Don’t wait to feel “good enough” to get published. Put yourself out there. Starting now.
That was the message my favorite professor communicated over and over again.
Actually, he never said a word about “being good enough” or “not being good enough.” He believed his students were writers. That I was a writer. And that fact meant I should pursue publishing. Right away. No excuses.
He even made it a requirement in a couple of classes. I had to get at least one piece published during the semester as part of my grade.
I was terrified. Because I didn’t believe in myself or my writing as much as my professor did. He acted like it was a given.
“Don’t worry. Send your piece in. It will happen.”
Amidst my doubts, my fears and my insecurities, I wrote. I sent in a piece. And – low and behold – my professor was right. I got published.
Not once. Not Twice. But multiple times. I was thrilled!
While I don’t think those doubts, fears or insecurities ever fully go away (I had them with our book), I will always remember my professor’s belief in me as a writer.
And his #1 tip for getting published: Put yourself out there. Starting now.