Michelle McLean's Blog, page 44
January 10, 2011
When A Little Becomes Too Much
So, I just finished reading the newest book in one of my favorite series. I loved it, as I've loved all the books, devoured it in a day and a half (only because I started reading it on a weekend and didn't have as many kid-free reading hours), it was as awesome as all the previous books and as all the future books will be (I'm sure).
However....
There were several instances in the book where some other books and movies were mentioned. I was amused at first, but then there was another reference (to another book), and then another one (this one to an older movie so they had to sort of explain it), and then another book (again, with too much explanation...though I suppose kids younger than me *coughcough* might need the explanation), and another, etc, etc. There were quite a few.
Now, it wasn't the fact that these other books were mentioned that bothered me. It's kind of funny the first time a rival series is mentioned. But mentioning two or three....eh. Kind of like telling the same joke over and over.
As for the movie, it was a very popular movie that came out in the 90s. I dunno...I figure if you have to have a line after the "punch line" explaining who was in the movie or what it was about, then it kind of kills the purpose of having it in, you know? Plus, I've heard you shouldn't put specific media references in for that exact reason. Because a decade from now, a kid reading your book won't know who Brad Pitt is or what kind of show Friends was, so the reference won't make sense.
Then again, the kids reading it the day it comes out might get it.
What do you think? Should you include specific media references or drop other book's names in your novel? Pros? Cons?
However....
There were several instances in the book where some other books and movies were mentioned. I was amused at first, but then there was another reference (to another book), and then another one (this one to an older movie so they had to sort of explain it), and then another book (again, with too much explanation...though I suppose kids younger than me *coughcough* might need the explanation), and another, etc, etc. There were quite a few.
Now, it wasn't the fact that these other books were mentioned that bothered me. It's kind of funny the first time a rival series is mentioned. But mentioning two or three....eh. Kind of like telling the same joke over and over.
As for the movie, it was a very popular movie that came out in the 90s. I dunno...I figure if you have to have a line after the "punch line" explaining who was in the movie or what it was about, then it kind of kills the purpose of having it in, you know? Plus, I've heard you shouldn't put specific media references in for that exact reason. Because a decade from now, a kid reading your book won't know who Brad Pitt is or what kind of show Friends was, so the reference won't make sense.
Then again, the kids reading it the day it comes out might get it.
What do you think? Should you include specific media references or drop other book's names in your novel? Pros? Cons?
January 8, 2011
Game Two Winner and Blog Chain Time!
First off.....congratulations to Game Two winner....
Toni Kerr!!!
Shoot me an email and I'll get your prize pack out to you (upon the book's release of course :D)
Second - my day on the blog chain :D
Our wonderful Sandra asked the question this round and she wanted to know:
What do you think your strengths and weaknesses as a writer are? Did you have to develop your strengths, or did they come naturally to you? How are you trying to overcome your weaknesses?
This one I had to think about. I mean, it's stuff I've thought of before. My weaknesses I'm pretty familiar with :D I love adverbs too much; I repeat things like crazy (even though I'm aware of this and try to watch for it); I take breaks that turn into month long vacations, that turn into several months long vacations (I really need to stop doing this...I might finish more than one book a year if I could reign it in...working on it :D); I don't have enough confidence in myself and my work at times (working on this one too).
How do I overcome them? Work, work, work, practice, practice, practice :) And being aware of what they are so I CAN work at them :)
My strengths....it's always so much easier to pick on the bad stuff - but, I think I'm pretty good at descriptions. Sometimes I put a little too much in there :) but for the most part, I think I do okay. I think my dialogue is pretty good - I get a lot of compliments on it.
I think one of my biggest strengths is sheer stubbornness.....I just don't give up. Sure, I get discouraged (a lot), and take breaks (many and far too long), and I teeter on the edge (I'm usually the one throwing the parties), but eventually I pull myself up by my quill straps and get back to it. Whether it's finishing a book, querying through hundreds of rejections, tackling a rough edit, or rewriting a book I just can't let go of, I'm pretty good at sticking with it.
Check out what our awesome Eric had to say yesterday and head to the lovely Amanda's blog tomorrow to see her answer :)
So what about you? What are your strengths and weaknesses?
Toni Kerr!!!
Shoot me an email and I'll get your prize pack out to you (upon the book's release of course :D)
Second - my day on the blog chain :D
Our wonderful Sandra asked the question this round and she wanted to know:
What do you think your strengths and weaknesses as a writer are? Did you have to develop your strengths, or did they come naturally to you? How are you trying to overcome your weaknesses?
