I recently heard Jerry Seinfeld on a podcast, and he was asked what it took to make it as a comedian. He said, “Everyone who makes it makes it because they want it more than anyone else. They just want it more.”
Thank you. I especially needed to hear this today. I did NaNo for the first time this year. Sensational experience. AND, I've taken your Domestika course which I return to time and again for essential reminders.
Thanks so much, Karen! I'm glad the post was helpful. Also, that's wonderful you did NaNo! I really appreciate that you took my course, and I'm especially glad to hear it resonated.
Thank you for this! I'm close to finishing the latest draft of my memoir and all the doubts are surfacing again. I sometimes wonder if I think I'm not finished because I am afraid of the next step-querying and putting my story out in the world. Thank you for this reminder and I'm going to make that list!
Congrats on nearing the finale a draft of your memoir! There's a lot of belief required for that. That is an inflection point where doubts naturally creep in, and I think one can decide you're not finished because of fear/hesitation with that next step. That said, I usually send things out into the world a draft too early—I need some rejection, it seems—so I hope you're not too hard on yourself. Give yourself some time afterwards and see how you feel, but be wary of the too-critical voices and trust the voices of belief.
Thanks for this and all your posts, Grant. Also, Domestika course. How cool is that? What a great video/ad. I love it! Can't wait to share this with our Write-minded listeners. And I just subscribed to Amy's substack.
Oh, this hits on a difficult day. On the one hand, I do agree you have to believe in your story, if you have to want it. I have several friends who finally decided to quit writing. They discovered other things they wanted more. And more power to them. Why go through this if you don't want it enough? But if we're talking getting that publishing deal and stellar career...timing and luck matter too.
I'm not in a positive mindset today though. But I'll get through it. I'm still here after all.
You're right, Marta: it's great that your friends found something they wanted more. And, yes, timing and luck definitely matter. "Wanting it more" isn't everything—but it can lead to luck and timing, simply because "wanting it more" creates luck and timing, simply because you likely create more opportunities for luck and good timing to happen. What's the old adage? Luck only happens to those prepared for it. Something like that.
Hang in there. I've had many a day when I wasn't in a positive mindset. I guess "wanting it" helped me get out of it. I hope you have remedies that work for you.
Strangely enough, self-doubt can accumulate with the number of drafts. Congrats to you for finishing draft 3, which must have included a lot of belief. Keep believing ...
This is so great and wise, Grant, just like you! And thanks for the shout out ❤️❤️❤️
Beautiful. Thank you.
Loved this.
Thank you. I especially needed to hear this today. I did NaNo for the first time this year. Sensational experience. AND, I've taken your Domestika course which I return to time and again for essential reminders.
Thanks so much, Karen! I'm glad the post was helpful. Also, that's wonderful you did NaNo! I really appreciate that you took my course, and I'm especially glad to hear it resonated.
Thank you for this! I'm close to finishing the latest draft of my memoir and all the doubts are surfacing again. I sometimes wonder if I think I'm not finished because I am afraid of the next step-querying and putting my story out in the world. Thank you for this reminder and I'm going to make that list!
Congrats on nearing the finale a draft of your memoir! There's a lot of belief required for that. That is an inflection point where doubts naturally creep in, and I think one can decide you're not finished because of fear/hesitation with that next step. That said, I usually send things out into the world a draft too early—I need some rejection, it seems—so I hope you're not too hard on yourself. Give yourself some time afterwards and see how you feel, but be wary of the too-critical voices and trust the voices of belief.
Thanks for this and all your posts, Grant. Also, Domestika course. How cool is that? What a great video/ad. I love it! Can't wait to share this with our Write-minded listeners. And I just subscribed to Amy's substack.
Thanks so much, Brooke! And ... you should do a Domestika course. I can tell you more ...
Oh, this hits on a difficult day. On the one hand, I do agree you have to believe in your story, if you have to want it. I have several friends who finally decided to quit writing. They discovered other things they wanted more. And more power to them. Why go through this if you don't want it enough? But if we're talking getting that publishing deal and stellar career...timing and luck matter too.
I'm not in a positive mindset today though. But I'll get through it. I'm still here after all.
You're right, Marta: it's great that your friends found something they wanted more. And, yes, timing and luck definitely matter. "Wanting it more" isn't everything—but it can lead to luck and timing, simply because "wanting it more" creates luck and timing, simply because you likely create more opportunities for luck and good timing to happen. What's the old adage? Luck only happens to those prepared for it. Something like that.
Hang in there. I've had many a day when I wasn't in a positive mindset. I guess "wanting it" helped me get out of it. I hope you have remedies that work for you.
I just printed draft 3 and went through all the stages of self doubt again! Thank you for this. :)
Strangely enough, self-doubt can accumulate with the number of drafts. Congrats to you for finishing draft 3, which must have included a lot of belief. Keep believing ...