Comments on: Aspiring

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 12:04:31 +0000

Anne, I hear you. :)

Michelle, I agree. We've probably all struggled at some point with the insecurity, the fear, or the inertia.

As for your branching out, go for it. If it doesn't work (and it will work), you can always scale back. :)

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 05:57:59 +0000

I felt the same way when I first started writing for pay. It took me a long time to own that I really am a "writer". Even though I am in the action stage, this article strikes a cord in me. There are many jumping off places in our career. Right now I am deciding whether or not I want to branch out into new areas of writing… but I have to stop dreaming and just act before anything will happen. Thanks for in-spiring me to do more than just a-spire.

By: Anne Wayman

Anne Wayman — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:50:01 +0000

Wade, glad to know you were/are a pro golfer as well as a freelance writer.

Ruth I had the same experience as you did.

Lori, folks who 'aspire,' or otherwise talk instead of writing make me very tired.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:12:38 +0000

Right you are, Kim!

By: Kimberly Ben

Kimberly Ben — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:57:24 +0000

I think it means you're not really committed to earning a living as a writer – the person is not willing to put in the work. Fear is a given, but if you're "going" to be a writer, you just have to push past it at some point and do it.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:29:05 +0000

Isn't that eye-opening, Ruth? Funny how we spend so much time dancing around it, but it isn't until we dig in that we own our realities. 🙂

By: Ruth - The Freelance Writing Blog

Ruth - The Freelance Writing Blog — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:53:14 +0000

It's funny, once I bit the bullet and defined myself as a writer (not an aspiring writer, not a part-time writer, not a writer 'on the side'), my freelance writing business started to transform. Making it my single professional focus, and acknowledging that reality out loud and publicly, was a huge step – emotionally and practically.

By: Lori

Lori — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:28:22 +0000

EXACTLY, Devon. Do or don't do. To quote Yoda, "Do or do not. There is no try."

You're a pro golfer, Wade? Very cool!

Cathy, I aspire to be a size 2. LOL

Jake, I like your Darwinian side. It's exactly what I thought when I heard him. I stopped steaming and thought "He'll never be competition until he lifts a finger toward the keyboard and not toward that coffee mug."

Paula, I've had people say "How cute" in that oh-so-snide way. I simply reply "Yes, my specialty is insurance and risk management and let me tell you about workers compensation..." Don't insult me or you'll be stuck listening to how to reduce claims costs. LOL

Dana! Great seeing you here! You're right - you're DOING. That's much better than aspiring, isn't it? :)

By: Wade Finnegan

Wade Finnegan — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:53:30 +0000

Jake, mini-tours, pro-ams etc. Never made it to the show. Lots of time driving from one town to the other. It is never as glamourous as it is made out to be.

By: Dana Ford

Dana Ford — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 16:49:13 +0000

Great article! I've put another few hundred words into my project today. Not a great amount, but it's something. I'm doing my best not to aspire, but to DO!