This one I had to think about. I mean, it's stuff I've thought of before. My weaknesses I'm pretty familiar with :D I love adverbs too much; I repeat things like crazy (even though I'm aware of this and try to watch for it); I take breaks that turn into month long vacations, that turn into several months long vacations (I really need to stop doing this...I might finish more than one book a year if I could reign it in...working on it :D); I don't have enough confidence in myself and my work at times (working on this one too).
How do I overcome them? Work, work, work, practice, practice, practice :) And being aware of what they are so I CAN work at them :)
My strengths....it's always so much easier to pick on the bad stuff - but, I think I'm pretty good at descriptions. Sometimes I put a little too much in there :) but for the most part, I think I do okay. I think my dialogue is pretty good - I get a lot of compliments on it.
I think one of my biggest strengths is sheer stubbornness.....I just don't give up. Sure, I get discouraged (a lot), and take breaks (many and far too long), and I teeter on the edge (I'm usually the one throwing the parties), but eventually I pull myself up by my quill straps and get back to it. Whether it's finishing a book, querying through hundreds of rejections, tackling a rough edit, or rewriting a book I just can't let go of, I'm pretty good at sticking with it.
Check out what our awesome Eric had to say yesterday and head to the lovely Amanda's blog tomorrow to see her answer :)
So what about you? What are your strengths and weaknesses?
January 7, 2011
MAJOR Puzzle Hints and New Blog Features
Okay, this was supposed to go up at 7 this morning...but apparently it was saved as a draft instead of a scheduled post even though I hit Publish. Curse you blogger!!!
Anyhow...I promised you huge hints for the Game Two puzzle....here you go :D
The answer to number 1 is - resources
The three things I'm looking for, the three things that will help make writing an essay or paper easier are the answers to numbers 3 (starts with an "L"), 4 (which starts with an "o"), and 9 (starts with an "n").
Now go fill out the form! :D Contest ends tonight! (Click here for post that has the form)
So, seeing as how it's a new year, I'm going to add a few new features to the 'ol blog. Bring a bit of helpful substance back to the fun :) Tutor Tuesdays and Tip Thursdays will start up beginning next week. I'll share as many helpful hints, tips, secrets, and what have you, that I've learned over the years. And Thursdays I'll try and help out with some non-fiction goodness :) And of course, Fridays will be for our Funnies :)
This year is already off to a great start! I hope I can spread a few smiles and a little help along the way :)
Anyhow...I promised you huge hints for the Game Two puzzle....here you go :D
The answer to number 1 is - resources
The three things I'm looking for, the three things that will help make writing an essay or paper easier are the answers to numbers 3 (starts with an "L"), 4 (which starts with an "o"), and 9 (starts with an "n").
Now go fill out the form! :D Contest ends tonight! (Click here for post that has the form)
So, seeing as how it's a new year, I'm going to add a few new features to the 'ol blog. Bring a bit of helpful substance back to the fun :) Tutor Tuesdays and Tip Thursdays will start up beginning next week. I'll share as many helpful hints, tips, secrets, and what have you, that I've learned over the years. And Thursdays I'll try and help out with some non-fiction goodness :) And of course, Fridays will be for our Funnies :)
This year is already off to a great start! I hope I can spread a few smiles and a little help along the way :)
January 5, 2011
Game Two for Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers Release Celebration!
Sorry for the delayed post this morning....I got a bit distracted by a few shiny pretties that showed up with the nice FedEx man today :D Look, look, look!!!!
*happy sigh*
Okay! On to Game Two!!
For every essay I detail in the book, I tell my readers to do three things...three things that will make writing that dreaded essay much easier. This puzzle will give you the answer to those three things. Solve the puzzle and enter the answers in the form to enter the drawing for Game Two's prize! It's a crossword puzzle, so there are more answers than just the three of course, but the three answers you are looking for are three things that you actually do or make when you are preparing to write an essay or paper. I'll give you a bigger hint tomorrow if anyone needs one :D
So! Click HERE for the puzzle.
It should show up (if it doesn't, please let me know). Ignore the part on the bottom, just pay attention to the actual puzzle and clues. You should be able to copy and paste to Word or just hit print if you want to print it out.
