Episode 045 – Resilience for an Enduring Writing Career

On today’s podcast, we cover why writers need to be resilient, how to cultivate it and pitfalls to avoid in order to maintain it.

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Transcript

Welcome to Writer Roadmap, the podcast for writers seeking inspiration, guidance, and support on their creative journey. I’m Holly Lyne, and today, we’re exploring a critical quality for any writer: resilience.

Resilience isn’t just about bouncing back; it’s about growing stronger through challenges and maintaining your passion for writing, even when the road gets rough. Let’s dive into why resilience is essential, how to foster it, and what pitfalls to avoid to keep your creative spirit resilient.

Why Writers Need Resilience

Writing is not for the faint of heart. It involves rejection, criticism, and the internal battles of self-doubt. Resilience is the armour that protects our creative spirit from these inevitable encounters. It helps us to see feedback not as a setback but as a stepping stone to improvement. More importantly, resilience allows us to persevere through the drafting, revising, and publishing phases, which are often fraught with challenges.

Writing is a journey of incredible highs and, sometimes, profound lows. From the elation of a breakthrough to the frustration of a rejected manuscript, resilience is what keeps us moving forward. It allows us to take constructive criticism and turn it into fuel for improvement, to face rejection without losing our passion, and to continue writing even when the path is steep and rocky. Resilience is essential because it helps us maintain our commitment to our craft, no matter the obstacles.

Cultivating Resilience

Understand Your ‘Why’: Start by anchoring yourself to your purpose. Why do you write? What drives your passion? Knowing your ‘why’ can sustain you through periods of doubt and rejection. When challenges arise, remind yourself of the reasons you embarked on this journey.

Set Realistic Expectations: Part of resilience is setting expectations that acknowledge the reality of the writing process. Understand that setbacks are part of the journey and that each challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow. Expecting a smooth path sets you up for frustration; embracing the bumpy road prepares you for endurance.

Embrace a Growth Mindset: See every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow. Whether it’s mastering a new writing technique or understanding the market better, every hurdle can teach you something valuable.

Develop a Supportive Community: Surround yourself with people who understand and support your writing. This could be a writing group, a mentor, or fellow writers who can offer encouragement, share their experiences, and remind you that you’re not alone in your struggles.

Maintain a Routine: Consistency in your writing routine can build resilience. It reinforces discipline and helps create a sense of normalcy, even when the creative process feels chaotic. Even on tough days, the habit of showing up can keep you grounded and focused.

Practice Self-Care: Maintain a balance between writing and rest. Ensure you’re taking time to recharge your mental batteries, which can help you return to your work with fresh eyes and renewed energy.
Keep a Success Journal: Regularly document your achievements, no matter how small. Reviewing this journal can be a powerful reminder of your capabilities and progress, especially during tough times.

Things to Avoid

• Isolation: While writing is often a solitary activity, isolating yourself can amplify negative feelings. Engage with your community, seek feedback, and share your experiences. Isolation can turn minor setbacks into seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Find other writers to keep company with while you write. Communities such as The Write Place offer group writing sessions for this very reason.
• Resist the Perfectionist Trap: Perfectionism can stifle your progress and undermine your resilience. Allow yourself to write badly at first, to make mistakes, and to learn as you go.
• Steer Clear of Negative Self-Talk: Be mindful of how you talk to yourself about your writing and your progress. Replace critical or defeatist thoughts with affirmations and constructive self-talk.
• Don’t Ignore Your Physical Health: A healthy body supports a healthy mind. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, and proper nutrition can significantly affect your mental and emotional resilience.
• Dwelling on Failures: While it’s important to learn from setbacks, dwelling on them can erode your resilience. Instead, focus on actionable insights and move forward. Keep a journal of lessons learned and successes achieved to remind you of your growth.

Conclusion

Resilience is more than just surviving the writing journey; it’s about thriving within it. By understanding the importance of resilience, actively fostering it, and avoiding common pitfalls, you can ensure that your writing journey is as rewarding as it is enduring.

Remember, every writer faces challenges, but not every writer lets those challenges define their journey. With resilience, you can navigate through the storms and come out stronger on the other side.

Thank you for joining me today on Writer Roadmap. If you’ve found ways to boost your resilience, or if you have stories of how resilience has helped you on your writing journey, I’d love to hear them. Join the conversation on our Instagram or TikTok and share your experiences.

Remember to subscribe to Writer Roadmap, and share this episode with a fellow writer who might need a little encouragement today. Until next time, keep writing, keep striving, and keep embracing the challenges. It’s in these moments that we truly grow.

Writer Roadmap intro and outro music used under license from Pixabay. Music track “Salangseuleoun” was Created by “Dayfox”.