By Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

I know… “Whatttt?” Writers lie? We actually get paid to lie when we write fiction, as weird as it seems. Our stories take a character’s truth and spin it in every direction. What fun it is – to lie and have permission. 

It’s safe to say that there are phases of lies writers tell. There’s the above – the good lies that take a story from our imagination and develop it. We can write our story and lay our heads on our pillow at night, knowing we led, misled, redirected, and moved our story to new heights.

But what about those other lies? The ones we tell ourselves? The ones that lead us down a road to either slowing to a snail’s pace or quitting our writing journey altogether. Psychology tells us that the best way to move ahead is to replace those negative thoughts with positive ones. Let’s look at those negatives and how we can replace them with positive writing thoughts.

*I don’t have the talent it takes to become a writer

Arrrgh! I hear this all the time, especially after a writer gets their first rejection. The truth is, talent helps, but writing is a craft. That means you can learn the skill. The wonderful thing about learning the craft is that it opens up creativity as you learn. It’s like opening the window in your bedroom and letting in a breath of fresh air. Is it easy? No. But I defer to that adage, “Nothing worth having or doing is easy.” You will have to invest time, finances, and energy, but you will learn if you hold the desire to be a writer.

The positive flip:

I will take my desire and effort and learn to be a writer. This is something I want. I can do it.

*Nobody likes what I write. I’ll never be a published writer

I can’t lie (no pun intended). I’ve pulled this one out of the hat as well. I stood with my dear friend at Ridgecrest and said something pretty similar. She rolled her eyes and said, “Cindy, is that what you believe?” I realized immediately that no! I was feeling a little bit sorry for myself. Hey! We all deserve a pity party occasionally, but the key is only allowing the party to last thirty minutes. After that – it’s over. Any longer, and you are permitting yourself to fudge. It’s time to knuckle down and make the decision to work. Frustration happens, especially when you’ve invested so much effort and love into a work in progress. When others fail to see the bigger picture, it can cause us to question our work and our ability. This is when we sit down and take a breath. Reassess. Give ourselves credit for what we know to be true. Our story is good. The effort is there. Where can we tweak the work to raise it to the next level? The work is not a failure, and you deserve to give yourself credit where credit is due, remembering that even the best of stories require a  little massaging.

The positive flip:

I do good work. Every work needs to breathe. I have all I need to make this the best work possible. I can do this.

*The editor doesn’t get me. She wants me to rewrite several pages. I said what I meant. I like what I want.

Oh my. As an editor, I’ve heard this more than I care to admit, so let’s bust this attitude right away. First, when the world of self-publishing entered the scene, writers gained full control of every aspect of their publications. Certain aspects of the publication process were no longer “required” steps. Writers could shave off costs or, worse, live in the belief that their work was perfect as was. Attitude happened, and it carries gives grief across the industry. Editors are hired to make your work shine, and those trained eyes see content slips or holes. They see weird phrasing and sentences as long as your leg. Don’t hate the editor. Their job is to make your work as clear and concise as possible. Learn to trust them. If you hire a private editor, do your homework. Get references and sample editing. If your editor is through a traditional publisher, talk with them about things you are passionate about so they know exactly where your heart lies. This allows them to help you make the work sing through the rough spots. That second set of eyes on the work sees what your eyes and brain look over.

The positive flip:

My editor has my best interest at heart. I have a great attitude, and we’ll work together to make this book amazing. 

It’s easy to believe that voice in our head that tears us down, but taking hold of positive flips will keep you moving. Your work will improve because you focus on success over failure. You can do this. When you want to have a pity party set a timer for thirty minutes, and when the bell chimes, you are back to work making your writing a priority and your determination to publish an attainable goal.

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conferenceteacher. She is the cofounder of ChristianDevotions.us and the executive editor of ChristianDevotions.us and InspireaFire.com. Cindy is the managing editor forStraight Street Books and SonRise Devotionals, both imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. She is an award-winning and best-selling author and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com. @cindydevoted