Then enter the three correct answers in the form below and I'll draw a winner from all the entries :)
<p>Loading...</p>
Game Runs - from Wednesday Jan 5th through Saturday Jan 8th 11:59pm EST
Winner Announced - Sunday Jan 9th
Prize - Signed copy of Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers and various fun book swag including bookmarks, a mousepad, a calendar magnet, a few other fun things, and maybe a t-shirt (to be delivered once the book releases)
Bonus! All entrants receive an extra entry in the Blog Tour Grand Prize Drawing for an enormous prize basket of books, swag and goodies!
Have fun!!!!
*happy sigh*
Okay! On to Game Two!!
For every essay I detail in the book, I tell my readers to do three things...three things that will make writing that dreaded essay much easier. This puzzle will give you the answer to those three things. Solve the puzzle and enter the answers in the form to enter the drawing for Game Two's prize! It's a crossword puzzle, so there are more answers than just the three of course, but the three answers you are looking for are three things that you actually do or make when you are preparing to write an essay or paper. I'll give you a bigger hint tomorrow if anyone needs one :D
So! Click HERE for the puzzle.
It should show up (if it doesn't, please let me know). Ignore the part on the bottom, just pay attention to the actual puzzle and clues. You should be able to copy and paste to Word or just hit print if you want to print it out.
Then enter the three correct answers in the form below and I'll draw a winner from all the entries :)
<p>Loading...</p>
Game Runs - from Wednesday Jan 5th through Saturday Jan 8th 11:59pm EST
Winner Announced - Sunday Jan 9th
Prize - Signed copy of Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers and various fun book swag including bookmarks, a mousepad, a calendar magnet, a few other fun things, and maybe a t-shirt (to be delivered once the book releases)
Bonus! All entrants receive an extra entry in the Blog Tour Grand Prize Drawing for an enormous prize basket of books, swag and goodies!
Have fun!!!!
January 4, 2011
Game One Winner!!
Well, asking for writing horror stories from a group of writers was apparently not that great an idea LOL No one seems to have any essay horror stories, which I kind of find hilarious :D Sooooo, I took all the comments from that post, along with some people who filled out the form (but didn't have a story) and let Random.org do it's magic and the winner is.....
Jemi Fraser!!!
Congrats Jemi :D Email me at authormichellemclean(at)yahoo(dot)com and I'll get some fun swag and a copy of my book sent out to you (as soon as it's released, of course) :D
Stay tuned tomorrow for Game #2!
Jemi Fraser!!!
Congrats Jemi :D Email me at authormichellemclean(at)yahoo(dot)com and I'll get some fun swag and a copy of my book sent out to you (as soon as it's released, of course) :D
Stay tuned tomorrow for Game #2!
January 3, 2011
52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge
(Essay Horror Stories contest runs through 11:59 pm tonight! See yesterday's post to enter! Prizes include a signed copy of my book and fun swag including bookmarks, calender magnets, mouse pads, and more!)
Okay, so I toyed with the idea of joining the 100 book challenge for this year. But, I barely made the 52 book challenge last year and only did that because I counted a crit partner's novel (hey...it's not published but is under contract and it WAS a whole book....and a very good one too!)
So, this year I'm going with the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge again. Which I always find more difficult than I expect, because I know I read more than 52 books a year. But, I can't count rereads....I can only count books I've never read before.
I'm off to a great start! It's only Jan 3rd and I already have 1 and a half books read :D
Wanna join the challenge!?
I'll keep a running list of my books on my side bar like I did last year. I hope you join in!
Have you read any good books yet this year? I know we are only 3 days in but, come on.....I know some of you have!! :D
Winner of the Essay Horror Story contest will be posted tomorrow! And as entries are sparce (apparently the people I hang out with over here are a little strange like myself and enjoyed writing essays....though I forgot a few due dates and had a couple horror stories along the way) :D I'll probably just pull a winner from the comments left on that post (scroll down to Saturday's post for deets!) Details on our next game will go up Wednesday!
Okay, so I toyed with the idea of joining the 100 book challenge for this year. But, I barely made the 52 book challenge last year and only did that because I counted a crit partner's novel (hey...it's not published but is under contract and it WAS a whole book....and a very good one too!)
So, this year I'm going with the 52 books in 52 weeks challenge again. Which I always find more difficult than I expect, because I know I read more than 52 books a year. But, I can't count rereads....I can only count books I've never read before.
I'm off to a great start! It's only Jan 3rd and I already have 1 and a half books read :D
Wanna join the challenge!?
