I was going to write. Now I'm not so sure.

Hi P1kef1sh, Congratulations on having your article published. I would say don't stop just because so many others are also writing, so what you have your own way, your own style and it would be an unique work from you and I am sure many would read too. I write poetry at times and have done a couple of short stories too and had one published many years ago and I have frineds who are on their second book and also do public performance and they are just so good and I stopped writing myself then as I felt in their shadow, but guess what they dedicated their second book to me and in fact saif that it was I that was an inspiration in many of their works and that I also should keep writing. Every picture painted tells a different story and it is exactly the same with writing. Keep at it P1ke, you have a way with words and a hidden talent there you really have. Ellie :D

If it isn't in your heart then you are making the right choice. But if it is, don't give up on it because you think people are better than you are. I have been bummed lately about my writing but I still hammer on. You never know who could be reading and someone may want to publish something that you have written. Your good at it, I have read some stuff. So you should keep hammering on too.

Oh, I feel your pain! I wrote daily as a teenager and even into my twenties. I just knew I was going to write for a living. It was my passion, it still is but it seems between kids and home there is little time for writing. I am a perfectionist and it makes writing such hard work and I don't feel it should be hard. When I see all the talent out there I just knew I didn't have it in me. Nowadays, I pretty much write for my own enjoyment--NO PRESSURE! I write what I want, when I can and if it's good enough I share it...if not, I file it away. But, I miss it so much just lying there hours on my bed waiting for the right words to come. It was heaven.

I consider myself a writer but I don't plan on publishing my 'great work' or of being a best-selling author. I'm happy writing every day and seeing my work appear on many sites on the internet. It still takes some skill, knowledge and effort to produce it. I'm hoping to get paid more for more of my articles as I gain experience, a reputation and, hopefully, some expertise at crafting good web content. I have previously written a few items which appeared in print but I see my future in writing as being 'on the net'. You too are a writer because you are producing written content for myLot, and there are plenty of other sites you could write for if you want to.

I think that to be a truly impressive writer one must write for the joy of writing, not for the money or the pleasure of seeing your name in print. The world and his wife describes themselves as a 'writer' now that there are so many opportunities opening up on the internet. You say there's so many beautifully crafted words out there. But honestly, isn't there a whole lot of crap too? And those people call themselves writers too! If you want to write, write. Do it for you. If people like it they'll say so. If they don't then you'll still have the pleasure of writing it.

I am not a writer. Actually I didn't know how to write or how to explore a subject and compose something about it. But ever since I got into blogging and earning money online, I was pushed into writing. I also had the similar problems. I didn't know where to start, how to start and what to write. But then I started focusing on the real 'motive' I was writing for. I was writing for earning money. With that strong motive in my mind I automatically defined a process of what all needs to be there in whatever I write so that it sells on the internet and earns me good money. I think that was a single trigger it took me to start writing and to become a 'sort of a writer' :) Thanks

As you know I love writing but I don't think I'll ever have the confidence to send any to a publisher. I think the knockbacks would spoil my enjoyment. Also, as you say, the competition is daunting.

I think you should join a writing group. Friends in writing groups really motivate you to keep going. They give such positive feedback that it spurs you on to write more. And you make such great friends as well. Of course you have to find the group that works well for you. Our group started at 6 and has expanded about 20 (off and on). People just love our group and we have a couple of published authors in our midst. I am hoping to be one some day but, like you, I have lost something along the way. I think the internet can be a great distraction and so totally addicting that we push things to the back burner that should really be up front. We have to carve out time to write. Please check out my articles on writing. I am sure they will help you. http://www.quazen.com/Arts/Online-Writing/10-Benefits-of-Joining-a-Writing-Group.49881 http://www.writinghood.com/Writing/How-to-Start-and-Manage-a-Writing-Group.80233 And you can always join a writing website. ivillage has a great group over on the Writing Exercise Board. There are tons of others online as well, but I think you get a better feeling when you are with friends and see and hear what they have to say. Besides, I don't like posting my work online for copyright reasons and for the fact that they would be ineligible for contests if I decided I wanted to enter one. Hold your head high and carry on. Good luck!

Don't lose hope my friend. As far as I browse on your posts here, you do have a great potential. Competition is what makes everything in this world better and more promising. Keep on writing. Make your stay here in mylot your milestone in reaching your goals.

