When I first started writing, I thought talent was everything. I believed good writers were simply born with some magical ability to string beautiful words together. What I wish I knew back then is this: writing isn’t about talent nearly as much as it’s about persistence.

I used to wait for inspiration. I’d sit at my desk, convinced I needed the perfect idea and the perfect mood before I could begin. What actually works is showing up consistently, even on days when you don’t feel creative. The magic usually happens after you start, not before. Harlan Ellison says it best, “People on the outside think there’s something magical about writing, that you go up in the attic at midnight and cast the bones and come down in the morning with a story, but it isn’t like that. You sit in back of the typewriter, and you work, and that’s all there is to it.” 

I also wish I understood that first drafts are supposed to be bad. Truly. I spent so much time trying to make every sentence perfect that I barely made any progress. Writing improves during revision, not during hesitation. Once I gave myself permission to write messy, unfinished, imperfect drafts, everything changed. I wrote faster. I wrote more. And ironically, my writing became stronger.

Another lesson I learned the hard way: comparison will drain your confidence. It’s easy to read a brilliant novel and feel like you’ll never measure up. I remember reading authors like Stephen King and wondering how anyone could possibly write with that level of clarity and control. But comparing your early drafts to someone else’s polished, published work is unfair. Every writer you admire started as a beginner.

I also didn’t realize how important reading would be to becoming a better writer. Reading teaches you pacing, voice, structure, and emotional impact in ways no rulebook can. If you want to improve your writing, read widely and read often. I believe it was Stephen King who said, “If you do not have time to read, you do not have the time (or tools) to write.” Pay attention to what works—and what doesn’t.

Perhaps the biggest thing I wish I knew is that rejection is normal. Whether it’s a blog post that gets no traction or a manuscript that receives a polite “no,” rejection isn’t proof that you should quit. It’s part of the process. Every piece you write builds skill, even if it never sees the light of day.

If I could tell my beginner self one thing, now that I know, it would be this: keep going. Don’t wait to feel ready. Don’t wait to feel confident. Write anyway. The confidence comes later.

What are your thoughts on this?

Thank you for your continued readership and support. Until next week….Blessings and Peace!

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