My Writing Ramblings: Taking Myself Seriously?

It is amazing how quickly a week can go and how little you can actually achieve. It has been seven of those days that seems to have merged into one. Where the day job (or in my case this week has been my first lot of night shifts for months) has taken priority.

I have been trying to sneak bits and pieces in here and there. I’m still making my way through Emma. I am a little behind. I am not too worried about that. Reading Austen was never about how quickly I could get through them. If you’re reading along with me, how are you getting on?

I have been writing about two hundred words of a short story this week to make sure I at least write something. My planning has got to a stage where I need to sit down and map out plot so it is not something I have been able to do this week as I don’t want to rush it. I have done that before and it has not got me far. I am so tired from my shifts though that once I do get home, I just want to sleep. Surprisingly, I am not actually getting too worked up about it. I am still working my way through the plot in my head. That counts…right?

I’ve wanted to write a book for such a long time. I love creating stories so what stops me from sitting down and writing it? This is a question I ask myself all of the time. The answer is me. I get in my way.
All the new writers out there, do you ever feel like you’re a fraud? I feel like that a lot especially when I am in the company of what I call ‘proper writers.’ I feel like I am going to be found out any moment and be asked to leave; ‘Laura, you’re not a real writer. Leave and don’t come back.’

Despite wanting to write, I seem to not take myself seriously. I know, not a great strategy if I want to write a novel, eh.

The more I think about it and the more encouragement I do get from the fabulous writing community, having courage to write is very much tied in with the perception you have of yourself. If I see myself as a writer then I will be one and I will get over this crisis of confidence that has plagued me for years. If I believe I am a writer, the writing will come.

This reminds me of a great quote (yes, another one,) by Henry Ford.
‘Whether you think you can or think you can’t. You’re right.’

Until next week writing people.

by

Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.