The Importance of a Positive Attitude

Well we all have those moments of self-doubt, it’s a natural response. The question is how do we deal with it and how can we prevent it lurking it’s ugly head again?

I’ll admit that lately I’ve been suffering from a ‘Crisis of Confidence’ As Rich Hall (top Comedian)  would say. This is due to feeling overwhelmed in my new occupation. Even though it’s what I want to be doing, more than anything. I think perhaps I’ve been putting too much pressure on myself. The truth of the matter is this: I need to make it work, because there’s nothing else I want to do.

Dealing with moments of self-doubt: Recognising the emotion, not pushing it to one side, but recognising the feeling and understanding it. Asking what has caused it. An email, a comment from someone, reading something? After a while ask how else you could have seen it/ dealt with it. This should hopefully put a different perspective on it that’s not so negative.

How to stop it lurking it’s ugly head again: Apply the exercise you’ve just done. Instead of immediately reacting, STOP. Think of a different perspective. Some people, as bad as it sounds, are just out there to make us feel bad about ourselves, the trick is not to let them. Instead, re-focus and apply the philosophy: i’ll show them. And this song, which I love, should help. It always makes me feel better about myself: Jessie J ‘Who’s Laughing Now’

And above all don’t let it stop you. Keep going and keep smiling 🙂

On Compromising

When trying to break into the literary sphere where and what should you compromise, if anything?

Well, firstly though it may seem like compromising it may just be becoming more flexible, or branching out. Writing in different genres, perhaps in genres we’re not 100% comfortable with brings it’s challenges, as well as probably, fear. I think the process of writing something new is exciting, it helps us to explore our potential as writers. And the craft of writing poses risks anyway, such as: is this piece going to sell? is it well written? can I improve this before I send it out? I don’t necessarily think it’s a good idea to pigeon hole ourselves to one genre or style of writing, yes we can specialise in a particular area but being open is a trait a writer should really advocate.

Writing for free: good idea or bad idea? Writing for free does have it’s drawback of-course, I’m not denying that. Isn’t it better though, to be published somewhere even if it was for free? Surely it’s better to be published somewhere rather than nowhere? I’ll admit this is a new attitude for me as I know understand it’s necessity. It is a building block. So this is my new plan: to get as much of my writing out there as possible, and see where it takes me.