AWASH IN A SEA OF CHANGE
We all go through changes, some good, some...not so much. We begin new relationships or end old ones. We get a promotion at work or move to a different company. Some of us must pull up roots and move to a larger (or smaller) home or pack up and move across the country for work or family. These changes can be exciting and open new vistas in our lives but they can also be stressful, painful and cause an emotional upheaval that reflects on all we do.
As writers, sometimes we embrace the changes and draw from them, ideas for new works. A contract from a publisher sends us to the moon, validating our existence in the literary world. A rejection sends us to the pits of despair. We are unworthy to breath the air of our published idols and friends.
It's a rocky road we travel and some of us get lost along the way. A rejection doesn't mean you are a bad writer and a contract doesn't make you the next Hemingway. Beware the pitfalls of either fork in your road. Have confidence in your abilities to weave a story, but remember there is always room for improvement. Many have traveled this road before you.
The piece one editor may reject, the next may adore. When your latest masterpiece releases, celebrate the joy of it's birth, but do not forget all the people who helped get it past conception. All those who critiqued and encouraged you deserve your gratitude. Help them as they helped you. Some may attain a place in the ranks of "published author," while others may not. Rejoice with those who do, but don't disdain those who do not. Some are luckier than others.
Writing, like life, is a crap shoot. None of us know how the dice will fall. We all have our highs and lows but we must soldier on, striving to do our best. Success won at the expense of others is a hollow victory. Don't let your triumphs go to your head. No one likes a diva. Don't be a whiner and lay the blame of your failures on others. You alone, are responsible for your life. It's up to you to make it the one you want.
As writers, sometimes we embrace the changes and draw from them, ideas for new works. A contract from a publisher sends us to the moon, validating our existence in the literary world. A rejection sends us to the pits of despair. We are unworthy to breath the air of our published idols and friends.
It's a rocky road we travel and some of us get lost along the way. A rejection doesn't mean you are a bad writer and a contract doesn't make you the next Hemingway. Beware the pitfalls of either fork in your road. Have confidence in your abilities to weave a story, but remember there is always room for improvement. Many have traveled this road before you.
The piece one editor may reject, the next may adore. When your latest masterpiece releases, celebrate the joy of it's birth, but do not forget all the people who helped get it past conception. All those who critiqued and encouraged you deserve your gratitude. Help them as they helped you. Some may attain a place in the ranks of "published author," while others may not. Rejoice with those who do, but don't disdain those who do not. Some are luckier than others.
Writing, like life, is a crap shoot. None of us know how the dice will fall. We all have our highs and lows but we must soldier on, striving to do our best. Success won at the expense of others is a hollow victory. Don't let your triumphs go to your head. No one likes a diva. Don't be a whiner and lay the blame of your failures on others. You alone, are responsible for your life. It's up to you to make it the one you want.
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