Hey there, Arrowheads! How is 2023 treating you so far?

Personally, I have mixed feelings about this year already, but I know God will carry me through it. ❤

One of the reasons for my mixed feelings about 2023 is that, lately, I haven’t felt motivated to write my current WIP, On the Flip Side, and I’ve felt like a terrible writer for it.

If you’re currently feeling like you’re a terrible writer too, this post is for you, my friend. Let’s use these affirmations to motivate us as we march through the new year. 🙂

You’re not a terrible writer if it takes you months or years to write your first draft.

Honing your craft takes time, and if you need more time, take it. There are no rules that say you have to finish your WIP in X amount of time. Do what you need to do, and try to enjoy the journey.

You’re not a terrible writer if you don’t write every day, or even every week.

Life is BUSY, and sometimes, there are seasons where other things have to take priority over maintaining a strict writing regime, and that’s perfectly okay. If you’re in a season like this, take a breath, and remember that every little bit of progress you make on your book, even if you’re only writing a handful of days out of the month, is still pushing you towards the finish line.

You’re not a terrible writer just because one person doesn’t like what you have written.

Mean spirited critics are everywhere, and will criticize you over the dumbest things. While constructive criticism is helpful and offers solutions to legitimate problems, destructive criticism, like “you suck at writing” or “I hate that trope you included” can go out with the trash. Mute, block, or delete anyone who purposely makes you feel like you’re a terrible writer. Do whatever you need to do, and prove them wrong by writing your heart out and smashing your goals.

You’re not a terrible writer if you’ve never won NaNoWriMo.

If you’ve never participated in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), or have participated and have never won the challenge by writing 50,000 words in the 30-day time frame, don’t beat yourself up over it. No one who wins NaNo is crowned “Queen of the Writers” or anything like that, and it shouldn’t make you feel like you’re missing out if you haven’t participated in/won the challenge.

You’re not a terrible writer if your first draft is a hotter mess than a dumpster fire.

First drafts are always giant piles of poo, for every single writer ever. You’re not the first writer to think that about your writing, and you certainly won’t be the last. That’s what editing is for. You can polish your manuscript later, you just need to get the story out first. 🙂

Talk to Me, Arrowheads!

I hope these five You’re Not a Terrible Writer If… phrases helped you in some shape or form. If you have any of your own that you’d like to share, feel free to drop them in the comments below!

Aim high, stay strong, and always hit your mark.

-Allyson 😀