in writing inspiration

Stop the Blame Game

Do you catch yourself thinking about why you can’t write or why you can’t succeed or why you can’t try for bigger markets? Following that people will tend to look for something or someone to blame. Maybe they hope to find the blame so they can fix the problem. But, I think, the blame game is a waste of time. You may blame yourself, momentarily. Likely you don’t settle there and instead look for someone else who can be at fault. Why bother?

Stop playing the blame game and start making better use of your time. If you want to write more, do it. Set up a writing schedule and stick to it. Let your family and friends know the schedule and that you will not be available. If you feel you aren’t succeeding stop being negative. Instead look at the things you are accomplishing. Make a list and keep it visible where you work at writing. Inspire yourself with the success you have rather than looking at the glass half empty and discouraging yourself. If you want to try bigger markets suck up your courage and just do it. The worst they can do is say "no thanks". If you know you’ve done your best to send them work that is topical for them, work that you have diligently proofread and directed to the right place at the right time, then you have done well. Let it go. Move onto another market goal and send work out to the intermediate markets too. Keep trying and keep your name on the desks of editors and publishers. Someone will say yes if you keep sending them quality work.

So, next time you look for someone to blame for whatever the problem is, stop wasting that time. Put it into doing rather than blaming. Find solutions for problems without stopping to find someone to blame. In the end, what you do and how you do it are in your control.