by Angela Bourassa

Failure is part of every writer’s life. A big part. We all fail for years before we find success. Rather than feeling bad about that, perhaps we should take a moment to think about the ways that failure makes us better writers and better people.

Debbie Millman — a writer, educator, and artist — put together this list on failure that I’ve found very helpful. Bookmark it and take a look every time you feel like you’re failing.

Ten Things I Wish I Knew Sooner Rather Than Later About Failing

1. If you are not making mistakes, you’re not taking enough risks

2. Expect anything worthwhile to take a long time

3. Work very, very hard

4. Ask for opportunities

5. Finish what you start

6. Say “yes and” to almost everything

7. Busy is a decision

8. Don’t censor your dreams before you actually dream

9. Learn and build from your failures, but…

10. It is only a failure if you accept defeat