I think this is kind of unfair—old writers are the ones who have been beaten down by rejection and need encouragement! But, OK.

I only know one young writer, and he ignores my encouragement, which is probably one of his smarter decisions.

But if he were to listen, here’s what I’d say.

You can excel if you trust yourself and the process.

Your worst writing is still worth doing. Write all the garbage in your head. Transcribe your verbal vomit. Keep a journal and get that first impression of your best and worst moments. It is all valuable. At some point you’ll gain some distance and clarity and you’ll find the diamonds in the dross. 

Your experiences matter. Even if you think your life is boring, it is 100 percent worth writing about. Universal experiences are what make the unique ones accessible. Absorb everything that happens to you, even if it’s just hanging around your house. All your senses go into writing. The sight and taste of ice cream, the sound of tinnitus, the smell and feel of puppy fur. You have to force yourself to fully engage in an experience before you can write about it, and then you have to write about it before you forget all the nuance. Keep a journal. Your language will be truer to your emotions, and it will help you when you are writing at a remove and don’t have All the Feels like you did in the moment.

You are probably a better writer than you think, and you can be a better writer than you probably believe. When someone tells you that you have written something good, believe them. When someone offers pointers or suggestions, be receptive. Don’t get mad, get better. You don’t have to take every piece of advice you receive, but a wise person will listen before disregarding.

Don’t give up. I posted a bunch of Churchill quotes yesterday. Here’s something he didn’t say that is often ascribed to him: If you’re going through hell, keep going. It’s good advice. Writing is hard. It takes time, it take focus, it takes persistence and practice.

But it’s worth it!