The Writers’ Bill of Rights
Some of my online friends were discussing the various flavors of Imposter Syndrome not too long ago. Turns out, pretty much every author I’ve ever met has days where they don’t feel good enough, don’t feel smart enough, don’t feel like they have what it takes to be a “real” writer.
In response, Robert Dawson put together this Writer’s Bill of Rights. He’s given permission for others to share it with attribution on the internet.
This Bill of Rights is one of the best resources for writers I’ve ever seen on the internet. Every sentence is so very, very true. I wish every struggling, insecure author could read it.
THE WRITER’S BILL OF RIGHTS
by Robert Dawson
2013
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You are allowed not to be the greatest writer in the world.
You are allowed not to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, the Pulitzer, or even that flash contest in your local newspaper
You are allowed to have a day job at which you spend more time than at writing, and that you may be unwilling or unable to give up.
You are allowed to have a family who need and deserve large quantities of your time.
You are allowed to write stories that are not as good as the best thing you ever wrote.
You are allowed to have dry spells. For as long as it takes.
You are allowed to sell stories to $10 markets. As Leonard Cohen puts it:
“I took my diamond to a pawnshop / But that don’t make it junk.”
You are allowed to have a lifestyle that won’t let you get to national workshops, or even your two-bit local convention.
You are allowed to have stories that haven’t sold at all yet-and may never sell.
You are allowed to not be [insert name here].
And you will still be a writer.
And that’s good.
Because otherwise there would be damned few of us left.
(Note: Robert has also posted a printable version here. Which is awesome, because this is totally the kind of thing one might want to hang on the wall.)
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cross-posted from nancyfulda.com
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