The Emotional Roller Coaster of a Writer’s Life
I don’t like roller coasters. I like the predictable, steady, tried and true. Yet writing is one of the most significant emotional roller coasters you can put yourself on in life. So as writers, why do we do it? Why do we get up every morning and strap ourselves into that seat?
For me, it’s all because of the high moments. The moment where you feel like you can accomplish anything. The view from atop that roller coaster is panoramic! I had two high moments this week in the writing life: I wrote the two most important words in the English language—THE END. Another book done, and before my deadline. Feels pretty great.
Until you open that first file and re-read what is was you wrote. Suddenly the fear creeps in. It’s a feeling of utter incompetence; of asking yourself why on earth you thought you could do something so complex as writing a novel.
That is sometimes where the writing roller coaster gets stuck, in the most precarious of places. Where you want to just jump out and let it go on without you. For me, that is also were I find myself avoiding the thing I know I need to do most—get back to work. Instead, I’ll get lost in the laundry, sorting through the papers that seem to stack on the counter of their own free will, or cleaning the bathrooms—anything I can think of to avoid what makes me fearful—writing.
Most of the time, I can be fairly disciplined with my writing. Setting daily page goals, weekly benchmarks, and deadlines. But sometimes the fear is so overwhelming that it is almost a tangible thing. I know a large part of that fear is because I love my story concept and I’m afraid of executing it poorly. In my head the story is rich and meaningful, an epic! It is powerful and sweeping and emotional and makes people think about themselves and the ways they relate to one another. It changes people’s lives for the better.
So how do you overcome that fear? One sentence at a time, one page at a time. Also by realizing that the desire to write would not be inside you if you weren’t capable of the task. And most important of all, is to remember that nothing can happen if you don’t at least try.
Any creative field has its highs and lows. Maybe for writers, those highs are especially high because of all the lows. We set this same path for our characters. We give them struggles, self-doubt, and so many obstacles. And yet they, along with a little authorial help, get through it all for that ultimate reward.
So what are the highs of a writer’s life? Finishing each and every manuscript. Selling that first book, and all the others that follow. Trying something in your writing you’ve never tried before. A great review, or fabulous feedback from critique group. A note from a reader. Hitting your page count for the day. Seeing your new cover for the first time. Holding that printed book in your hands. Your first writing paycheck. Your book on Amazon’s website. And so many more other fantastic moments.
Do all those highs make the lows worthwhile? I’d like to think so.
That second high for me this week was my new cover. I think it is gorgeous and captures the essence of the book perfectly.
Share a special moment you’ve had that has taken your emotions to the top of that roller coaster.
