Lifestyle · Writing

HAVE YOU GOT A THICK HIDE? Writers Quote Wednesday.

jacquelineobyikocha

Rhino, Rhinoceros, Armor, India, Animal, Strong

“I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide.”
—Harper Lee, WD

I can’t agree more with this quote above. I know one or two people, who for better want of a word to describe their predicament they ‘are ashamed of saying that they write.’

They are perpetually on the defensive about their hobby and hope to become a successful writer, so they chose to hide it.

Sometimes, I wonder if being a writer is such a terrible thing, except of course when we lop off your head in our stories and paint you black too 😉

For such people, I will say, grow skins as thick as that of a Rhinoceros, if you are definitely sure that this is the life you want to live. It’s grits, nerves and more grits.

If you feel shame for something that you love doing, then maybe, it’s not yet your thing, otherwise, how do you expect to make a headway with it?

Be prepared to hear things like the type of conversation I once had with man in the gym, who wanted to know what kind of things I write, he was sure that I wrote only housewife’s romance or sexy stuff *his words not mine*, which by the way I like to read, depending on my mood. I read extensively and across all genres.

I simply didn’t appreciate his stereo-typing and didn’t even want to bother educating him further. I cast him as a dirty villain in a short fairy tale and gave him a crooked, bumpy nose too 😉

I have had several requests to write articles for free because they feel that it will give me exposure, and in my mind, I am like ‘You don’t say!’ :/

Be prepared to hear things like:

  • Are you really planning to make a living out of this? Asked in a condescending voice
  • I wish I had your opportunity, to just daydream and write :/
  • You know that writing is a dying industry right? In my mind, I am holding back from shouting, no you are the one dying, you buffoon! I didn’t utter that aloud did I 😉
  • Have you gone viral yet? I guess you have now become a flu.

So, while you are getting on with it, saddle up and let the rude, inept comments roll off your back. Don’t sweat it, what they think doesn’t matter, it’s what you think that matters.

© Jacqueline Oby-Ikocha

Writer’s quote Wednesday.

Image credit: Pixabay.com

Published by jacquelineobyikocha

A wordsmith with a vivid imagination, an eager mind and a burning desire to carve out tales. As I journey with my muse to that land of all possibilities and self discovery, I hope my personal evolution will serve as a beacon of inspiration for anyone who chooses to stop by.

33 thoughts on “HAVE YOU GOT A THICK HIDE? Writers Quote Wednesday.”

  4. An excellent post, Jacqueline! I liked this, especially:
    “I simply didn’t appreciate his stereo-typing and didn’t even want to bother educating him further. I cast him as a dirty villain in a short fairy tale and gave him a crooked, bumpy nose too ;-)”

    And this was priceless:

    I have had several requests to write articles for free because they feel that it will give me exposure, and in my mind, I am like ‘You don’t say!’ :/

    Thanks for posting this! Great advice to those who think they should be ashamed of the thing that they really want to do.

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  12. Reblogged this on mandibelle16 and commented:
    Amazing and insightful post from Jacqueline! Writer’s need to develop armour ” as thick as a rhino” and not be ashamed by what other people say. Writing is our work; even if people don’t realize the time and effort we put into it!

    Liked by 1 person

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  14. Hi Jackie,

    That Rhino has got a THICK hide, that must feel sitting on several handbags. XD

    @ “housewife’s romance or sexy stuff”. That sort of prejudice is so baseless.

    Ah! Writing will never ever be a dying art, that person is beyond ignorant. People say these fancy sounding phrases just to cover up their own short comings. That person clearly doesn’t read and is making excuses for their half-baked brain.

    Indeed, it is what you think that matters.

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  15. Great post indeed. Though many of us often have self doubts, feeling ashamed of our writing is certainly not good. It takes a lot courage to post our views and we should be proud of it 🙂 I loved that part of refusing to write for free 🙂

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    1. Thank you very much. Indeed, we should be proud of our work, for it takes time and courage like you said too. I write free articles when I feel the inkling to do so, but not for someone who stands to benefit from it and they trying to peddle their reserve psychology to me.

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  16. Spot on. This is exactly what I’ve been doing lately. I sometimes feel the pressure of being a writer. People check if there’s a grammar mistake, asks you for questions, etc. it can be a lot to take at times. 🙂 I just think ‘This is where ai earn and I live writing.’

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