I'll keep a running list of my books on my side bar like I did last year. I hope you join in!
Have you read any good books yet this year? I know we are only 3 days in but, come on.....I know some of you have!! :D
Winner of the Essay Horror Story contest will be posted tomorrow! And as entries are sparce (apparently the people I hang out with over here are a little strange like myself and enjoyed writing essays....though I forgot a few due dates and had a couple horror stories along the way) :D I'll probably just pull a winner from the comments left on that post (scroll down to Saturday's post for deets!) Details on our next game will go up Wednesday!
January 1, 2011
Game One on the Book Release Countdown!!
Welcome to 2011!!!!
And let the games begin :D
Game One - Essay Horror Stories
Tell me your worst essay story ever - did you work for weeks on a paper just to have your dog eat it the morning it was due? Did you forget about your essay till the morning it was due so you had to scribble something on the back of your old math homework? Did you stay up all night to write it and then sleep through your class the next day? Ever turn in an awesome essay...only to get a less than awesome grade?
Lay it on me! The Best worst story wins :D
Contest Runs - from Saturday Jan 1st through Monday Jan 3rd 11:59pm EST
Winner Announced - Tuesday Jan 4th
Prize - Signed copy of Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers and various fun book swag (to be delivered once the book releases)
Bonus! All entrants receive an extra entry in the Blog Tour Grand Prize Drawing for an enormous prize basket of books, swag and goodies!
TO ENTER: Fill out this form and you are entered! :D
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Sooo...How did everyone's New Year's Eve go? Anything exciting going on for you in 2011?
And let the games begin :D
Game One - Essay Horror Stories
Tell me your worst essay story ever - did you work for weeks on a paper just to have your dog eat it the morning it was due? Did you forget about your essay till the morning it was due so you had to scribble something on the back of your old math homework? Did you stay up all night to write it and then sleep through your class the next day? Ever turn in an awesome essay...only to get a less than awesome grade?
Lay it on me! The Best worst story wins :D
Contest Runs - from Saturday Jan 1st through Monday Jan 3rd 11:59pm EST
Winner Announced - Tuesday Jan 4th
Prize - Signed copy of Homework Helpers: Essays and Term Papers and various fun book swag (to be delivered once the book releases)
Bonus! All entrants receive an extra entry in the Blog Tour Grand Prize Drawing for an enormous prize basket of books, swag and goodies!
TO ENTER: Fill out this form and you are entered! :D
<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>
Sooo...How did everyone's New Year's Eve go? Anything exciting going on for you in 2011?
December 31, 2010
Happy New Year's Everyone!!
May the New Year bring everyone health, happiness, success, and many, many shiny new words :) Happy New Year's!!!!
December 30, 2010
The Games Begin In Just a Few Short Days!
All right ya'all....we've got 20 days until my book comes out....and we're going to have some fun until the big release :D
In the tabs at the top of my blog, you'll find one for Book Release Games. This page contains all the info you'll need on all the upcoming games leading up to the day of my book release and Blog Tour kick off. The links and specifics of each game will be listed and active the day they begin, but you can find general info about what's coming up now.
Once the Blog Tour gets underway, I'll list links to all the stops on the Tour as well as links to any giveaways that may be occurring. PLUS, I'll have info about how you can enter the huge Grand Prize Giveaway at the end of the Tour.
So...what is the first game, you wonder? Well, my book is a guide book on how to write essays and term papers...those pesky, hair-pulling, unfortunately necessary and required aspect of every single English class in the country. If you are going to school or know someone who is, an essay is in your future, plain and simple. My book is design to make those assignments a little easier, because let's face it, papers can be a pain to write, even for those of us who write for fun!
So we'll have a few games centered around essays and writing with some fun books and swag as prizes.
The first game/contest kicks off this Saturday Jan 1st so don't forget to check back here for details!
In the meantime, I could use a little help. My awesome stepkids got me a Borders gift card for Christmas (do they know their step mama or what!!) Any suggestions on books? I've got a few in mind, but am having a LOT of trouble narrowing them down LOL What was your favorite book this year?
In the tabs at the top of my blog, you'll find one for Book Release Games. This page contains all the info you'll need on all the upcoming games leading up to the day of my book release and Blog Tour kick off. The links and specifics of each game will be listed and active the day they begin, but you can find general info about what's coming up now.
Once the Blog Tour gets underway, I'll list links to all the stops on the Tour as well as links to any giveaways that may be occurring. PLUS, I'll have info about how you can enter the huge Grand Prize Giveaway at the end of the Tour.
