Announcement: Today’s post is by Kathryn K. Murphy. She’s the 3rd place winner of the “You Are Enough” writing contest! Please join me in congratulating Kathryn for her inspiring entry.
Say it out loud. Relentless.
Sounds cool, huh? Even whispered it rolls off the tongue like a battle cry lighting an internal fire fueled by everything it means to be human. When spoken out loud like a prayer, the word ignites the spark in us to create, pursue, and fight for what we want and what we believe. The word relentless conjures up the passion of thousands of years of human struggle and victory that have all led to this moment, to you.
As an educator in a middle school, I am competing for my audience’s attention every second of the day. Social media, online games, pop culture, hallway drama, and trouble at home all distract my audience away from my class. As a history teacher, I am not only fighting typical teen angst, but also challenged to carve out space to prove the importance of my field, a constant war that math, science, and engineering don’t face. Now, I could go into how I wage that battle for attention, but I’d like to instead focus on the importance of being relentless.
I’ve said this word to students struggling with test anxiety or learning disabilities and to fellow teachers fighting burnout, financial stress, and medical issues. I’ve said it to my son as he struggled to walk falling over and over again, only to get back up every time. Now, I’m whispering it to myself and you, my fellow writer.
We are relentless.
We’ve all read stories about those people we admire who fought against poverty, abuse, rejection, racism, sexism, addiction, homelessness, illness, and mental illness and yet despite every obstacle standing in their way still possessed the courage to fight for their dreams. That persistence, that quest for success creates a common denominator for every example in human history. The word applies to the greatest minds of philosophy in a time where religion subjugated scientific thought. It also describes the student in the back of the classroom fighting hunger pains and trying to translate every word their teacher says. They are all relentless. So are you. So am I.
Sitting at the keyboard, writing a story makes a bold statement in today’s world. Distractions and sometimes guilt can claw into a writer, sprouting an ugliness in the form of worry and loss of faith in themselves. I know how difficult it is to take time away from work and family to sit and create something that may or may not generate much-needed money. At low points, it can feel like a waste of time or gambling, but that is just the distraction talking, the self-doubt creeping closer to us. We cannot let a thought keep us from our goals. We must fight back by being relentless. Keep writing. Keep going. No one knows this story better than you, and only you can tell it. You are enough. You are everything this story needs to happen.
Once you have a manuscript finished, please celebrate your creation. You are enough to create an entire book, and you should share that joy with others. Let the words from people saying, “Man, I wish I could write a book,” wash over you and heal your wounds carved by self-doubt and worry. You are enough, so stay relentless.
In the next stage, when the slush pile threatens to drown your query along with your dreams, stay focused. Feedback from editors, agents, and critiques might sting, so shield yourself, practice self-care, do whatever you must, but make sure you get back up regardless of what they say. Turn “It’s not ready,” to “It’s not ready yet.” As writers, we know the power of one word. Mark Twain said, “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—’tis the difference between the lightning-bug and the lightning.”
Be relentless.
Tell yourself you’re relentless as you sit down to edit what you thought you had perfected. Say it out loud. Make it a battle cry. In the dead of night when you’re writing instead of sleeping, whisper to yourself, “I am relentless. I am enough. I am relentless. I am enough.” Keep repeating it until you feel it.
Light that spark, and fan the flames because you are enough. You always have been, and you always will be. All you have to be is relentless.
