Have you ever had aspirations? Then thought, I will never be good enough?

I have, plenty of times. One aspiration I had years ago was to be a school teacher. I even did a university degree at evening classes to fulfil this goal. The truth was despite passing the degree, I do not have the confidence to teach a class of children. So that dream was abandoned.

My journey as a writer

It was towards the end of 2017 when I didn’t get the promotion that I wanted, that I started to have aspirations about writing. I have always loved books so could I write? I opened ‘Microsoft Word’ on my tablet and started writing the first pages of my novel ‘Rosie’. Reading it through it was good, making me think, I can do this.

Writing requires hard work and dedication, but it is also cathartic. With the daily stress and the then pain of rejection, being creative, really helped to lift my mood.

Timeline and writing prompts

It was on a Facebook writing forum in early 2018 that I met a writer in the same City as me. Late at night discussing my then work in progress. A year later, she invited me to a writing group which has helped me immensely.

It was October 2018 that I decided to start my first blog. Initially it was a free Word press blog but by Christmas I made the decision to go self hosted with Lyrical Host. It has evolved, at the start it was a journal of my daily struggles with my children. It wasn’t long before I found Blog Battle. A writing prompt every month, to write a one thousand word story.   It was later that I found Grammys Grid which gives a sentence prompt once a month. The blogger has the first week of the month to submit it. I then found ‘Write the story’ on Facebook, Writers Unite! linked to their website –  Writers Unite!, which is a photo prompt. I try and complete these every month to help develop my writing skills.

I also write poetry and sometimes about my children. Often the children will be mentioned in my poetry.  I have always enjoyed writing it. In my loft I have an exercise book with poetry.  I was a teenager when I started, but I’ve written more since October 2018 then I ever have.

I started this blog in June 2019 to try and document my writing and aspirations, but I’ve realised I need to be planning the subject in advance. The writing prompts I’ve found, are appropriate to my other blog, (www.justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk).

I have also done Reedsy writing prompts, I’ve never won anything but they are good writing practice.

My works in progress

I’ve read many times the phrase, ‘To be a good writer, just write and carry on’. I tell myself that I can do this.

My first novel, ‘Rosie’ is at 30 000 words in Scrivener. I have research that I need to do that I’m not ready for. It is a crime novel, I have phoned a prison for advice and they were helpful, but I feel that ‘Rosie’ might be a second book , not my first.

I am currently working on My Time Tunnel novel. It is 70 000 words and I know that a Sci-fi needs to be about 100 000 words. However, the first draft is mainly telling, not showing. Once the ending is written and I have redrafted it numerous times, I’m expecting the word count to change. Though I’m sure there’s a lot that will be deleted as well.

My plans for 2020

As a writer I know that I need to be submitting my work to more places. I read recently that we should be aiming for one hundred rejections a year. This is eight to nine submissions a month, which is alot of writing.

On one of my writing forums, they have shared the scary statistics of rejections against acceptances. These are excellent writers and their acceptance scores are low, which highlights how hard it is to get something published.

Writing is not an easy skill and certainly not an easy profession to be successful in.

Why do I write?

I write, because I enjoy it. After all the stress of being a mum, wife and going to work, writing helps me relax. I try and do it for me, when people read my blog and enjoy it that is an added bonus. It also tells me that I am doing it right, I am progressing.

Attending my writing group and meeting with other writers face to face helps. We have all struggled, have questions, have aspirations, all writers need feedback on their work. I am now learning the skill of critiquing others, which helps me develop too.

As writers we all have the desire to see our work published. Some try for traditional publishing, and submit work to literary Agents. Others go straight to self publishing. I dream of a traditional publishing deal, but I’m aware that one day I might need to invest in my own editor and self publish like many others.

The world of publishing is a hurdle for me to one day cross. For now, I’m focusing on learning the craft of writing. Learning how to write well and show more then tell. There are many books on it, but we need to be able apply what we have read.

My advice

If you are a new writer, have aspirations, and are struggling to know what to write, then word prompts, sentence prompts, photo prompts are all very helpful. If you are thinking of starting a blog then you can start one free on Word Press. Some people keep their blogs free, others like me choose to go self hosted.

I know that if I had not started ‘www.justmuddlingthroughlife.co.uk’ I would be writing less today. I’m sure over the last year my writing has improved and this is with trying to write daily.

My reading

They say a writer needs to read. Making time for reading is vital. My aim this year is to complete at least twelve to fifteen books. I finished my first last night, (G.X.Todd – Survivors) yes, started last year, so maybe cheating, but I’m going to make an effort to keep my Goodreads account up to date as well. I need too stay motivated.

To conclude

My writing journey continues. I’m a novice as I’ve been writing properly for less then two years but I’m learning through experience which is important.

Good luck with your writing journey and your aspirations.  It is a long road for all of us, just keep on going.

For more see, Books. Christmas, writing and reading