by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

We’ve all been a new writer at one time or another. None of us jump right into the writing world footloose and fancy-free. There is always a learning curve. It’s important to know that you will always bump into writing issues whether you are a new writer or well-seasoned. We should continually learn, grow, and hone our craft as writers so we know what to do if those bumps continue to pop up.

At my first writing conference, I listened to a couple of writers discuss how they’d written themselves into a corner. I walked away wondering how you write yourself into a corner. Was this a literal corner or a section on my paper? I had no idea they meant they’d fouled up their plotline and couldn’t fix it without a complete rewrite.

Regardless of where you sit in your writing career, there will always be things you must learn. Don’t beat yourself up over the mistakes. Instead, learn from them. Learn how to fix them and, more so, learn how to prevent them from happening again.

Here are ten things new or seasoned writers will face at some point.

• Distractions – I don’t know a writer alive who hasn’t avoided their computer at one time or another. Life gets in the way. It’s hard to be entirely focused all the time. A kid will have a bloody nose. There are errands and meetings at school that require your presence. The point is that we all have distractions. If you wish to pursue writing as a career, then you must make a writing schedule. Seek out the time you need to write daily. Everyone is different. I am at my writing best before six a.m. Others may be best in the afternoon or evening after the kids are asleep. The point is to make a time when distractions are at a minimum. Find that time and do your best to stick to it.
• Edit, edit, edit, and edit some more – There has to come a time when you stop editing. I’ve had writing friends who can’t get past the first chapter because they can’t quit editing. Over-editing is equally as bad as no editing. This decision is personal for every writer, but finding that spot where you can draw the line in the sand and move ahead is a must.
• Procrastination – Procrastination runs a tight race with distractions. As quickly as you can be distracted, the temptation to put things off until the last minute is just as bad. When deadlines hover overhead, fear can sometimes settle in and convince us there’s more time down the road when there’s not. Publishing is an industry that operates on schedules and deadlines. Don’t put off until tomorrow, what you can do today. Do not allow procrastination to fall into your toolbox.
• It’s MY Idea – Oh, brother. This little ditty is a newby fear, so let me refer you to the book of Ecclesiastes 1:9 NIV. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Whatever idea you have has already been done and will be done again. Let it go. Work on your project and put your spin on it. There is nothing new under the sun.
• Imposter Syndrome – Another oh, brother moment. As new writers, we tend to think we must be better than the guy sitting next to us. No. No. No. Be your best. Though this doesn’t mean there won’t be competition, it does mean that you spend your time asking how can I be different. Did you hear that? How can you be different, not better than the next guy? Be your own unique self. Don’t let competition dig into your heart. You don’t have to be better than everyone else. You need to be different.
• Perfectionism – All I can say is, sigh! So, let me try to put perfectionism into perspective for you. There is not a perfect book in the world. I guarantee there is a mistake in every book ever published. We are human. Despite our best efforts, we will never have a perfect manuscript. Do your best. Your best is what God requires of you. Add realistic goals, and then continue to move ahead. You’ll never be a published author if you hold on to perfectionism. Aiming for perfection is not productive.
• Writing Consistently – If this is your career desire and you want to produce or be a better writer, write consistently. When you write consistently, it gives you practice. You may think 100 words a day is massive, but the more times you produce 100 words, the easier it is to create 500, 1000, and then 10,000. Write consistently.
• Self-confidence – This little ditty is so simple it’s hard. So many lack self-confidence because they are still sitting on the dock, dreaming and imagining. They still wonder if they deserve to dream, much less make the effort. “I can’t” and “I’ll never be” drop in for a visit. Beware. These little scudders are like Velcro. They pop inside your head and stick. Remember that simple children’s book, The Little Engine That Could. Stoke your firebox, build up steam, and then keep on chugging up that hill. You can do it. You can do it. I can do it. I can do it. Absolutely, you can do it. Build that self-confidence like the steam in the engine and believe in your work. If you don’t believe in your work, why should I?
• Platform – I’m about to step on some toes, so here goes. Yes, build your platform, but do not obsess over it to the point that you spend more time building a platform than writing. Building a platform is something you do along the way as you write. It is not the first thing you do. I know there are folks, even publishers, who will disagree, but I have seen too many writers fall by the wayside because they got it backward. Learn the craft. Practice. Write. Work on building a platform side by side so that when you have a finished product, you can present it with a platform.
• Finding success – It’s best to remember that if you work hard and learn the craft of writing, your time will come. My best advice to you is not to rush the process. Learn to write. Then write. Finish a project. Find an agent. Sign a contract. See that book on the shelf. Market. And finally, be grateful. Share what you have learned with others because there is room for everyone in this industry. We only have to wait on God’s timing. Wait on Him. Wait. Your time will come.

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. Having served for a number of years as a managing editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Ironstream Media, Cindy now works as a mentor, coach, and freelance editor. She is the co-founder of Writing Right Author Mentoring Services with Lori Marett and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Cindy is also the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and www.christiandevotions.us, as well as www.inspireafire.com. Her devotions are in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and her novels have become award-winning, best-selling works. She is a popular speaker at conferences and a natural encourager. Cindy is a mountain girl, born and raised in the Appalachian mountains, where she and her husband still reside. She has raised four sons and now resorts to raising chickens where the pecking order is easier to manage. You can visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com or www.wramsforwriters.com.