Writer Confidence in a Materialistic World | They wish they did what you do 

It truly is an accomplishment to finish a novel or any other artistic project for that matter. Recently I went back to a Reddit post from 8 years ago where an aspiring author talked about his project with so much passion. He had written nearly 40k words at the time and seemed to have a good plot idea with lots of potential. Fast forward to earlier this month and I messaged him if he was finished with his novel or at the very least still working on it. He messaged back that he hadn't written anything in nearly 6 years. You mentioned that 82% of people will entertain the idea of writing a book, while a good number of them might even attempt to flesh out their dream idea and perhaps get a decent amount of writing done. Yet even fewer will push through the creative walls and actually complete their project. It reminds me that a good story idea is a dime a dozen, but being able to develop the mental fortitude to master your craft and finish a novel is the true gold. I subscribed to your channel and look forward to future videos. This one really resonated with me.

I don't chase status symbols, so I have never thought of my books as such. I want to do something good with my life, and creative endeavors are the only thing I can think of accomplishing that. In my old age I can look back at my life and say that what I did may not have amounted to much, but I wrote, illustrated and published some books that I love. It's my gift to the world.

I am about to finish the first draft of my first novel. I feel fulfilled already just being disciplined enough not to quit. Sometimes, I struggle for the first 20 minutes, but I always find my groove. Working full-time and having a kid in sports, it's hard to find the time. So I get up at 6 am every Saturday and Sunday and write for 3 to 4 hours. Thank you for sharing your video. It confirms my mindset and why I am doing this.

I have subscribed to your channel today because I “subscribe” everything you say. I am very happy to have finished two historical fiction novels and working in the third one. Never give up if you”feel” the necessity to write. Make time and enjoy the process which is the best part of any creative work. Thank you for your excellent video.

New subscriber here after viewing this and your “push through the middle” video. I love your perspective of combining psychology with writing advice. It’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. Thank you for posting!!

Thank you for this. You're that candid voice we all need to hear. Perhaps this is aggrandizing the process of getting the darn thing written, but I tell myself that somebody NEEDS this book that I'm writing. It's incumbent upon me to finish it FOR THE BETTERMENT of THAT PERSON/PEOPLE, which is an external goal, in addition to the personal triumph of getting the thing written. I love that in this cerebral, introverted, and largely isolated act, the words etched upon the page--with me as a conduit to bring these words to life-- are "becoming," someday to be read by that person who needs her heart lifted, who needs to escape, who needs to learn like I have by writing this book, that this book is so much larger than just me. #teamUbuntu

Like beauty, what passes for a status symbol is in the eye of the beholder. I’m not impressed with sports cars or watches or suits or trophy wives or giant utility-draining houses. I’m impressed by rational minds living meaningful responsible lives. To me, acquiring a personally important (eye of the beholder, you’ll recall) status symbol is to serve as a personal benchmark that I’m on track. I will not have a fancy sports car, but I will (and do) have a small well-built brick house with a living room and dining room that merge into a sprawling library of bookcases and writing desks that are filled with the books of others and a novel of my own.

This video brings forth a very interesting question I had never considered under this angle. Yet, I realise I made related choices. I am 54. When I was young, I did try for a successful career. Despite the fact I got some success, I felt bored and overworked at the same time, and not satified at all with my life. Ten years ago, I threw all that away, and started selling stuff on markets, which is a great decrease of status. But I came across authentic people who were not after status either. They are now friends. This job pays the mortgage and a simple way of living, but gives me free mind time. I started creating things : crafts, paintings, and writing. I am now on the verge of finishing my first novel. I will be looking for a publisher soon. If I don't get one, I will self publish. It certainly would be nice to have it published and see it sell. But i realised I d'ont really care. What I love above all is the writing, the creating, and whatever happens, I will keep doing that. I get the impression that creating is our true nature. It brings life so much interest and satisfaction in itself that now I know I cannot not write anymore. I feel like I have escaped, and am now free.

I am very greatful that my husband is the one who buys me the time that I need. He is working for us and its enough for us to have a decent life. We arent materialistic at all. We have a car thats over twenty years old and never seek satisfaction in the latest trends and technology. So I have the time I need to follow my passion of writing. And I neither compare myself to others, nor do I have a longing to become a #1 bestseller. I just want to DO IT, publish it, give it to others and go on to write the next book. Doing that has more value than anything else I could do.

You have interesting perapectives, I'm happy I found your channel