Writing
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IF REVISITED(With Apologies to Rudyard Kipling)
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IF you can keep writing when all about you are giving in to writer's block or sensuous delights, and laughing at you for writing on;
IF you can believe in yourself when editors, teachers, colleagues doubt your writing all along -- but make allowance for their comments, too;
IF you can open your mailbox and not be tired of waiting, or being paid in contributor's copies, or being paid on publication;
IF you refuse to deal in self-doubt or fear of being rejected, and don't give way to not-writing; and yet don't brag too much nor flaunt your writing too low, but submit to the highest-paying markets;
IF you can dream words, one right after the other and not make being in love with the idea of being a writer your master;
IF you can drink to acceptance and rejection, and treat those two words just the same;
IF you can bear to see your work in print pared down to mini-minimums, twisted by editorial assistants to make your lines fit the page, or watch the inspiration you gave your words be continued on page 214, and once again sit before the typewriter and face that blank page day-to-day and begin again;
IF you can make one article out of all your life experience and risk it all on one Monday editor who reads the slish and slush, and lose, and rewrite every sentence, restructure every anecdote and never curse your name for lack of fame;
IF you can force your mind and fingers to serve your typewriter and so hold on when there is nothing in you except the WILL to WRITE, which silently says to the world "I AM A WRITER";
IF you can interview the man on the street and not lose your voice, your style, nor lose your writer's curiosity;
IF you can fill the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds' worth of writing, yours is the poem, the article, the story, the novel, and everything that's in itAND -- which is more -- you will be a WRITER FOREVERMORE.
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