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me. They clear their throats, nod, and leave hurriedly. And God forbid I mention poetry. In those cases, people are more like duck-and-run characters trying to escape having a bomb dropped on their heads.

But be that as it may, I personally find people who think anyone can write to be the most intimidating. They have great ideas for a book, but no time; they have the time, but want a ghost writer, and haven't got the time to find one: I have heard every excuse there is. Every once in a while I will say if anyone could do it, we'd all be writers. It's hard work.

Even strangers at a cocktail party are willing to admit that much. That yes, it must be hard work, although they don't know why.

It's hard work, because it takes a creative, disciplined mind to approach writing as a goal, not a hobby. It takes confidence in one's ability to study his/her craft, learn the ins and outs of personal style, and put up with friends and family who put writing down. If one values his/her writing, [s]he will never show it to family or friends: "advice" will either bring unwarranted praise or dire criticism, which are polar opposites, and good writing is somewhere in-between.

So no matter whether one is a novice to writing or not; no matter whether [s]he writes fiction or not, or how often fingers fly across a keyboard, passion and confidence are everything. The confidence and knowledge that writing is creative on so many different levels, it's almost impossible to explain.

Just know that as writers, we all do the best we can, strive to succeed no matter what others say, and that even the greatest of writers was at one time an unknown. That didn't stop them from pursuing their craft. It pushed them past rejection letters, and naysayers' criticism. No matter what anyone says, or what advice they offer, the trick to overcoming intimidation is to remember that as writers, we are ALL special.

Learn more about this author, Lisa Beach.
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