From Conception to Fruition...

If you don't see yourself as a winner, you will not win; it's as simple as that. I value my time, as should we all, and at the same time, can I truly see the vision realized that was seen years ago? I'm on the brink of tapping into this professional writing journey, and it's becoming increasingly "in plain eyesight" for me. Now, I don't want any of my readers to believe that I have it all together because I don't, but what I do have is confidence, tenacity, foundation, and expertise. I say all that just to say that if you see an opportunity, GO FOR IT! Do not sell yourself short; take the risk, put yourself out there, test the waters, and see what you're made of. And if you fail...that doesn't mean that you're a failure; that just means you know what NOT to do, and you move forward in your endeavors to see the conception of a thing come to fruition. You do not have to fail in your learning.

So, I have some pointers for all of the new "professional writers" looking at that enormous ocean of the world of professional writing. You may have heard some of these pointers before, but it's good to have some reiteration.

-Pointer #1: Don't try to reinvent the wheel. Listen really well; some rich intel exists in our sphere of influence. Look at what's working, do your research, look at the models that have gone before you, and put yourself in that creative space. Sometimes, we want to show that we can start something, and at the same time, we have forerunners who have tested all different scenarios and models. Let's look at who's doing it the best, check out who's making it happen, take inventory and stock, and run with it. If it's not broke...you know the rest.

-Pointer #2: Be your authentic self. Now, we won't reinvent the wheel, but we will not steal someone else's identity. The complexities and uniqueness about you will be what makes your writing a cut above the rest. What do you bring to the table? How may you interject with your skill and wisdom? How may your products and services match with what is needed? Does your input break the mold? Remember, don't sell yourself short...keyword, "YOURSELF."

-Pointer #3: Surround yourself with what you do. Never let anyone make fun of the fact that you love writing. If you are going to make professional writing a career or even a business, then protect your craft and those who do what you do. Make sure you never put down the rich stock you came into the world with. Keep something around you so that you will always be available to write, copy, transcribe, record, and dictate...never be caught off guard. Be ready to write at ALL TIMES! Remember, there is always something to write about that needs recording and preservation and something that needs to be captured to be remembered. Okay, I believe that's enough for now. And as always, remember to Make Your Mark. ~Eboney

Passion Versus Confidence

One of the first pearls of wisdom I understood was the difference between writing with passion and writing with confidence. There is a stark difference, so let me give these two words due justice. By way of Dictionary.com, passion means any powerful, compelling, or emotional feeling, a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for anything. Confidence, meaning, coming from Dictionary.com, means full trust, belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing. It also means belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities, self-reliance, and assurance.

Now, I know you are probably asking yourselves, "What is Eboney talking about?" When writing, your confidence is not in your passion but in your content, product, and ability to produce. Your confidence is in the results, your response, your solutions, and your work. 

Think about it. A person can be passionate and never produce. Passion can fizzle out and die down. Passion does not complete. Passion cannot do what your confidence has been built to do. Passion does not equate to tenacity, which means persistence. Passion can only get you so far, whereas confidence can be stretched beyond its limit. When you're confident, you go further, you go the extra mile, you know what's ahead, and you go in prepared, stocked, and ready. Passion stirs you, but confidence will advance you. 

I'll end on this, as you grow into a phenomenal professional with your writing, pull on what you know you can do. Pull on what you are rich in and what you are stocked with. I want to see your confident work that puts the shiny red bow on your passion to produce and preserve. Until next time, remember to Make Your Mark ~ Eboney