A Cup of Coffee and One Honest Voice
Every writer has their rituals. Some need a quiet corner, some need chaos, and others — like most of us — need just two things: a comforting cup of coffee and someone, even just one person, to remind us that we are good writers.
I’ve been lucky to have both in abundance — the coffee that fuels me and the voices that reassure me I’m on the right path. And it’s not like these voices have always been sweet or flattering about my writing. In fact, they’ve often been my harshest critics — and that’s exactly what I count on them for. If they had been all praise and no truth, they wouldn’t have genuinely cared about my stories. The fact that they call out the nonsense when they see it, right to my face, is what makes their feedback invaluable.
These voices exist so I can learn, improve, and grow as a writer. Every author needs someone like that — someone who won’t sugarcoat things. Don’t keep your critics at a distance. Love your critics, writers — because they’re the ones who keep you honest.
Writing is, at its heart, a solitary act. We sit with our thoughts, emotions, and half-finished ideas, trying to string them into something coherent, something that will mean something to someone else. But that solitude can often blur the line between confidence and self-doubt. On some days, the words flow like magic; on others, they feel like an impossible task. And it’s on those “other” days that the warmth of a coffee cup and the warmth of a kind word feel equally essential.
Coffee, for many authors, is more than caffeine — it’s a companion. It’s the gentle nudge that says, “You can do this. Just one more page.” The simple act of brewing it, holding it, sipping it between thoughts — it creates a rhythm, a ritual that grounds creativity. It’s almost poetic: the steam rising from the cup as ideas rise in your mind.
But even more powerful than caffeine is encouragement. Writing demands vulnerability. We put a piece of ourselves into every story, every poem, every character. To have even one person read your words and say, “You’re good at this,” is sometimes all the validation a writer needs to keep going. That single sentence can silence the inner critic that whispers, “You’re wasting your time.”
It doesn’t have to come from an editor, a fan, or a critic. It could be a friend, a partner, or even a stranger who stumbled upon your work. The number doesn’t matter. The sincerity does. Because in the vast, uncertain landscape of creativity, that one voice can feel like a lighthouse.
Every author’s journey is built on persistence, passion, and yes — plenty of self-doubt. But with a cup of coffee by your side and one person who believes in your words, you find the courage to write again. And again.
In the end, maybe that’s all a writer really needs: the comfort of coffee and the courage that comes from being seen. Everything else — the sales, the awards, the recognition — comes later.
Because before the world believes in your stories, someone — just one person — has to believe in you.
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