Friday, August 24, 2012

Cool Blog Quote: Sometimes It's Not You


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..."

 Carmella Van Vleet, Grace in the Face of Disappointment, MiGWriters, Monday August 13, 2012.

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.







12 comments:

  1. So true about the lack of control Andrea. And doing the things you say is the best way to handle it.

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    1. It'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.

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  2. Aw, shucks, Andrea. Thanks for the shout out. :-)

    You 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.

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    1. 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.

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  3. Like 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!

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    1. Kenda, I love to learn and improve. It's one of the reasons why I like writing so much.

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  4. Timing 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!

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    1. Kate, I think you're right! There's always another story to write and it might be the "tipping point".

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  5. Good 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!

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    1. Thanks, Joanne. Lucky for me, I enjoy all of these things so it's fun, even though there are disappointments along the way.

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  6. There'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. :)

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    1. Me 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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