All writers need to nurture themselves as writers in order to be most successful and fulfilled. Nurturing ourselves comes in many different guises and degrees, depending on our individual preferences and what we need in order to thrive in a world that is often harsh and rejecting for writers. Here are a few ways that you can nurture yourself as a writer: 1. Write every day and make every writing moment enjoyable. Put on some nice music or do a bit of meditation before writing. 2. Consider yourself a writer. Sometimes having the identity of a writer can really help a lot. 3. Work on developing positive self-esteem and self-confidence. If you are low on yourself a lot, take a course or online workshop to improve how you feel about yourself. 4. If you have a bad writing day, don’t beat yourself up. It’s okay and perfectly acceptable to have a bad day. 5. Don’t hang around negative writers or negative coaches, at least not in the beginning when you are nurturing yourself as a writer. Treat yourself like a tender and precious plant in the spring. 6. Be a positive and hopeful person—both in your writing life and in your personal life. 7. Don’t let circumstances or mean people suck your joy or productivity out. 8. Know that you can be just as good a writer as the next person. 9. Stop comparing yourself to others. 10. Take courses and workshops to hone your skills. By following these steps, you will be nurturing yourself as a writer and you will be avoiding writers block at the same time. Try it! Until Next Time! Irene S. Roth