Surviving the Challenges of Online Writing

What are your biggest fears as an online writer? Is it about getting a rejection slip from a publisher, or receiving unsavory comments on your post, or about going into a prolonged limbo (becoming a blocked writer)?

Here are some tips and quips on overcoming these challenges on your way to becoming a successful writer.

Too many rejections: A slew of failed endeavors or rejections of your written pieces will no doubt lower the belief in your own work. However the mantra to achieving success is to keep on at it till your work is selected. Focus on achieving small amounts of success, such as getting your short stories or poems published, before you submit the manuscript of a novella/novel. There are a variey of different sites that can help you find a right platform to post your articles.

Writers Block: One would have heard of the phrase "writer's block"; it's the stage where your thinking faculties fail to conjure up any ideas, where only the shadows of the past glories lurk hauntingly in your mindscapes, but fail to galvanize you into creating anything new. Any writer would dread about reaching this stage, particularly when they are gaining encomiums by the day or have proved to themselves and the world about their exceptional writing skills. Amateur writers would also want to avoid it when they are setting about the task of morphing into good writers.

There is no way to stop the petulant skirmish between your faculties and sensibilities when you are stuck in a non-creative rut. However, this should not lead you to stop thinking positive and expecting wonders from your quill. Remember writing stems from your heart before it takes a concrete shape in your brains; so never give up and never stop thinking positive about yourself.

Online Competitions: There are various sites that organize short story competitions (known by different names such as flash fiction, quick tales, or mini story). The stories are often judged and reviewed by big names in the publishing industry, who first shortlist the stories and then let the public vote for their favorite stories. Participating in these competitions will help you measure your writing skills against the very best, and help you gain some amount of confidence too.Criticism: Since the writing industry is fraught with insecurities and fickleness of success, it is more likely to cause many a frayed temper, particularly when criticism from different quarters come knocking on your door. Sometimes, the comments get a tad too personal, and tend to discourage you from achieving your dreams. Remember in an online forum where you are read by a number of people, you can receive a barrage of unsavory comments. Don't let this criticism faze you, rather let it act as a guiding light for you to achieve better results. There are online writing forums where members review each other's work and offer constructive feedback. However, if the feedback has been written with a view to lower your esteem or put you down, bite the bullet and move on.