God-given Talent

“I have spent a good many years since–too many, I think–being ashamed about what I write. I think I was forty before I realized that almost every writer of fiction or poetry who has ever published a line has been accused by someone of wasting his or her God-given talent. If you write (or paint or dance or sculpt or sing, I suppose), someone will try to make you feel lousy about it, that’s all.” – Stephen King

It’s true. People will legitimately make you feel lousy about your craft. The trick is to surround yourself with writers. Find the writers who adore your work. Find the writers who are so moved by your work that they want nothing more than to see its success. Does their desire magically bring you success? No, but there’s something about a fellow writer believing in you that keeps you writing more. And that’s the trick, to keep writing. Don’t ever quit. No matter what they say. We all know they’re going to talk shit. What we don’t know is the future works you’re going to surprise us with.

What things do you say to other writers to encourage them?