Words of encouragement
The purpose of this post is to offer encouragement especially to those wishing to become professional writers.
Open any business, take part in any sport and in order to get to the top you have to commit completely.
Bear with me while I make an argument. Take Bill Gates of Windows and Office fame, one of the richest, if not the riches man in the world and place him along side the founders of Apple computers (Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne. In 2007 Apple had worldwide sales of US$24.01 Billion while in the same period Windows revenue was US$122 Billion.
On the face of it Gates wins hands down. But not so quick each measured their success in a different way. Gates wanted to have his operating system in every computer, he hasn’t quite achieved that but with 90 per cent market share he’s not far off it!
The guys from Apples philosophy on the other hand was to design and build aesthetically pleasing and top notch software, this they have achieved. Ask any computer buff and while they may have a PC chances are they’ll tell you Apple is best.
Take sport. There may be more gifted cyclists and swimmers (and all sports,) out there but the ones that will win the medals at the Olympics will be those who have committed 100 per cent to their chosen sport.
At times it won’t be easy. While you’re toiling away trying to make a living from writing, or even earn some extra on the side, or trying to complete that novel which you hope will take you into the major league your friends will be out enjoying themselves or having quality time with their family and friends.
But there is no need to panic. Be assured that if you stay the course then people will come to appreciate your hard work and determination– who knows they might even admire you for your resolve.
We live in a world of instant satisfaction. Take a walk down the isle of any supermarket and see the amount of space taken up by ready meals, watch any television advertisement and instant happiness will be yours if….
But writing is not instant, it takes time and effort and thought. The message, however, is simple if you have a little bit of talent, and if you are prepared to work hard, write everyday, don’t let the rejection slips bug you to much then you will succeed. You will have that novel published, or that play preformed.
One final thought. Just as Windows and Apple had two different ideas of what success meant and concentrated upon these, then you also must know what sort of writing you want to do. Do you want to work in the press? Work for magazines? Write for the Web? Produce a novel, short stories, or poetry?
Know what you mean by success and when you reach there you’ll know it.
