One of the best writing skills out there has nothing to do with writing
Did you know that?
Because for all the talk of tools, and technique, and time management, and the rest of the lot – 90 percent of people are going to get
#1.
Out of fear, they are going to never start.
This is where the fear of beginning is simply too insurmountable.
#2.
Or, out of impatience, they are going to quit showing up.
I mean, how many people do you know that wanted to write, started a blog or book draft, and then gave up after 3 to 6 months?
Showing up and doing the work is most of the battle.
Because most people can’t do it.
In fact, this is one of the most important qualities of an aspiring writer.
The best part is that, everyday, you get to decide if you have what it takes.
I find it helpful to think in terms of systems and not goals.
The more we have at stake, the harder it is to make the leap into writing. The more we think about who’s going to read it, what they’re going to think, how many copies will be printed, whether this magazine or that magazine will accept it for publication, the further away we are from accomplishing anything alive on the page.
-Dani Shapiro, Still Writing