Don’t Quit! — March #WriteMotivation Week 2
I wanted a picture with me and Itty Bitty. What I got was her eyeball sniffing! Then, finally, an OK shot! 😀
When your ideas never pan out to be “perfect”, make them into something more!
I wanted to do something a little different today. I didn’t just want to post my progress but give a little encouragement to everyone as well. There have been so many times I’ve wanted to quit.
“I’m not good enough.”
“Who’m I kidding?”
“Who’s going to read this crap?”
We’ve heard it all before. We’ve all said it ourselves. It dissipates. And then it all comes flooding back again.
I never thought I would be able to write a novel. I never had the confidence in myself. I thought it was too hard. Shorts were so much easier. Shorts were, well, short. And with my attention span, they fit well enough. I’ve always given up when whatever I envisioned doing came out less than perfect. Always. So, when I started on this little writing adventure, I only had the shorts in mind, and managed to publish a few. But with the encouragement of so many people, this group especially, I started focusing on a novel. A NOVEL! OMG what have I done?!
And now look at me. Almost done with my first draft. Yes, it’s taken me well over a year. But I’m almost there. I still want to give up sometimes. But you guys keep me going! Thank you!
It’s at those times when we are most down on ourselves, ready to give up, ready to just chuck it all…when we need to hear these words:
Don’t Quit
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow.Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.– Author unknown
Today, I read this poem. It is positive thinking and encouragement all wrapped up in one. It is for me, you, and anyone out there who needs to hear these words no matter what is going on in mine, yours, or anyone’s life. Because, really….DON’T QUIT!
March Goals:
1) Be Positive. This has been the biggest issue for me over the last couple of months. I REALLY need to work on it!
2) Encourage others to be positive and continue to make progress.
3) Continue writing. Progress is progress, one word at a time. It’s just infuriating when you fail to get anywhere because of, well, life. 
I think this post wraps the first three up quite nicely, don’tcha think?
4) I’m adding this after the fact: Read another book for pleasure. I seem to be able to manage a book in a month, or so–given the circumstances. Definitely in the process of reading!
Friday, April 19th 2013 at 21:57 |
Nice poem, nice post, nice reminder for all of us, because we always reach a point when we want to quit. We just need reminders like this!
Happy blogging! And, oh, nice theme!
Friday, April 19th 2013 at 12:55 |
Great post! We all go through times when we can’t write. As you said, even a little bit helps. For me, when I’m writing poetry, sometimes I work on a single line for days. I just keep reminding myself that that one line is getting me closer to my goal. 🙂
Thanks for this great post!
Tuesday, April 16th 2013 at 00:02 |
[…] Thanks Megan! (You can read Megan Bickel’s original post here.) And my own encouraging “Don’t Quit!” […]
Thursday, April 4th 2013 at 00:51 |
Every day just a little bit gets my closer to my goal! Thanks for sharing & encouraging everyone!
Friday, March 22nd 2013 at 01:02 |
This is a great idea to combine #atozchallenge with #writemotivation ! All the best with your AZ 🙂
Friday, March 22nd 2013 at 00:54 |
This is a great idea to combine #atozchallenge with #writemotivation ! Wish you all the best with it, and hope to stop by often 😀
Thursday, March 21st 2013 at 07:13 |
I’ll be back here in April for a motivational dose!
Wednesday, March 20th 2013 at 14:53 |
I needed some encouragement today. So much to do, so little time, so little support from my family about “my little hobby”. Sigh. Loved the poem. Love that you’re almost done with your novel. I plan to spend the summer kicking my kids to their video games so that I write…as if that’ll be hard…LOL.
Glad you visited today and left such encouragement at Life is Good,
Tina @ Life is Good
Co-host, April 2013 A-Z Challenge Blog
@TinaLifeisGood, #atozchallenge
Wednesday, March 20th 2013 at 13:02 |
A good poem and excellent march goals. Don’t quit. Often the only thing that keeps me going is the idea to get it done just out of personal pride if nothing else. However, good things always come to those who achieve their goals. 🙂
Monday, March 11th 2013 at 14:56 |
That’s a great poem – and a GREAT outlook, hon! <3
Tuesday, March 12th 2013 at 10:19 |
I hope it helped with your previous feelings, even just a little. 🙂 What a coincidence we were thinking the same thing! <3
Monday, March 11th 2013 at 14:06 |
This is an awesome post. So glad you took a chance on yourself and didn’t give up on writing your novel. Keep at it!
Tuesday, March 12th 2013 at 10:17 |
I’m doing the best I can, a little at a time! Thanks for the #bepositive! I totally believe in it!
Monday, March 11th 2013 at 09:03 |
Jamie, you are not a quitter. I certainly understand the feelings of discouragement when life happens, my own writing is barely more than blogging right now, but you … YOU … are writing an amazing novel which I am eager to read. You can’t quit and you won’t quit. You may take a break, you may write one thought a day or one sentence in a week, but quitting is nowhere on the agenda. Ever.
If you didn’t get the above, get this … I believe in you. You are a writer, a budding novelist, a success story in the making. One day at a time, Girl, one day at a time. 🙂 ((((hugs))))
Tuesday, March 12th 2013 at 10:17 |
Thanks Lynn! I totally got what you were saying. And so much more! thank you thank you!