Writer’s Self-Motivation

I wrote in a recent post about a new writer’s need for self-confidence, and having the confidence to tell people that you are, indeed, a writer. In hindsight, I realise now that, while it is essential to broadcast that you’re a writer, you also need to be able to prove it. You need to write something that demonstrates that you’re not just a poseur.

I had this amusingly confirmed to me a few days ago by my lifelong friend, Sean. I had sent him the first three chapters of my novel for his opinion, prior to submitting them to a literary agent. Sean was one of the first that I made aware of my recent literary career change, and like any good friend, has offered nothing but support and encouragement. When I phoned him to get his opinion upon the three chapters, he was reasonably positive. This pleased me immensely, but he then said that what he had found particularly pleasing and reassuring, was that I had written the three chapters at all.

When I asked for clarification of this, he said that while he never doubted my intention to be a writer, he had looked upon me actually doing so in the same way as he would if I had said that I intended becoming a rocket scientist. That he would have offered the same support and encouragement, but would believe it only when he saw the actual rocket streaking up into the atmosphere. Being able to actually read the first three chapters of a novel that I have been talking about now for over a year, gives him the confidence to tell others that I am a writer. And so the network grows!

I am still chuckling at Sean’s rocket scientist analogy. Very amusing, and very apt, and helps with my self-motivation to go on to achieve the next stage—to become published. That’s easier said than done, but I need to have my novel ‘in the library’ to convince absolutely everybody that I am genuinely a writer. I mean, after all, there are still people that doubt the American moon landings!

IR 24/02/2011