Each and every one of us will stand on this corner at some point in our life as a writer. Some of us more than others, but eventually our choice to be a writer will be what leads us here.

What’s funny, in a more curious way, is that most of us already know the landscape of this intersection. We’ve probably reached this corner more times than we wish to admit. We know this corner so well in fact, we can describe with perfect clarity, the layout of each street to anyone who hasn’t made it this far. Or to those who are, like most of us, full blown masochists.

Writer’s Way

If you ask us we can easily speak of many recognizable landmarks on Writer’s Way. As you travel along it won’t be hard to notice how ragged and forlorn the street seems. Pot holes are abundant on this poorly maintained avenue.

Surely you weren’t expecting a street paved in gold?

If you were, you may want to consider taking I’m Done Avenue and sparing yourself the trouble, while at the same time maintaining your sanity.

If you continue though, you’ll probably think the sanitation crews are on strike because everywhere you look you see discarded manuscripts blowing across the street, veritable paper tumbleweeds.

As you walk along Writer’s Way, you’ll often catch yourself thinking the entire street seems cloaked in darkened sheets of depression. That’s because it is. The longer you’re here the easier it will be for loneliness to tear at you while you write. Soon this loneliness becomes solitude and then it turns into frustration and lastly despair.

But you’ve just turned down Writer’s Way so you tell yourself you still have a long way to go before you either succumb or become a success.

Good for you. Keep going.

But we’d like to warn you; pay no attention to the bodies of writers scattered to and fro in the street. You’ll meet several of them on your journey. Some of them are dead because they couldn’t take the pressure anymore.

Most are still alive.

But you’ll catch yourself wondering how in the hell they could still be alive while they hold their still beating hearts in their hands. You’ll ask yourself what could have happened to cause them to suffer in this manner.

Simple. Each of them just received a rejection so brutal it tore their hearts out of their chest.

It happens all the time. Our guess is you’ll learn how to survive when it happens to you.

Or you won’t.

Either way, it’s going to happen.

For now, just walk around them. They’ll either find a way to carry on or they’ll walk back to the intersection, stand at the corner for awhile and maybe try walking along Writer’s Way again.

Some will just give up, take I’m Done Avenue and become little more than ghosts of their former selves.

Oh, watch out now.

Try not to step in those rouge puddles as you trudge down Writer’s Way. Each of them is filled with writer’s blood (some of it may already be your own) which flowed from their veins as they opened up their souls and let their words spill out on the page.

We’re guessing by now you’ve figured out walking down Writer’s Way isn’t going to be as easy as you thought. You’re probably telling yourself you don’t know if you’re cut out to do this alone.

You’re not alone.

You will most certainly meet many writers on Writer’s Way. Most of them are heading in the same direction you are. And most of them want to see you succeed as much as they want to succeed themselves. They will become your life line, your support group. Just like you, many of them will welcome company.

Some of them won’t.

You need to be wary of those not willing to share.

As many writers as you discover walking the same direction as you, you’ll see almost as many traveling the opposite direction. These writers are heading back to the corner of Writer’s Way and I’m Done Avenue. Some of them have tried their best to make the trip along Writer’s Way, but now they’re bitter and frustrated and venom sometimes spews from their mouths.

Some of them took the journey on a lark believing the journey would be easy, a way to make a quick buck with very little effort.

Whatever their reason, they’ve given up.

If you start listening to them, you may become one of them yourself.

It’s like we said in the beginning. We’ve been at the corner of Writer’s Way and I’m Done Avenue before and some of will frequent the corner again. Some of us may stand at that corner for minutes or even days before we make our decision. Some of us will stand there for years, some for a lifetime. At some point in the game we all struggle to make the decision to continue on Writer’s Way or take I’m Done Avenue and put writing behind us for good.

It’s all part of the process.

I’m Done Avenue

What’s so very interesting about I’m Done Avenue is that it’s almost the same street as Writer’s Way, with writer’s walking in various directions. For many of us who at one time chose I’m Done Avenue we can honestly say it was a much deserved but often cut short vacation. Those of us who’ve been there report constant flurries of activity by sanitation workers who always clean up the street and most, if not all, of the pot holes have been drained of writer’s blood and patched up.

If you decide to travel down I’m Done Avenue, be sure to stay at Hotel Distraction for a couple of days. The proprietors were all once aspiring writers. They know what you’re going through right now. Trust us, they will do everything possible to help you keep your thoughts away from returning to Writer’s Way.

Not only are the accommodations super, but they have a swinging night club in the basement to help you forget the pain you’re going through. You can crack the whip with Devo, at the B-52s Love Shack while you’re Looking For Some Hot Stuff with Donna Summers.

Like we said. If you’re looking for distractions you’ll want to spend a couple of lifetimes at the hotel.

For most of us though, I’m Done Avenue is a nice place to visit but a lot of us just can’t imagine staying there for too long.

Keep in mind you won’t be the first writer in history to start a trip down Writer’s Way only to return to the corner and take I’m Done Avenue. The beauty of this little street is that those who choose it as a path are often looking behind them, staring back at the corner. Before they realize what’s happening their furious attempt to get away slows, and they stop and turn around. Having been there before we understand how frightened they are to take a step toward the corner, but we know they won’t be able to stop themselves.

The allure is just too strong.

Even though the writer knows the trip down Writer’s Way will more than likely resemble a life sentence to hell, previous experience has taught them how to handle it this time. They take another step, because the longing to be walking along Writer’s Way with fellow writers continues to nag at them. Like a magnet, it tugs at their souls and all of a sudden writers who’ve chosen to walk down I’m Done Avenue start walking the other direction, hell, running, back to the corner and heading out along Writer’s Way again.

If this happens (it will trust us) to you don’t sweat it, we’ll welcome you back as if you’ve never left us. Keep in mind though you need to work your ass off to catch up with some of us.

But that’s okay, you’ll learn.

If for some strange reason you choose I’m Done Avenue remember it’s just a street. You can always change direction. You just came from the corner of Writer’s Way and I’m Done Avenue didn’t you?

Okay then.

Let’s keep in touch — paul@pgbarnett.com