As a writer I can be a heavy weight to carry. What I mean is, writers need so much from other people–we need admiration, praise, encouragement–we need so much from our family and friends that I can only imagine what they think of me.

As a hairstyist, I’m used to rejection. It’s [...]]]>

Source: everymantri.com

As a writer I can be a heavy weight to carry. What I mean is, writers need so much from other people–we need admiration, praise, encouragement–we need so much from our family and friends that I can only imagine what they think of me.

As a hairstyist, I’m used to rejection. It’s part of the business. If someone doesn’t like their hair, you tell them to pay up and keep moving. (Don’t worry I wasn’t that tough.) I rarely took my work home, I simply shrugged it off.

Being a new writer feels just like when I started doing hair. I’d come home beaten and bruised, confidence smashed to pieces. But after a long talk with my parents I would get back out there, day after humiliating day, until I perfected my look and got people to come back to me. I depended on my parents to tell me that I was talented and that, with practice, I would succeed.

The same goes for writing. I have enough rejection letters that I could wall-paper my living room. And I have to admit, some days I feel beat down, depressed, and just plain ‘ole not good enough. On those days my husband   scrapes me off the floor and reminds me to keep pushing, keep fighting, soon the story I want to tell will be told. He gets me to change my perspective and continually reminds me that I’m a published author. So many people cannot say that.

I know I’m a heavy load to carry sometimes. (Alright all the time). But the more I learn about writing the more the dialogue switches to internal. I’m learning to pick myself off the floor, to tell myself that I am good enough. But for now it feels good to know that someone has my back, and can carry me when the going gets rough.