Friday, January 20, 2012

Being a Beginner


"You can learn new things at any time in your life if you're willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you."
~ Barbara Sher



So many of us had to start from the beginning when we embarked on our writing journeys: learning to blog, learning to write well or better, learning to find a critique partner or two or ten, learning to query and to edit and to edit better . . . and always, always, learning to be more patient.

Being a beginner opens the door to the possibility of great things to come. If we are too afraid to begin, we'll never know what it feels like on the other side of our dreams. 

When have you been willing to be a beginner 
in order to chase a dream?

18 comments:

Tales of Whimsy said...

Amen. I feel like a beginner these days with being a new mom.


Happy weekend darling.

Old Kitty said...

Awwww I think I feel like a beginner every time I start a story!! It keeps me grounded!! Take care
x

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Writing comes to mind. Yes, it's been a humbling experience but in a good way. My thrive to learn has been revitalized.

DL Hammons said...

Then there's the difference between feeling like a beginner...and being perceived as one. I might feel like I have a good handle on my writing and publishing in general, but I guarantee you each agent that reads my query letter won't see it that way! It's always better to act the way that they see you, otherwise you risk being seen as difficult. :)

Have a great weekend!!

Karen Harrington said...

And the great thing is, one can be a beginner at any time in life. I just stumbled upon this article today that affirms the same thing -
7 Authors who prove it's never too late to start a writing career

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/11/writing-career-late_n_1196625.html

Natalie Aguirre said...

So true. I was/am such a beginner writer. In the next few years, I'll be a beginner in finding a new career/job after a long time at one job. I'll try to remember I'm surviving being a beginner writer.

Golden Eagle said...

Dance. There was a few year break between times when I took classes--and you get a lot weaker if you don't dance for that long. I had to start from the beginning.

Meredith said...

I definitely felt like a beginner when I first started writing. And I still feel like one sometimes. But I'm learning!

Stephanie Thornton said...

I'll admit I don't like being a beginner, but I'm willing to do it for something I really care about.

That said, I still hate beginning a new manuscript. It's plain daunting!

Jemi Fraser said...

I kind of like being a beginner. I love learning new things. One of my retirement plans is to take courses on stuff I know nothing about! :)

Kimberlee Turley said...

The first step to getting better is to admit you have room to learn.

storyqueen said...

I agree with Old Kitty...every blank page that starts a story is one of the scariest things that I know.

Being willing to risk those first few words....opening that door and being ready for how ever bad it might be...yes, I am an absolute beginner every time.

Shelley

Heather said...

Always! Learning is what it's all about, at every stage of the dream, and I'm always willing to do that. :)

Misha Gerrick said...

I love learning to things. Starting to do something new is one of my favorite things.

I especially enjoy it when I'm doing something writing related. :-D

Roxane B. Salonen said...

I'm a beginner in my new job as newspaper reporter for our daily paper. The work is familiar, but some aspects are new, and I'm the new kid on the block. But I agree with this post. It can be exhilarating to be new. I don't mind it and hope I'll always approach life with a wonder and awe, like a child learning something new. I think losing the pride can be freeing. :) We are always new at something!

Theresa Milstein said...

I like the idea of being a beginner having us open to opportunities. That said, I'm so glad not to be a beginner writer anymore. I was a mess!

Anonymous said...

Hi Shannon. Long time no see. I'm too old to be a beginner anymore. But I do like being involved with the kids as they are beginners at so many things, like piano lessons for example.

Ainsley Shay said...

Being a beginner in anything is a scary and exciting. And there's so much to learn in the writing community - I feel like a beginner almost everyday. Whether it's blogging or making the perfect scene in my book... but our writing community is so helpful and everyone is always willing to share their mistakes and their successes and that it makes us "beginners" enjoy the experience even more.

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