Writing: The Right Foot Forward by Leanne Dyck

"Night sky" ldyck

Oh, 2018, I have big plans for you. I want you to be the year the right publisher chooses me.

But what if they don't?

No, I can't think like that. There's no point. I can't control another's actions...chooses. I can only keep clicking my pen, keep tapping away on my keyboard. I can only continue to believe in my ability to keep dancing--write, revise, submit. Keep trusting. Keep believing.

You will be an amazing year.

"In Byron's arms" ldyck

Writing advice to my younger self by Leanne Dyck

Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in 1992

The Artist's Way:  A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron is a twelve-week program that will inspire and inform your creative journey. It inspired me to write...

Dear younger Leanne,

You know those stories that you’re working on. Well, you might think that you can just throw them out—unfinished. You may think that because they belong to you, you can do whatever you want with them. Well, you’re wrong. You can’t. You can’t because they belong to me—older Leanne—not you. So, instead of tossing them away, you better file them away for safekeeping. You better or else…

Oh, yeah, and another thing, you might think that by writing all those stories you’re just having fun. WRONG! You’re doing important work. However, you’re only doing half the job. You also need to get someone who can spell and knows grammar to edit them. Ask Mom; she’ll help you. Then you need to send them to literary journals or short story contests. 

Oh, yeah, and don’t just do it once and think you’re done. 

Don’t just say, “Oh, well, I submitted it. I didn’t win. I don’t have to do that again.” 

Don’t think, I tried, failed, and now I’m done. The only way you failed is by being done. 

Simply by continuing to submit your stories, you’re proving that you are a winner.

If you don’t continue working until the job is done, well then you’ll leave all that work for me. And trust me, I won’t be pleased.

Oh, yeah, and the most important thing, you may not think you’re smart, but I do. I know how talented you are. And you’re doing a grave disservice by not sharing your talent. So do it. Do it now!

Love,

Leanne

If you've enjoyed reading The Artist's Way, you may also like...

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Published by Riverhead Books:  

an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC in 2015

Note to Self:  A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth by Laurie Buchanan is a personal exploration to guide you in developing a healthier you. 

Published by She Writes Press:

a division of SparkPoint Studio, LLC in 2016

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Published on Sunday, June 25 at approximately 5 PM PT.
If you enjoyed reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon, you enjoy Are You Seeing Me?

It's All Good by Leanne Dyck

(photo by Leanne Dyck)

Think back over what you've accomplished so far today this year. If a camera crew had followed you, would you have made the news? Would you have inspired or entertained? Maybe...not. Yet those hours are part of the body of work you call your life. 

As is your life, so is your writing. Not everything you write will be published. Not everything deserves to be. 

No, it may not be validated by another. And yet it's not a waste—even if you ball it up and toss it in the garbage put in the recycle bin. It may be waste, but it isn't a waste. It has helped to improve your craft—even if all you have discovered is that writing is still fun. 

And so, my friend, write. Fill your days with ink on paper. It is the way of Shakespeare, Stephen King, and Pauline Johnson. It is the writer's way.

Wishing all contented days full of writing/reading in 2016.

Next post:  Book review:  Food for the Gods by Karen Dudley

Sharing my author journey...

This week I'm working on a picture book that was inspired by my