“Be soft. Be soft. Be soft.

Substack—and the literary world and creative life in general—can be competitive and often harsh, and, yes, the path is thick with disappointment and even heartbreak. It’s also pocked with setbacks, rejections, jealousy, and, once in a while, a personal slight or two. Do not let these distractions become the landscape of your writing life. Do not let these distractions become the melody sung by your creative spirit. Do not let these distractions char the open field of your heart. Please, do not let these distractions subtly harden you to the world and all it offers up for our imaginations (thank you, always, MO). Be soft with others, be soft with your process, and be soft always with yourself. Have goals, sure, and more importantly, have some burning desire that pulls you into and through it all, including the dark times, the hurting times. And yes, measure your progress in light of your goals and desires. But do not ever define yourself by the gap between your desires and your so-called achievements. Never let that gap fool you into thinking you are not good enough, or real enough. You are. Just keep reaching with an open heart and open hands toward the light. That’s all you need to do.” - Jeannine Ouellette

My Creative Manifesto - Writing In the Dark