Perserverance by Jane Kelley

How many times have we heard these tropes?

The only way to fail is to quit.

You have to be in it to win it.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going

Okay we know what we're supposed to do. But what will help us do it?

Like all creative people ever, I've struggled with writing. Whether it's that first terrifying blank page or the doldrums of the mushy middle, there are times when I feel like Bartleby. I would rather not. 

Here are some tricks I've used to get up off the floor and back to my desk.  

Find a community. Spending time with other writers reminds you that you're a writer too. They'll hold you accountable by asking what are you working on--and understand your answer. If you can't find any, there are plenty of memoirs and essays to read. You can hang out with Emily Dickinson, Sylvia Plath, or whoever you chose.

Celebrate each small victory. Did you finish the garbage draft? Pop the champagne! Did you get an encouraging rejection letter? Paste the good part into your file of inspirational quotes. There's always a reason to celebrate. 

Find what you enjoy about the process. I always feel really good after I have cleaned up that tangled sentence. Or when I cut that messy part out and suddenly everything flows together. I also like gathering ideas or learning something new. 

Remember your purpose. I confess, I like to put in a message. Often it's about environmental issues. But even without an obvious moral, your writing still matters! Entertaining people, making them laugh, transporting them from their lives and into someone else's world is important. 

JANE KELLEY's first novel NATURE GIRL actually has a character who constantly says, "The only way to fail is to quit." Seems kind of obvious now, but at that time, I really needed to hear that.