Stress

Back in my class with my mentor, one of my fellow students got stressed out with our assignment which was writing an anthology composed of only 1500 words. This should be a collection of short stories and tales which tells the tales of 100 years of a nation's history.

Actually, this guy was the one who asked about a writing prompt, so he could practice writing, expecting a valuable lesson learned afterward.

However, only two of us submitted our works and the rest, aside from one person, had a hard time of finishing more than 600 words. The Griffin Anthology, written in the last three chapters, was the one I submitted.

I can understand what they felt for it was really frustrating to come up with three short stories or might only be called snippets within 1500 words.

At first, I exceeded to 1800+ words and condensed it. But I felt it was a half-assed work. Like, a lot of things were missing. You can't totally express or add words to build up emotions of the characters or show an awesome description of your story. It's all because of a word count limitation.

Yet, after writing one, I can't tell that it was a failure because I've learned a valuable lesson myself. On how to condense stories and use adjectives to express or explain the fierceness or awesomeness or absurdity of a situation or person in an efficient way.

I'm used to writing a lot of words but with this prompt, I learned to target words that are more useful to tell my story in the most practical way. I don't know for you but try to write an anthology with limited word count and feel the frustration.

So, this fellow student called the prompt a shit. One good thing with our mentor is that he is very patient to all of us. Instead of reacting in a harsh manner, he is guiding this person to look for the source of his stress. If it is only due to this the prompt, then what he feels won't be that severe.

Thus, the person shared openly his frustration against famous Litrpg stories in RR, while no one reads his story. I'm not sure if no one is really reading but not as much as the other novels. At the same time, he is trying to balance work and writing. He still needs to work to pay bills and daily necessities.

Here is the most painful statement he said, "I want to write and have people care about what I write as much as I do."

I feel his bitterness. Isn't this a common denominator about the authors' desire?

I'll write here a few of the advice our mentor said.

1.) If you've got anxiety, find the root of it.

2.) Honestly, you could ask most of the pinnacle writers of our day, and most of them will tell you that someone said they weren't good enough. Who. Cares. About. What. They. Think?

3.) Every English professor I had my entire life said I was incapable of doing the 'English', tada, they were wrong because I figured out how to make it work. (Be encouraged, my co-non-English native speakers.)

4.) If you are too reliant on the opinions of others, and if you withdraw your ability to move forward to the praise of the masses who do not know who you are or what you value, you will find yourself stagnant exactly where you started.

5.) Go out, do something with your talent and aspirations, then maybe something good will happen.

6.) If it's hard, then that makes the achievement worth something more than someone who was born capable of it.

7.) If you feel that stress, then understand where it is coming from and learn from it, accept it, and move forward. Or don't. Life's about deciding paths.

8.) You've got the imagination and aspiration to pursue life as a writer, but you need to reinforce your mentality so that you don't get destroyed by exposing yourself to the opinions of hundreds and thousands of other individuals all at once.

9.) Stress is a silent killer. That's why I viciously slam on each of you to do your due diligence and do introspection. Knowing yourself catches those sneaky elements.

10.) If you have a problem, losing yourself to stress is the last thing you want to do.

11.) Confidence is gained by acknowledging yourself, just as being able to acknowledge yourself is gained by confidence. Choosing to do both and keeping with it forms a habit, and thus both are gained by choice.

12.) Emotional support is gained by effort and caring, those willing to offer it first are oft those who shall see it reciprocated, and thus it is those who give kindness who are supported.

These are his actual words. I hope all of us, including those who are not authors, learn something out from what he said.

About my story, I'm so happy to finish one arc. 🎉🎆🎇 But still needs editing. I hope I can start publishing soon.

Have a good and fruitful day.