Ireland is known for beautiful, rolling green hills, Guinness, step dancing, Saint Patrick, and of course, wise (and often humorous) proverbs. These timeless Irish sayings are meant to help you navigate life, but the research experts at Writer’s Relief have made an important discovery! You’ll find some golden writing advice and tips hidden within these memorable Irish quotes.

Writing Advice Found In Classic Irish Sayings

“May the wind always be at your back.”

This Irish blessing hopes that the universe will push you forward toward your goals rather than hold you back. While a successful writing career requires hard work and constantly honing your skills, a little luck (and some help from the universe) doesn’t hurt either! Here’s how to make your own writing luck.

“A good laugh and a long sleep are the two best cures.”

Did you know that one of the most productive things a writer can do is take a break? When you take a purposeful break, it supports your mental health and can help with writer’s block. Take the advice found in this Irish saying and watch your favorite sitcom, listen to a comedy podcast, or just take a nap to improve your writing while you sleep!

“Don’t be breaking your shin on a stool that’s not in your way.”

Sometimes, your biggest obstacle to writing, submitting, and getting published—is you. Do you constantly revise, rewrite, and redo your work without ever completing it? In trying to create the perfect story, essay, poem, or book, some writers overwork and overthink every detail. Or, paralyzed by indecision, they never submit their writing out of fear that it’s just not “good enough.”

Perhaps you might feel you aren’t good enough. If you don’t consider yourself a “real writer,” you might use that as a reason to not make submissions. But whether or not you’re published—you’re a writer! It’s time to stop rewriting, stop procrastinating, and start sending out your work for publication.

Check out our 7-day plan to make you a more confident writer with better self-esteem.

“You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.”

Has your muse ever given you a nudge at the oddest time—like when you’re cleaning the house or you’re just about to fall asleep? Don’t let this inspiration slip away! These new plot points, story scenes, lines of dialogue or poetry, or other writing fragments need to come out of your head and get onto the pages of your writing journal or current project. Later, when you’re looking for writing prompts or a new direction, these golden sparks of creativity will provide options to explore further. You might even take your idea from a tiny nugget to a full novel.

“There’s no need to fear the wind if your haystacks are tied down.”

This Irish proverb reminds us to be prepared! If your work is well-written, properly prepared, and sent to the right markets, it’s less likely your submissions will be simply tossed aside. Be sure your writing submission has been accurately proofread and formatted to publishing industry standards before sending to literary editors or agents.

You can also withstand the winds of rejection by having a well-targeted submission strategy. The research experts at Writer’s Relief can help ensure your work ends up in the right hands! We’ll target 25+ of the markets best suited to your writing style and genre and boost your odds of getting an acceptance. Learn more about our services for writers and submit your work to our Review Board today!

And here’s our wish for you, writer: “Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you.”

Whether you want to take the traditional publishing route or are thinking about self-publishing, Writer’s Relief can help. Give us a call, and we will point you in the right direction!

Question: What’s your favorite Irish saying?