside you, offering advice, praise, and the occasional painful lecture. I can’t tell you how many times Cheryl’s had to give me a swift kick in the pants, in order to reenergize me or help rein in my focus. And she’s been my biggest cheerleader, believing in me when I was ready to throw in the proverbial towel.

The fact that I’m still dedicated to this life as a struggling writer is a testament to the power of having a small handful of people who are respectful of my dream and unafraid of pushing me past what I think I can do. So my advice for today is to find the person or persons who are genuinely invested in your journey, who want your success almost as much as you do.

“I am a success today because I had a friend who believed in me,

and I didn’t have the heart to let him down . . .”
--Abraham Lincoln

--Mandy