Some time ago, Dear Spouse took me to a small-town race track for a fun night out. I’ll admit, I am not what most would consider a fan, but I don’t dislike the sport either. I’ll also admit that watching a race in person is a whole other experience compared to the televised snippets played in the background on a Sunday afternoon. In person, adrenaline levels can’t help but spike. 

Since I take my camera practically everywhere, of course I took photos of the races. Chance timing allowed me to capture a crash. Why, though, would I possibly find it interesting to talk about a racing crash on a blog about writing? 

The crash made me think about how writers can be hard on themselves. Prior to being published, an emerging author will get their hopes high, only to feel low when a rejection comes back. There’s this constant up-down emotional ride that, honestly, doesn’t end once a publishing contract is signed. Since writers are always putting themselves out there, the ups and downs will always follow. 

The published writer can be particularly hard on themselves, too, even after the first contract is signed, wondering if a second contract will ever happen. She wonders if she’s a one-book-wonder or if readers hated the first book so much it doesn’t matter if a second book will come along since no one will read it anyway. Even if these self-doubts don’t come into play, a reviewer will doubt the writer on her behalf, or … any number of imperfect things will happen. 

With so many obstacles in the publishing world, with so many ups and downs, it’s a wonder any writer makes it through a day without giving up. Writers are terrible self-critics. Which brings me back to the crash…. 

Is a racecar driver only successful when staying on course? Are crashes not inevitable? Are they not expected? Whether a local racer on a small course or a pro at the Indy 500, accidents happen. Drivers go off-course. So do writers. 

Racecar drivers know accidents happen but they generally get back on course and finish what they started. So does a professional writer. Whether it’s ignoring a form rejection, or soaking in the advice of a personal rejection, it’s up to the writer to get back on course. 

When it comes to writing as a career, an author must always keep the end goal in sight. We can’t let the little spinouts or literary fender-benders slow us down. There will always be downs, but with those come the ups that make it all worthwhile. 

There’s no such thing as a perfect race when it comes to writing. The finish line always changes; there is always a new goal to reach. It’s not about coming in first. It’s about getting back on course when we stray off the track.