So...what is the first game, you wonder? Well, my book is a guide book on how to write essays and term papers...those pesky, hair-pulling, unfortunately necessary and required aspect of every single English class in the country. If you are going to school or know someone who is, an essay is in your future, plain and simple. My book is design to make those assignments a little easier, because let's face it, papers can be a pain to write, even for those of us who write for fun!
So we'll have a few games centered around essays and writing with some fun books and swag as prizes.
The first game/contest kicks off this Saturday Jan 1st so don't forget to check back here for details!
In the meantime, I could use a little help. My awesome stepkids got me a Borders gift card for Christmas (do they know their step mama or what!!) Any suggestions on books? I've got a few in mind, but am having a LOT of trouble narrowing them down LOL What was your favorite book this year?
December 28, 2010
More Things I Learned From My 7 Year Old
So much about surviving in this business depends on attitude. Rejections, critiques, reviews...they can all get to you if you don't have the right attitude about them. Keeping a positive attitude can be anything but easy.
But it is possible to have a positive attitude about anything if you choose. Something that was brought home to me as I watched my 7 year old open his presents on Christmas morning.
He's a cute kid on any morning, but this Christmas, he was so flippin adorable I almost couldn't stand it. He didn't stop smiling once, not even when things didn't really go the way he wanted.
For instance, he and his sister received desks (she for her art, he for his science and art projects). They were both very excited about them, and about the presents stacked on top. Now, these presents went along with their desks (they were filled with office supplies, crayons, markers, stickers, etc). And since they both always get in my computer paper for their projects, I thought having their very own stash of paper would be fun.
My son unwrapped his paper (it was the first present he unwrapped) and when he saw what it was, he said, "Oh you gotta be kidding! Paper?"
Now, he could have said this as "Oh you gotta be kidding, paper?" *insert sarcasm and exasperated eye roll*
But it was said with a laugh and a smile. He put the paper to the side (instead of chucking it across the room) and moved on. Some kids would have reacted with a much different attitude. (And he has since had a lot of fun with that paper, so it's all good) :D
My favorite moment of the day came a few minutes later as he was going through his stocking. He found a box of those storybook lifesavers (which Santa forgot he didn't care for). He held them up, smile from ear to ear, laugh in his voice, and said "Awesome I hate these!"
Now, I think he was saying "awesome" and then realized what it was and switched to "I hate these" - but either way, he didn't throw a fit, he didn't even look disappointed, he just put them down and moved on. And gave the rest of us a good belly laugh at the same time :D
It got me thinking. How do we react when something doesn't go our way in the writing world? What do we do when a request that looked so promising comes back with a rejection? What do we do when a manuscript we thought was clean and polished and ready to go comes back from a critiquing with so much red you can't see the white of the pages anymore?
I realize everyone is going to have a moment where they want to quit, hit delete and never write again, or shoot off a nasty email to the person who sent that rejection or critique. It's natural and totally understandable to feel supreme disappointment. We pour our hearts and souls into our work and it hurts when it doesn't make it.
You can't do anything about how other people view your work. You can't make an agent sign you, or make that editor buy your book, or make your crit partners send your manuscript with a big smiley face and a "PERFECT!" rating.
But you can politely thank your crit partners and move on, even if you cried yourself to sleep over their comments, even if you'll never use one of their suggestions. They took time away from their own work to read yours. Just say thank you with a smile on your face and move on.
Got a bad reject? STAY AWAY FROM THE REPLY BUTTON. Resist the urge to tell that agent/editor that they don't know what they are talking about. Maybe they don't. Maybe passing on your book will someday be the biggest regret they ever have. I'm sure the people who passed on Stephenie Meyer and JK Rowling and John Grisham give themselves a little kick every now and then.
But it doesn't matter. This business is subjective in the extreme. Everything depends on getting the right book in front of the right person at the EXACT right time - over and over again. You can't control any of that. But you can control your attitude when disappointment comes your way. You can have a minute of mourning for the shiny possibility that didn't pan out....and then put a smile on your face and move on. Bigger and better things will be waiting for you if you have a good attitude and keep on going. A bad attitude will burn a lot of bridges and wear you down.
If my son and thrown a fit over the paper or the unwanted candy, Christmas morning would have been miserable for everyone. There were much better presents under the tree, more delicious candy in the toe of his stocking. But he never would have found that out if he'd stopped unwrapping after the first disappointment (and to be honest, his attitude about that paper was so good I'm still not sure if he was disappointed or not).
