The best writing advice I have ever got

The best advice I ever received for my writing is to respect myself as an artist. I heard it a long time ago when I realized that writing was what I really wanted to do, and that advice meant more than one thing.

The advice meant treating my writing as a job, as in setting goals and achieving them. It also meant that if I wanted to be an author, then I should pursue it on a professional level and develop my writing skills. Lastly, it meant… well, respecting myself as an author and artist.

That’s where the advice really tested me. It wasn’t just hard to apply; it went against everything I’ve done up to that point as an artist. I’d never been happy, proud, or satisfied with what I’d created before that, and I’d never looked at something I’d done and told myself it was good. Now, I had to not just look at my work and tell myself what wasn’t working and why—worse—I had to look at what I’d created and tell myself what was working.

Growing in my authorship meant I had to start admitting some things were turning out pretty good. And I don't mean stop being critical of one’s work. I believe you never stop learning. No, what I mean is that sometimes you need to learn how to give yourself a pat on the shoulder, admire your own efforts, and give your art and yourself the respect you both deserve.