2025 or Bust
What if you had just one year to make it as a writer?
Sometimes I think about giving up writing.
I won’t.
I couldn’t if I tried. It’s embedded in me, part of my DNA at this point, fully formed as the way I make sense of the world, as the thing I love most. I’m hooked on that high that comes with escaping into writing- chasing it down whenever I can. I used to have a tagline I write therefore I am on my Instagram and that pretty much sums it up.
But sometimes, I think about it, sometimes I really consider it, giving up that is. I consider what life could be like if I wasn’t doing this full time. Sometimes, when I see friends with their proper jobs and their promotions and houses. Sometimes, when another year rolls around and I haven’t struck the elusive book deal. Sometimes, when I get a rejection on a particularly hard day, I consider it. But I won’t give it up, because I can’t and because most of the time I couldn’t think of anything worse that not writing anymore.
However, earlier this year I let myself ponder the idea that 2025 could be my final year as a writer. I stewed in the possibility that I could go all in this year, give it all my energy, and if there were no gold coins at the end of the year’s rainbow, I would sack it all in, get a proper job. I sat in the thought that I would give myself one more year to pursue this goal and if it didn’t work I’d press the eject button.
I lived in that idea for a day or two and it did something interesting…
It let the things that were most important to me, that I most wanted to do, float to the surface.
If I had one year,
I would polish my novel to the best possible version and I would back it with my whole heart, sending it out to the best agents around the globe, treating it with the urgency and reverence it deserves.
I would also get going on the next book because there’s more where that came from.
I would run the writing class, “An Ex-Travel Writer’s Guide to Writing with all the Senses,” that I’ve been stewing over for two years or more (convincing myself I’m not qualified enough to offer).
I would write story after story and I would send my writing to all the best literary magazines.
I would show up at Open Mics, I would show up in rooms I was scared to be in. I would reach out for help (even when it made me feel vulnerable or embarrassed).
If I had one more year, and nothing to lose, I would do all of this (plus all the wonderful things I’m already doing) for the chance to make it work.
And so, just thinking that 2025 could be my last chance, stoked the fire within me. And while I know that the likelihood of me ever giving up this path is slim to none, the idea that I could give up worked like a catalyst and transmuted a lot of my fear.
Therefore, I am sharing this with you my Write As You Are friends…
What would you do if this year if 2025 was your last chance to ‘make it’ as a writer?
Writing this newsletter is an act of love and joy. I am committed to delving into the beautiful, the messy and the sublime that is this act of creating meaning through words. Ultimately, my goal is to remind you that you are Write As You Are.
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Exciting News
Two pieces of fun news to share this week.
I am now a reader at Wallstrait Literary Magazine- A Journal of Hard to Define Fiction. I am very excited about it. It’s a laid back magazine that prioritises the writer, pays writers and has quick response times. We are open for submissions right now. ✨✨
I am delighted to be the guest judge for this week’s Writers’ Hour Magazine contest. Inspired by Teas and Tales the prompt is A Warm Drink. The winner gets $65 (and all sorts of other goodies) and it’s free to enter. Entries close this Friday, March 7th at 12pm (ET) 🍵. Find out more and enter here.
Recommendations
I’m making one recommendation this week because if you do anything for your writer self this week, I suggest you watch this…
Kaveh Akbar’s talk at the San Miguel Literary Festival was the most beautiful expression of why art matters. His talk felt like an antidote to everything. Touching, real, honest and when he lay of the floor to take questions at the end (due to the pain he is in) he gave us all permission to be more real.
Mentoring
If it was 2025 or bust for your writing, would you hire a writing mentor to help you get your projects across the line? This wasn’t all just a shameless plug to lead here, I promise :) But if you would like support, accountability, writing tips, industry info, do get in touch to see if I might be the right mentor for you.
I have one spot left for March. Is now the right time for your writing?
Thank you for being here!
I love this 💥 I would complete the next draft of novel two, and I'd try and get the first draft of a MG novel written. I think the urgency would stop me being precious, shy and worried, so I'd submit, submit, submit and perhaps self-publish on socials every poem that sleeps undisturbed in my notebooks. I'd be too busy to worry if I was worthy of taking up space 💚 Such a great question, thank you x
Such a great idea! I’m going to give this exercise a try. One precious year…what will I do with it? As always, thank you for the inspiration! ♥️