WRITERS WANTED

There is a Volkswagon commercial that says, “On the road of life there are drivers and there are passengers; drivers wanted.” I want to take pitch line and apply it to my personal philosophy. “On the road to publication, there are writers and there are waiters. Writers wanted.”

Let’s take a look at that for a moment. What are “waiters”? No, they’re not the people you see at restaurants who take your order and bring you your food. Waiters are those who wait for things to happen. They don’t make that effort to write every day. They don’t make the effort to submit and learn their craft. They don’t take the time to network and promote themselves. The think an offer will just magically be handed to them one day because their writing is THAT good and they are THAT deserving. And when things don’t work the way they want it to, they complain and blame everyone but themselves.

Now let’s define “writers”. Writers are people who give up their nightly must-see television show to write. They wake up extra early or go to bed an hour late so they can get their page count for the day in. They go to chapter meetings, participate online, and attend conferences because they want the networking experience. They submit their work and don’t let one small rejection stop them from their dreams. They take the time to learn their craft and they listen to constructive criticism. They don’t wait around for an offer to magically appear; they go out and look for it because they know that it takes dedication, hard work, and perseverance.

You know that saying about, “No pain, no gain.” Well, it applies to writing as well. Not to sound cliché, but nothing in life is free. You have to earn your worth. So on the road to publication, there are writers, and there are waiters. Which category do you fall under?

          - Not to be reprinted without author’s permission.