Hey You, Superstar! Don't Give Up On Your Dream!

By: Sheila Webster-Heard
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:41:51
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In 2004, I was a devoted member of a popular online writing community. After spending much time on the site sharpening my skills, finally, in my possession was the second draft of a manuscript.

So far, my novel; my baby, had already received many compliments as well as constructive criticism from other writers on the site. I gladly accepted the reviews of my chapters and made further changes.

I was pleased. Now that I was closing in on an audience for my novel, all I wanted to know is if it had any chance of being published. Curious, I joined a group within the same writing community which claimed to help authors prepare their drafts for publication.

After introducing myself to the group, I nervously posted all 23 chapters of my novel to the forum. I looked forward to the responses from the participants, especially one of the group leaders who was an editor by trade. If anyone could tell me if I should pursue my life-long dream of becoming a well paid writer, it would be an editor, right?

That’s where it all went wrong.

I understood there was still more revising to be done to my manuscript; hey, that's why I was an active member of the online writing community in the first place. But as I read the editors much anticipated e-mail message, it felt as if I had been blindsided.

She tyrannically ripped to mini shreds my plot, my characters and my whole novel; my baby. She humbly apologized afterward, informing me she couldn’t even continue reading, it was just that bad.

Naive, I assumed because she was an editor, she had to be right, maybe my story was awful. Maybe all the other group members who alleged they read it to the very end, didn't actually read it at all. I figured, maybe they didn't want to hurt my feelings, so they told me what I wanted to hear.

Wounded, I left the group and removed my novel from the forum, even after another member e-mailed me and commented that she had just recommended my novel to other members of the online community.

Still, I couldn't feel good about this news. I packed away my novel and today it still sits idle collecting dust in the crawl space of my home. So, what was wrong with me? Why was I willing to give up so hastily just because someone, who was very entitled to her view, told me my novel was worthless? It was much deeper than a bruised ego.

I didn't have faith in my words. I gave the editor, by no fault of her own, too much power. Why I believed I needed her to tell me I was a worthy writer in the first place is beyond comprehension.

“I’m not a good writer” and “People will laugh at me.”

These insecurities presented themselves whenever I considered working on my novel again. I was always terrified that someone else would tell me my writing was awful, instead of adopting the viewpoint of “it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, I really love what I write.”

When the editor trashed my manuscript, I thought I was a failure.

What I didn’t understand then, but I am very aware of now is, if I don’t try at all that’s when I can truly consider myself a failure. The truth is, I’m a successful writer simply because I’m doing something plenty of people never thought I was bright enough to do. If I quit, I’m only holding myself back from reaching my full potential; the only person my quitting will adversely affect is me.

I've learned it takes guts to put yourself out in front of the world and risk being ridiculed for all to see. The only alternative is to continue to think about our aspirations, and then we chance becoming someone who only dreams, instead of becoming that inspiring individual who made their ideas materialize.

There will invariably be someone who is more knowledgeable, more accomplished or someone who will be a better writer or a master poet. But what makes those of us who keep kicking at each closed door so outstanding is, while we recognize our shortcomings, we know that one day we will be both knowledgeable and accomplished if we don't give up. And we won't give up.

Never let the sting of anyone's criticism cripple you so badly that it causes you to not move forward into your God given purpose. Don't ever wait for that miraculous day when the group editors of life will come and bless you with their approval.

You have to recognize you’re talented. You have to believe that you have a right to carve your space in the world with your talent. You have to speak it into existence with confidence. And so it shall be.

Tips to help you along your path to greatness!

*Set small goals for yourself that will eventually lead to the fulfillment of your dream.

*Practice. The more you practice your craft, the better you’ll get.

*Surround yourself with positive, encouraging people.

*Wake up every morning ready to open the door for your opportunity as soon as it knocks.

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