I enjoy car races. (They’re much more than waiting for the next crash.) Recently I attended a dirt track event with my family. At first, I focused on the top contenders. But as the evening progressed, my sympathies turned more and more toward those at the end of the field, those who tried hard and still failed. They got nudged out of position. Or skidded into a wall. Or couldn’t dodge a car that’d spun out of control. An engine blew. Or a tire. Or a brake line. Those poor drivers. All that work, all that money, all that time and travel, up in smoke in a second. What a waste. Why did they do it?

My writer-sense answered. (It’s similar to spidey sense only less webby). It’s not always about the winning. Few people can do it. It takes a special talent. For those with that talent, racing is something they can’t live without. It is their passion.

Writing is mine.

And I’m not so different from a race car driver. I invest money in how-to books and workshops to fine tune my writing skills. I travel to conferences to meet agents, schmooze with editors, and glean wisdom from authors who’ve ‘won’. I practice. I write mornings, evenings, and at lunch. Sometimes the words tumble onto the page full-throttle. Other days my story goes nowhere, a 360-degree tailspin dangerously close to crashing and burning.

But I persist. I finish stories and novels and poems. Lots of them. A filing cabinet full of them. (Yes, I still print them out.) I experience a lot of spin-outs (form letter rejections) and fourth place finishes (loved your writing, but…). I also have some wins.

Below are five suggestions to keep in mind while you pursue your writing. (This isn’t a ‘step’ program, more like a numbered list of suggestions.)

1. Practice. Write every day. Join a critique group. Listen to feedback with an ear for learning.
2. Finish the race. Complete that novel or short story or poem.
3. Research before submitting. If you’re a drag racer (flash fiction), don’t try to qualify for a 400-lap NASCAR race (novel trilogy). Match your work with the right agency or publishing house.
4. Show up. You can’t win a race you haven’t entered. Editors and agents won’t knock on your door. You have to knock on theirs. Lots of them.
5. Rejoice in your successes, small and large.

So, whether you’re a writer or race car driver, dancer or singer, teacher or accountant, follow your passion. Run a clean race. Put yourself out there. Take a chance. Follow a dream. Try. Celebrate every effort.

That’s a win.