Wondering If Your Writing Dreams Are Worth The Effort And Pain? — Yes, They Are. Think Long Term.
All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.
Upcoming episode on Becoming A Writer podcast this Saturday — we are going to talk about how persistence helps you inch closer to your dream writer life.
All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.
- Walt Disney
Many times throughout my writing life so far, I have faced a question. A question that makes complete logical sense, but my heart doesn’t buy it.
Is this all worth it?
Is giving up on the tried and tested way of living worth the price to pay for my writing dreams? Is going into hermit mode working on myself and my writing worth it? Is going against the grain and not having people understand you most of the time worth it? Is a creative pursuit like writing worth devoting your life to?
My answer is yes.
The life of a writer can be a lonely one. Sometimes a painful one, too — physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It is sometimes hard to show others how you see the world. And it is vulnerable, too, for you are using your own life and experiences as a muse. But for me, it is all worth it.
And whenever this life feels too hard I remind myself of the day I had my epiphany of becoming a writer.
I will never forget the afternoon of May 25th, 2014. Having just finished reading Agatha Christie’s Curtain, I was revelling in the bittersweet aftermath of the novel when I heard a voice speak inside me.
“It would be so amazing if I could make others feel the way Agatha Christie makes me feel. Yes, I will become a writer.”
It’s hard for me to explain what I felt at the moment. I was excited, as if I had just found Scrooge McDuck’s vault. And I was serene as if I had found my home, my place in the grand scheme of things. I was pumped to get going, and I was calm knowing we had a journey to make. And most importantly, my epiphany gave me hope for a better, purposeful future.
The out-of-this-world feeling that I felt at that moment is the one that’s been carrying me through this arduous writing journey for so long. And therefore, I know the effort and pain I am going through is part of the process and will all make sense in the end. It’s already doing so.
Why Your Writing Dreams Are Worth The Effort And Pain?
It gives you a sense of purpose. I found my dream of becoming a writer when I was in a very dark place. I was so deep in despair, heartbreak and anger that I knew I wasn’t going to feel any better. And then this dream came in with a blast lighting up my entire being. At that moment, it became my reason to stay alive long enough to make it come true. Now, it has become my reason for being.
It gives you a chance at self-discovery. When I first started writing, I thought I was writing the story of my characters. Later, I realised that I was writing my story through their lens. Writing involves exploring your own thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Therefore, it can be a journey of self-discovery, helping you better understand yourself and your place in the world.
It helps you in personal growth. If I brought the person I was in 2014 and my current self in the same room, I wouldn’t realise they are the same person. The process of writing challenges you to learn, adapt, and grow. It is in the pursuit of writing that you understand who you are, therefore inevitably becoming a better writer and a better human.
It grows your love for writing. When your writing pursuits are aligned with your own values, interests, and passions, a writing life creates a fulfilling and meaningful experience for you. If you have a genuine love for writing, the act of creating and playing with words is a reward in itself. Therefore making you want to write more.
It helps become whole. Delving into my writing dream gives me the personal sanctification of seeing my projects come to life, the intellectual stimulation of learning and applying new lessons, the emotional safe space to express my thoughts, ideas and feelings, and the spiritual peace of being and living my true self.
It helps you help others. Your words have the potential to inspire, educate, entertain, and even change lives. Through your writing, you can let them know they are not alone in whatever life situation they are facing. You can connect with readers on a deep and emotional level, making a positive impact on their lives.
It helps you leave behind a legacy. One of my favourite books on writing, Becoming A Writer by Dorothea Brande, was published in 1934. This book was 88 years old when I read it and had my mind blown. I am sure Ms. Brande never thought a writer like me, so far into the future, would read her book and be inspired. But that’s what she did. Writing allows you to leave a lasting legacy. Whether it’s through fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or any other form, your work can outlive you, influencing future generations and contributing to the collective human experience.
How To Make It Through The Grind And Live Your Writing Dreams?
Realise you are living your writing dreams. It is not in publishing your book or getting validation from the outside. Those are your human needs, and though valid and necessary, they don’t ignite your writing dreams. The knowing that you are already a writer and the act of pursing your writing keeps your dream alive.
Delay your gratification. We know how instant gratification makes us feel good in the moment but not in the long run. We also know how delayed gratification makes us feel not so happy at the moment but gives us results that can last lifelong. Purposely, choose the latter. This is why I aim to write timeless essays and create a portfolio of my work online instead of writing trendy articles in the hopes of going viral.
Let your celebrity crushes help you. This will sound silly because it is silly, but it works for me, so it might work for you. Imagine that your favourite celebrity crushes let you know, online or in-person, that they are a fan of your writing. Imagine your favourite author telling you that you are their favourite author. Imagine you are on a book tour and are giving an interview at your favourite talk show. Imagine your favourite director is adapting your book into a movie or show, and your favourite actors are playing the lead roles. If this doesn’t get you giddy with excitement to write, I don’t know what will.
Imagine you are in a sports movie. Writing is definitely a sport. You need physical endurance, mental fortitude, emotional resilience and spiritual belief in yourself to succeed in this endeavour for life. So whenever I feel down and low and can’t get up (literally or figuratively), I imagine that I am in that part of a sports movie where the protagonist is down and beaten. But then I also realised that is the point where if I put myself together and get up, I can make my dreams come true. Just like there will be a montage of the protagonist training hard for their redemption with an epic and motivating background score playing in the background, I imagine I am also doing the same as I furiously type at my keyboard with Mozart playing in the background. So remember, when you hit a rough patch in your writing journey, it’s just part of the plot of your success story.
Do it for the writers who came before you. Another silly delusion I like to have that motivates me to write is thinking about my favourite author, Agatha Christie. She came into this world, wrote her share of words and then left us. But what if there are still some stories she wishes to write? What if I become the medium through which she can share her unfinished stories? Will I be writing like Agatha Christie? Pfft! I wish! But that would definitely be and become something. Now imagine thinking this same way for your other favourite authors who are no more. That would be one exciting life mission as a writer.
Think about your 2-year-old self and your 100-year-old self. Very often, I would think about these two versions of me. As I am working hard at my craft, I see the 2-year-old me so pleased to be living her dream life. As I am working hard at my craft, I also see my 100-year-old self feeling so proud of me for giving our dream the best shot we could. This way, I remind myself that the pain and effort I am going through now is for them. As Reacher once said in the second season of the show, “People live and then they die. As long as we do both properly, there’s nothing much to regret.” Therefore, so long as I am giving my best to live my dream, I will have no regrets.
