1. More writers are nervous about writing, querying, publishing, etc. than you think. We just don’t talk about it enough.

2. Fearing failure is normal and OK, as long as you’re also willing to face that fear.

3. Rejection isn’t the end of your journey. For many, it’s the beginning.

4. If you don’t feel like sharing your writing with a bunch of strangers (yet or ever) … you don’t have to.

5. The worst that can happen for most is that someone says they don’t like you/your writing (also implies: insulting you/people you care about, because people are mean). It’s awful. But it’s not the end of the world.

6. Making mistakes and falling short of your own expectations is how you learn to do and be better.

7. There’s nothing wrong with dreaming, as long as you have an actual goal to work toward. Let dreaming calm you when you’re not hard at work.

8. Being nervous means you care and want to do well, and you’re more likely to do better because you care.

9. It’s OK to take a break. It’s even healthy to take a break.

10. But don’t give up. Your words matter, and so do you.

 

 

Meg Dowell is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is an editor and writer, and a 12-time NaNoWriMo winner. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food, and Star Wars.