We're in a competitive and challenging industry. Whether you have a critique partner, a critique group or our member of a writing organization, you need a cheerleader. Family support is also a must. They are your cheerleaders. Let your family know how important your writing is to you. They need to understand and take your career seriously.
Being a writer is the ultimate roller coaster ride. We have ups and downs. Rejections and requests. Productive days and unproductive days. Our cheerleaders lift us up and keep us going. Though they may not be objective, your family can read your work and critique it as well. My husband actually caught an inaccuracy in the physics of one of my scenes. Of course, I laughed and reminded him that my book is a fantasy. The events cannot really happen. But he said that if something can be real, make it real. He was right and now with his scientist help the scene is better.
Over that last four posts I've been discussing the importance and methods of critique partners. Having such a resource I believe brings a writer great value. I encourage you though to not just share work with your critique partner but to also share industry and craft knowledge. My critique partner and writing friends and I are quick to share resourceful articles that we've found. We share our successes, concerns and fears with one another. Your family will hopefully always be your number one fans but it is your critique partner that can truly understand what you are going through.
It is so important to have a cheerleader. I'm fortunate to have a very supportive husband, family and many wonderful writing friends including my critique partner. What have you done lately for your cheerleaders? Do you just critique and send back your critique partner's pages? Do you just listen to "cheers" from your family? Let your cheerleaders know how much they help you. Take a little time to step away from your keyboard and spend time with them. Send an email of encouragement to your critique partner that doesn't have to do with a critique.
How do your cheerleaders help your writing?
Give back to the cheerleaders in your life. What do you do for your cheerleaders?
I'm lucky that in the writing community I hang out in I have tons of cheerleaders. But my most loud, supportive one is my family. My daughter bugs me to read my next book and she doesn't realize how important her acceptance of my work is for me.
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