Sometimes You Need Encouragement

/ Joan Hall

Hi, SE Readers! Joan here on this Monday morning. No matter if we’ve been writing twenty years or twenty days, if we have dozens of published books or none, most of us have times when we get discouraged.

Sometimes we may even want to give up. But then, you’ll come across a quote, a line in a movie, or a sentence in a book that makes a significant impact on your life. Often, these things come when you need it the most.

So today, I’m going to share a few quotes that have made an impact on my life and my writing career.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” ― C. S. Lewis

I’ve often said that I wish I had begun writing at an earlier age. I could let those regrets keep me from writing now, or I can choose to write. The quote by C. S. Lewis is an excellent reminder that we are never too old to begin something new.

“If you hear a voice within you say, ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.”—Vincent van Gogh

In one of the first writing classes I took, the instructor used this quote by  van Gogh.  He referenced painting, but it equally applies to writing. I struggled with self-doubt for years but this quote has made a big impact on me. Now, whenever my inner voice tells me, “You cannot write,” then I write. Writing silences that voice.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill

There are times when we will succeed and times when we will fail. If we stop with our first success—whether it is a freelance writing opportunity or a published book, we will miss some great opportunities. Likewise, if we let our failures (and there will be some) to discourage us to the point of quitting, we will never succeed. We must have the courage to continue.

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison

Imagine what could have happened if Thomas Edison had given up after two or three attempts at inventing the light bulb. As writers, if we quit after two or three rejections, we will never succeed. Keep striving!

“To get through the hardest journey we need take only one step at a time, but we must keep on stepping.”—Chinese Proverb

The life of a writer is indeed a journey—often filled with unexpected twists and turns. It is a marathon—not a sprint. Sometimes the journey is difficult, but remember, we need to take only one step at a time.

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can somehow become great.” Mark Twain

I don’t like to be around negative people—those that always think the worst and never see anything positive in any situation. Likewise, beware of those who belittle and berate you. They can destroy your self-confidence and ambitions in a heartbeat.

“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt

The last quote speaks for itself. Believe!You!Can!

What are some quotes or words that have made an impact on your writing life? Please share in the comments.

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28 thoughts on “Sometimes You Need Encouragement”

  1. Pingback: Don’t Quit (Misery Loves Company & Asshats) | The Real Janna Hill

  2. You turned blah into ah with this post Jan. (More post-its for my office.) I wear a ring that is inscribed “be true to your dreams” and on dark days a glimmer of light finds its way to the silver band and reminds me…

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  4. Love these quotes, Joan. They are timeless (which is nice, because I’m a day late reading your post!) Since I didn’t start writing my first novel until age 69, I’m especially in love with the first one, but every one of them is powerful, and worth remembering. Thanks for sharing!

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    • Yeah, that’s a good one. There’s a video somewhere about famous failures. Edison is included, along with people like Abraham Lincoln and the Beatles. Imagine if they had stopped after Decca Records turned them down. Decca’s loss was EMI’s (and the world’s) gain. 🙂

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  10. These are all great quotes. Thanks so much for sharing them, Joan. My favorite quote is by anonymous – “Imagine with all your mind, Believe with all your heart, Achieve with all your might.” Happy Monday!

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  12. ‘Happiness does not depend on what you have or who you are. It relies solely on what you think.’ (The Buddha)
    What we tell ourselves is so important. As you wrote above, if we think we can’t then we can’t, and if we believe we can then we can.
    Thanks for this lovely post, Joan 🙂

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  13. “Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.” —Arthur Ashe
    I only came across this one recently, but I find it very applicable, especially for those just starting out on their writing journey. Regardless of the result, you learn something new every time you write. Therefore, every time you write, you get better.

    Liked by 3 people

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