Today's quote is from a post one of my writing buddies made at MiG Writers on disappointment:
"But there are politics, bad timing and subjective judges and sometimes things simply don’t go in our favor. It’s not a reflection of us..."
It's so important to remember that in the writing business,
there are a lot of things beyond your control. If you haven't yet gotten where
you want to be, it's not necessarily because you've written a bad story or a
bad query letter or because you're a terrible writer. It might just be bad
timing. So what I can I do to not get dragged down by disappointment?
I can't just have faith that someone will
"discover" my talent. I'm going to do everything in my power to reach
my goals.
- I'm going to keep writing new stories and sending them out on submission.
- I'm going to keep reading good books and learning from other writers.
- And I'm going to keep learning about how to be a better writer and how to promote myself and my writing in this crazy changing business.
So true about the lack of control Andrea. And doing the things you say is the best way to handle it.
ReplyDeleteIt's what I try to do, Natalie. Though sometimes it's hard not to feel disappointed. I try to remember I always have another story to write.
DeleteAw, shucks, Andrea. Thanks for the shout out. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou know, I have this scene in my WIP where one character is freaking out because a big thunderstorm is coming. She doesn't know what to do and, obviously, there's nothing she *can* do except make a plan. And that act of making a plan/gathering flashlights and supplies and so forth is what gives her a sense of control and calms her fears. That saying "Do your best and let go of the rest" is so true in writing.
I have no doubt your time is right around the corner.
Thanks for the encouragement, Car. It is so true that sometimes just doing something, whether it's a little revising, outlining, writing a synopsis, can help keep me focused on my writing goals.
DeleteLike you, I want to keep writing, keep reading and keep learning--being proactive is a good way to deal with disappointment. I also remind myself to keep having fun in the process :-) That helps us to keep showing up!
ReplyDeleteKenda, I love to learn and improve. It's one of the reasons why I like writing so much.
DeleteTiming is everything. I know it's hard not to be discouraged but you're a great writer with great ideas and a genuine love for your audience. Keep moving forward because one day, our pushing through disappointment will be our success!
ReplyDeleteKate, I think you're right! There's always another story to write and it might be the "tipping point".
DeleteGood for you, Andrea! It's great to have a manifesto like this. Reading a lot, writing a lot, and studying and working on your craft: that's what we should all do. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joanne. Lucky for me, I enjoy all of these things so it's fun, even though there are disappointments along the way.
DeleteThere's something very freeing about letting go of the parts we can't control. It all goes back to read, write, and study -- which is what brought me to this gig in the first place. :)
ReplyDeleteMe too - I love to learn more, whether it's through reading or writing. I try to let go of those "beyond my control" things, and it's something I need to do more of in all areas of my life.
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