Oh dear. Don't give up something like this. This is your passion and you should be inspired to do it. I for one wants to publish my poems and finish my novel. It's been my frustration for years. I have lots of poems, about the people I love, my Mom, my Dad, my sisters, my ex-boyfriends, my great love and some about my pains. But well, I have a dream that one day I can make a compilation and present it as a gift to my future daughter/son. But my greatest frustration is for my novel to be finished and published. I started writing it years ago and stopped when I got distracted with problems. Start doing it again until I realized I cannot be near as good as my idol Jeffrey Archer and no one would publish it. Again I stopped. Then I got inspired again and wanna finish it. But I've been frustrated for months now. I've finished the Prologue and wasn't contented and did it 3 times. I've been struggling with my first chapter because I ran out of idea what to write. I just went blank like that. Sigh. I wanna give up. But writing's my passion. I'm not giving it up. You shouldn't as well.

You mentioned that you are very self critical and that you compare others work to your own. First, let someone you trust look at your work and give their honest thoughts. My love for writing began in my early teens. I was very lucky. My grandmother was a writer of poetry, song lyrics and short stories. She had some of her work in newspapers, magazines, a book of her poetry, and she wrote a song and play for her church. When I wrote something I would always show it to her first. She would always give her honest thoughts. And she would give me helpful advice. She would tell me if I was drawing something out too long, or not explaining something enough. I know sometimes I would finish something and not think it was good. Yet after showing it to her she loved it. Sometimes it is better to get someone elses thoughts. Second, never compare yourself to others. There are all types of writers. And just because your work doesn't stand up to another writers does not mean you are no good. For example, I love poetry. I think it is a beautiful way to share feelings, emotions, and ideas. I think poetry should be available to everyone. English majors, everyday adults, teens and young children. To make it available to all we need all types of writers. Writers that can write complex crafted works of poetry for the English majors, and people who can write simple pieces of work that a child would enjoy. If you enjoy writing don't give up on it. You must have something in you if your first piece was published in a magazine. If I had given up on my dream I would not have two published books. I am now working on two new books, while starting a new Robin Gibb blog http://robingibb.today.com/ running my three websites, looking for a new job and spending time with my family.

hi pikefish been there and done that. I have several short stories and a novel,all unpublished and now gathering dust, after a zillion rejections, one loses all impetus to keep going although I do love to write.Also I am very critical of my writing and often just crumple it up and toss it in file thirteen that oval wastebasket.So I was told I had talent, oh yeah well I am not that sure any more. I still write some poetry but am stalled on writing more fiction lol.

If you enjoy writing, why not do it? It can be very satisfying for yourself if that's something you yearn to do. Apparently you are a good writer. I have seen your posts here and if you got accepted into a magazine, that's great! Why not post at Associated Content? You can earn some easy cash there. Also, there are lots of freelance jobs on the internet. Why not write and submit to magazines again? If that's what you love to do, then do it! Best wishes!

I feel rather the same way, p1ke. Everybody has a novel in them these days, and it's no longer possible to just send things away willy nilly and have them accepted. I've checked out quite a few blogs - some excellent, some not - but it's certainly apparent everyone's a writer these days. My time's running out now anyway - I'm feeling too old to be arsed - so my own novel has come to a grinding halt. Doodling, schnoodling. *sigh*

I am sorry to hear that you aren't going to be a writer P1ke. I am sure your full of good stories becaus you have such a great imagination. But just glad you won't be leaving here anytime soon. So what is your real name P1ke? It's not Earl or Walter is it?

Please do not under-rate or under-estimate yourself. Who said that you are not a 'good' writer and what made you feel that you cannot be a 'writer' (good or bad). I feel that you have every quality of a good writer. You can express yourself very effectively. You can make others understand your point of view. You have a very good command over the language. You know what to say and when to say. You have all the qualities of a 'writer' and I sincerely hope that if you make an attempt, you will definitely succeed. I assure you that I will be the one, who will read you write-ups. Best of luck!

Well be sure! You DO have a unique writing voice and it deserves to be heard. And there are many more venues than books. Write a column, write a blog, write short stories, but write! Not everyone with talent is the next Pulizer Prize winner in the making. That doesn't stop them. Keep journals and when you're ready to leave this mortal coil, send them to me and I'll get them published. Seems to be a new trend in my own life lately! LOL JUST WRITE!

I started writing a book when I was at junior school somehow that got lost..now I write poems nothing fantastic but none of mine have been printed mainly cos I haven't bothered sending them off..thing about this is that my daughter has told me that when i'm gone she will get them published!! littleowl

Follow your "star" , you'll never know when you'll get the great break. Don't get discouraged, famous writers had rejected articles too before they became what they are now. Keep the candle burning. Good luck.

I love writing too and I had never gave up on this dream. Keep dreaming, dreams are free. Dream and eventually your actions will lead you there. Good luck.