In the world of computers, WYSIWYG stands for “what you see is what you get.” It refers to an editing system or interface where the content you see onscreen shows exactly how it will look when it’s printed or displayed elsewhere.

But WYSIWYG can also refer to the writing life as a whole. What you see is truly what you get.

Do you see opportunities everywhere? Do you see people to connect with, people you can learn from? Do you see a world filled with publishing options and technology that lets you share and sell your work to anybody in the world with an internet connection? Do you see sparks of creativity in your life every day through the books you read, people you meet, and the places you go?

Or on the flip side …

Do you see negative people who are only out to get you? Do you see everybody else getting opportunities while you have to fight for scraps? Do you feel shut down by other people who don’t like your work? Do you feel pressed for time and can never seem to get any writing done? Do you feel angry and upset by everything happening in the world?

What you see is what you get. If you see possibilities for success, that’s what you’ll get. If you see a world full of obstacles and frustration, that’s also what you’ll get.

Charles Dickens was right when he began his classic book A Tale of Two Cities with these words: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …”

Everybody around you may feel like it’s the worst of times, but you can choose to see something different. It is truly the best of times if you’re a writer who is willing to put in the work and take advantage of the amazing opportunities we have today.