CAN YOU HANDLE WRITING SUCCESS?

Here's what many writers have in common--they've learned to handle being aspiring writers, struggling writers, even failing writers.

But they need to take the next step and learn to handle being successful writers. To do this they (and you and I) need to do three things:

1/ Write. Write a lot, the actual putting-words-on-paper writing, not just the thinking-about-it writing.

2/ Improve and learn. Take active steps to make your writing better. This could be taking a good writing class, forming a supportive writing group, or hiring a writing coach.

3/ Submit your work. If you want to get published you have to make your work available to the editors who might buy it. Your great short story or essay in that desk drawer has zero chance of getting published.

4. And the extra, bonus, step. Don't give up. There's nothing easier than giving up, and few things more bitter than failure.

HOW MYTHOLOGY CAN ENRICH YOUR WRITING!

I'm reading Karen Armstrong's excellent book on mythology, A Short History of Myth. At only 149 pages it is a great introduction to how myths and the myth-making process can enrich our lives.

I strongly recommend it. If we look carefully at almost any powerful story, movie, or play we will see its roots (sometimes hidden) in the mythic concerns that have become important parts of our complexity as humans.

If you've read the book, email me with your impressions. I'd love to hear from you. www.RoySorrels2@aol.com

Inspiration? or Intimidation?

I lived, wrote, and led writing workshops in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, all through the 1990s. Living in another country was a long-time goal of mine, and I loved it.

Towards the end of that time I started writing plays. I was the only playwright in San Miguel, and there was virtually no theatre.

I needed inspiration. I needed to go to lots of theatre, to see the work of other playwrights. I needed to go back to New York City to live.

That's what I did, but not without some trepidation. When you're the only playwright in town, that also means you're the best playwright in town. But back in New York, there are lots of talented playwrights, even some, uh oh, more talented than me!

So, I had to decide whether to be inspired, or intimidated. The good news is that I've been mostly inspired, with a few dark moments of feeling intimidated. The same applies to you, whatever kind of writing you do. Are you inspired by all the other talented writers? Or intimidated?

Email me at RoySorrels2@aol.com and let me know. Visit http://www.roysorrels.com/ to learn what a writing coach does!