Writers Journal: a guest post from Mari L. McCarthy
As writers, we all face ups and downs in our careers.
There are the triumphant moments: the accepted manuscript, the exciting new client, the beautifully written paragraph.
Then there are the discouraging times: the rejection letter, the canceled contract, the hundredth revision.
It’s easy to get disheartened by the challenges – but you have learn to move past them and keep going to get to the good stuff.
Get into the habit of keeping a journal near your desk for those moments when you’re dealing with frustrations and failures.
Take a break, write for a few minutes, then go back to your work.
Journaling helps you clear everything out, giving you the space to refocus on your writing projects and goals.
Use journal writing to…
Reframe the Negative
It’s a hard truth that you’ll always encounter criticism, rejection and indifference on your path as a writer.
All writers do, but successful writers refuse to give up.
They feel compelled to keep writing, and they continue to learn and grow.
When you reach a roadblock, explore it in your journal to see how you can reframe it in a useful way.
Look for changes you could make to an article to tailor it better to a different publication.
Commit to doing more research on a new client you’re pitching so you’re better prepared.
Don’t waste too much time beating yourself up with what you should have done.
Shake it off, and move forward.
Ask for Guidance
Journaling is a great way to ask the questions and express the doubts that are distracting you from your work.
Pour them all onto the page – no matter how embarrassing or neurotic they seem.
You probably won’t find immediate answers, but keep questioning and searching.
You’ll be surprised by the conclusions you come to when you have a space to explore big challenges.
Look for Support
Writers spend a lot of time alone with their thoughts.
And while solitude can spark great introspection and creativity, too much of it can be limiting.
Even if you thrive working alone, be open to opportunities to connect with others.
Journal about a problem you’re struggling with.
What kind of advice or support would you welcome right now?
Who would be a valuable coach or sounding board for this situation?
How can you reach out to others for help?
What does this look like (a chat with a friend, a writer’s group meetup, an online forum)?
Give Encouragement
Don’t let all that negative self-talk become your default internal script.
It’s toxic, and it’ll only distract you from the writing you want and need to do.
Instead, do a journal brainstorm of new mantras or encouraging phrases you can repeat when the going gets rough.
This can be as simple as a short word or phrase, or as in-depth as a pre-game pep talk.
Underline your favorite, and refer to it whenever you need it.
Writers journal to move past roadblocks and get back to work.
About Mari L. McCarthy
Mari L. McCarthy is Founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of CreateWriteNow.com, The Journaling Power Center.
Mari offers guidance and inspiration to working writers through her many online transformational journaling resources (eBooks, newsletters, life-changing journaling challenges) as well as private writer’s block and page fright consultations.
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Mari, thanks for the great tips. For me, reframing the negative speaks volumes. I know I am my worst enemy; however, I find myself almost feeling comfortable there! You are such an inspiration.