Last week concludes the Paralympics—an event sadly not covered by the American media even though the USA had the largest contingency of participants, over 300. You could catch the events over the internet. I watched with interest cyclist Joe Berenyi, a local paralympian, who won gold, silver, and bronze despite having only one arm and a missing knee cap. What an inspiration.

These disabled athletes should inspire the most fearful writer. Here are people with physical disabilities winning medals in activities I could not even begin to compete. Tragedies may have taken their limbs or birth defects gave them a disadvantage. Yet they kept pressing forward overcoming their disability and turning it into an advantage.

Writers often feel at a disadvantage at some level. Perhaps getting started later in life or fearing youth makes them unmarketable. Lacking the educational credentials that others have brings our confidence up short, producing doubts in our ability to succeed. Yet, like paralympians we can press forward until we accomplish the writing goals we feel so passionate about.

These athletes didn’t participate in the events without first training hard to earn their place. Excuses were not on their lips. They set out to overcome, doing whatever it took to achieve their goal.

Writers need a training regimen to succeed

Earning our place as freelancers, novelist or bloggers takes commitment.

• Taking instruction from editors and mentors to whip our words into shape is an important part of our training.
• Spending money on workshops, classes and books help to improve our craft.
• Attending conferences and webinars are all part of the evolution from wanna-be writer to professional.
• Building out platform brick by virtual brick may take years.

Practice, practice and stretching our writing muscles prepares writers for the win.

• Recognition will come as we take laps of submitting queries and manuscripts.
• Endure edits and rewrites and reviews until we can reach for the gold.
• Buffing our writing muscles until they respond with ease to each challenge set before us.
• Ignore naysayers who want to rob our dreams.
• Be open to correction and redirection as we find our voice and niche.

Valuable lesson to learn from Paralympics

Whatever writing handicap we have (real or imagined) can be overcome through perseverance. Keep our goal before us and press in.

Paul reminds us: “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

We mustn’t give up until we find our calling in the world of words.

What obstacles do you see in your way to achieve your writing goals? Where do you get your inspiration to press on?