My 10-year-old twins are running for student council. They ran last year and lost. They were disappointed for about an hour, then moved on.
This year, one of them asked, "Do you think I can win?"
I often struggle for the perfect mommy words. Instead of telling my son something profound, I said, "You won't know unless you try."
The same goes for writers. I think it's safe to say we each experience moments of great doubt. It seeps in and courses through our veins. It explodes within every cell of our body.
Unpublished writers may wonder -- Do I have what it takes? Will this pile of words ever morph into something entertaining and publishable? If an agent loves my manuscript, will they find an editor who feels the same way?
The published writer might wonder -- Can I do it again?
Writer friends, this much we know for sure: we won't know unless we try. And try again. Not trying equals defeat, and we can't let that happen.
Will one of my fifth graders win a seat on the student council? I have no idea. But they'll give it all they've got and be proud of their effort. I could learn a lot from a 10-year-old.
How about you? Do you ever experience these doubts? Do you struggle to push past them and keep trying?