In a recent chatroom, someone asked if there was any hope left for struggling writers with so many other writers taking shortcuts with AI. My response was that if fear of AI knocks you off your game, maybe you aren’t playing the right game.

Many of us live in fear that we aren’t being productive with our writing. We aren’t publishing enough, marketing enough, or selling enough. There are plenty of other ways to make money in this world, and writing is not at the forefront of those opportunities.

Writing is a love dance with words.

If you start with a story to tell, it’s still about dancing with words.
If you have strong journalism skills, it’s still about dancing with words.
If you need to make money to prove you are a writer, it’s still about dancing with words.

For a moment, toss the concept of being professional, making money, or becoming well known.

When writing feels inherent…
When writing gives you solace…
When writing transports you to a better place…
When writing allows you to give yourself grace and not compete…
When writing isn’t about legacy, career, or proving a point…

That’s loving yourself. That’s appreciating yourself. That’s self-love that we do so little of today. Tune the world out and write for no good purpose other than to enjoy it. Maybe you have a plan for it, like working on a novel, or maybe you don’t. Let the moment be about being good to yourself for no other reason than to make yourself happy.