Papercuts aren’t the only problems a writer has to face. Mainly because there are laptops now. But also because there are plenty of issues that withstand the test of time. If anyone ever makes you feel like writing is easy, feel free to give them a high five. In the face. With a cactus.

The first dragon a writer has to slay is the one where you let others read your work. Once you do it regularly, you get used to it, but it is still a scary dragon that can easily turn your confidence into smoke. Being vulnerable is part of being a writer, but that doesn’t make it easier. Luckily there are also many benefits of letting other people read your work. The compliments, the valuable feedback, the potential audience you’re slowly growing. Face the dragon with dignity and faith in your work and you’ll have a new friend. It comes in handy during a barbecue.

Another potential threat to the writer is finishing the final draft. Figuring out what that final draft is in the first place, is a problem already. Writing the perfect draft (which is what a final draft is supposed to be) is like finding the perfect formula for a love potion, then finding out it doesn’t exist. There are very few books that really leave no room for negative comments, and I always think you should try for the moon, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Who knows? When striving to reach the moon, one might end up working for NASA. That’s not bad either.

Waiting for an agent to respond is definitely part of a writer’s struggles. Impatience is a virtue and so you need a hurricane of distractions if you want to survive The Wait. Each time you do it, it gets easier but also harder at the same time. It is not good for your confidence, but the trick is to not stop writing. It’s not about the destination, it’s about the chocolate. Err, I mean writing. Writing is awesome.

Lastly, getting started with a new project is another problem because a writer either has too many ideas or none at all. There are many things you can do to generate inspiration, but the main thing that you’ll need is time. It’s not you who chooses the story. It’s the story that chooses you.

Basically, you’re not the only one who struggles, and you are doing great! Keep writing.