Ouch, ouch, ouch! Are you done yet? |
Last year, I got my gumption up and decided to
get a tattoo to not only celebrate a milestone birthday, but also rid myself of
any self-doubt I was carrying inside me about being a writer. The tattoo I
choose is quite popular—the Superman shield—but it means more to me than what
the man of steel portrays in the DC brand comic books. It means breaking free
from all those blocks and obstacles I struggled with to first, learn to write a
book, and second, to keep submitting until I was finally published. This was a
fifteen-year journey to publication, where as you can imagine, self-doubt
continued to creep in like weeds strangling flowers in a beautiful garden.
To find
the strength within and smash through those obstacles and (writers) blocks, an
author needs to develop perseverance. Once you understand that ‘Rome wasn’t
built in a day’, then you allow for the Universe to work its magic to help you
make your dreams and desires come true. This ‘staying power’ comes from a place
deep inside you, and makes sure that you never give up, if you’re willing to
keep following your heart. It’s no wonder Superman’s shield is emblazoned on
the chest area, directly over his heart. Personally for me, the ‘S’ in the
shield stands for Sharon, not Superman, and represents my stamp of
self-approval. Go figure. Though, I have researched that the ‘S’ is also the
Kryptonian symbol for hope, which is an added bonus for a bright, promising
outlook.
Let’s face it. Life is full of challenges and obstacles. Those are the
things that makes us stronger, better, faster. That’s what our characters face
every time we writers drag them through the muds of hell. Then, like us, our
characters evolve and grow. Writing is a tough gig, but so rewarding when you
write those final two words ‘The End’. It’s a badge of honor, and feels
wonderful and uplifting, like you’ve reached the pinnacle of super hero status.
I’ve found that the hardest part of being a writer is the
stick-to-itiveness. Going through the basic training that every super hero has
to go through. You learn. You fail. You pick yourself up, maybe fail again, and
again. But you get back up until you’ve mastered one level, and then move on to
the next one. You excel, you celebrate every word you jot down in your magnum
opus. Giving up is not an option when you have something to say. The trick is
to make your readers feel what you feel.
Almost done! Whew! |
Have you ever gotten a tattoo to celebrate a milestone or mark a rite of
passage? If so, what did you decide on? Would love to read your comments!
Cheers and thank you for reading this post!