Dear Young Writers,
I used to dream about what I would write to you when I was published and experienced—when I knew what I was doing in the writing world and could give you complete, definite advice and a detailed step-by-step map to seeing your name in print.
But then I realized that writing is a journey that never ends—it is a lifelong adventure. You will constantly be learning new things. You will become a better and better writer through every success and especially every mistake.
I have come to accept that not understanding it all is an important part of this journey. Those questions that we don’t have the answer to are where we grow.
Our questions and unknowns are where we discover and explore and force ourselves to ask even more questions. And somewhere in the chaos of not knowing what your story holds is where you find the stories you were meant to tell.
As I write this, I consider myself a young writer. I’m not sure when one is no longer ‘young,’ but as someone who loves to write for children and teens, I’m pretty sure a part of me will always remain childlike. I will always have more questions to ask, more ideas to uncover, and more stories to tell along the way.
Don’t let your age hold you back. Yes, it’s frustrating to not be able to submit to a magazine that requires writers to be a certain age, or to not be old enough to enter a contest.
But it doesn’t mean you aren’t an amazing writer.
Don’t let what you can’t do keep you from doing what you can do.
You can set an example in your life in how you write, the challenges you take, and your willingness to learn from and listen to others. Remember that you aren’t alone.
Keep writing. Keep practicing. Keep reading. Keep listening. Keep searching. Keep learning.
And when an opportunity arises, take it.
Don’t let an adjective like ‘young’ hold you back—because you know you are a writer. Don’t let your rejections limit you. Don’t let opinions limit you. Don’t let your struggles limit you.
And most of all, don’t limit yourself.
Amazing things can happen when we let ourselves dream big.
Be brave, dream big, and write on.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12
-Abby
P.S: if you are looking for more encouragement for you or a young writer you know, check out my devotional piece “Dream Big” featured in Unlocked Daily Readings for Teens. The devotional is at https://subspla.sh/9h3psh8. For my full blog post about it, visit https://abbyciona.wordpress.com/2020/01/13/dream-big-my-first-devotional-in-unlocked/.
Abby Ciona 