Bottom line - you are going to wade through a lot of coal before you get to the good stuff. Having a bad attitude about it will make the journey miserable for you and everyone you are involved with. A good attitude will make even crappy candy and stacks of computer paper a lot more fun, and it will make finally finding that shiny new bike under the tree a much more rewarding moment.
I hope everyone had an amazing holiday! :) May our new year be filled with good attitudes and awesome rewards for hard work :)
But it is possible to have a positive attitude about anything if you choose. Something that was brought home to me as I watched my 7 year old open his presents on Christmas morning.
He's a cute kid on any morning, but this Christmas, he was so flippin adorable I almost couldn't stand it. He didn't stop smiling once, not even when things didn't really go the way he wanted.
For instance, he and his sister received desks (she for her art, he for his science and art projects). They were both very excited about them, and about the presents stacked on top. Now, these presents went along with their desks (they were filled with office supplies, crayons, markers, stickers, etc). And since they both always get in my computer paper for their projects, I thought having their very own stash of paper would be fun.
My son unwrapped his paper (it was the first present he unwrapped) and when he saw what it was, he said, "Oh you gotta be kidding! Paper?"
Now, he could have said this as "Oh you gotta be kidding, paper?" *insert sarcasm and exasperated eye roll*
But it was said with a laugh and a smile. He put the paper to the side (instead of chucking it across the room) and moved on. Some kids would have reacted with a much different attitude. (And he has since had a lot of fun with that paper, so it's all good) :D
My favorite moment of the day came a few minutes later as he was going through his stocking. He found a box of those storybook lifesavers (which Santa forgot he didn't care for). He held them up, smile from ear to ear, laugh in his voice, and said "Awesome I hate these!"
Now, I think he was saying "awesome" and then realized what it was and switched to "I hate these" - but either way, he didn't throw a fit, he didn't even look disappointed, he just put them down and moved on. And gave the rest of us a good belly laugh at the same time :D
It got me thinking. How do we react when something doesn't go our way in the writing world? What do we do when a request that looked so promising comes back with a rejection? What do we do when a manuscript we thought was clean and polished and ready to go comes back from a critiquing with so much red you can't see the white of the pages anymore?
I realize everyone is going to have a moment where they want to quit, hit delete and never write again, or shoot off a nasty email to the person who sent that rejection or critique. It's natural and totally understandable to feel supreme disappointment. We pour our hearts and souls into our work and it hurts when it doesn't make it.
You can't do anything about how other people view your work. You can't make an agent sign you, or make that editor buy your book, or make your crit partners send your manuscript with a big smiley face and a "PERFECT!" rating.
But you can politely thank your crit partners and move on, even if you cried yourself to sleep over their comments, even if you'll never use one of their suggestions. They took time away from their own work to read yours. Just say thank you with a smile on your face and move on.
Got a bad reject? STAY AWAY FROM THE REPLY BUTTON. Resist the urge to tell that agent/editor that they don't know what they are talking about. Maybe they don't. Maybe passing on your book will someday be the biggest regret they ever have. I'm sure the people who passed on Stephenie Meyer and JK Rowling and John Grisham give themselves a little kick every now and then.
But it doesn't matter. This business is subjective in the extreme. Everything depends on getting the right book in front of the right person at the EXACT right time - over and over again. You can't control any of that. But you can control your attitude when disappointment comes your way. You can have a minute of mourning for the shiny possibility that didn't pan out....and then put a smile on your face and move on. Bigger and better things will be waiting for you if you have a good attitude and keep on going. A bad attitude will burn a lot of bridges and wear you down.
If my son and thrown a fit over the paper or the unwanted candy, Christmas morning would have been miserable for everyone. There were much better presents under the tree, more delicious candy in the toe of his stocking. But he never would have found that out if he'd stopped unwrapping after the first disappointment (and to be honest, his attitude about that paper was so good I'm still not sure if he was disappointed or not).
Bottom line - you are going to wade through a lot of coal before you get to the good stuff. Having a bad attitude about it will make the journey miserable for you and everyone you are involved with. A good attitude will make even crappy candy and stacks of computer paper a lot more fun, and it will make finally finding that shiny new bike under the tree a much more rewarding moment.
I hope everyone had an amazing holiday! :) May our new year be filled with good attitudes and awesome rewards for hard work :)
