Believe The Compliments

If you haven't "hit it big" yet, compliments may be pretty rare. If you show your writing to everybody you know, you will probably get a lot of "it's nice" and "it was well-written" and whatever other fluff people offer. These are not hidden insults; they're just a polite way of saying they either don't care or don't have any outstanding opinions on what they have read. However, every now and then, you may get a sincere, heartfelt compliment. Hold on to those for dear life.

If you get a real compliment, remember that it is real. It says that, not only was somebody affected by your writing,but they were compelled to share that fact with you. You may not ever know how some people feel about your work or how many people you have had an impact on, but if somebody compliments you, you know that there are at least some people out there.

Everybody has low points and dark moments in their lives. Anybody who has tried to create has had doubts about it. The notably strong may be able to push themselves through it all on their own, but for the majority of us, we need something to help us get through those times. The irony with that is that when you are in a state of self-doubt, you probably won't believe anybody who says something nice about your writing.

That's why you need to hold on to those compliments. Remember that people have already complimented you. They've done it unsolicited and they were completely honest to you. So believe those compliments. Even if they were lies, believe them. Those compliments will not only help you get through the rough times, they will also help you avoid falling into those pits of despair in the first place.