The wonderful author Carol Lynch Williams shared last week that her agent told her to Be Brave Every Day. I loved that.
REMAKE, my current WIP (finished drafting, in revisions...who-hoo!) is all about being brave, so I've been thinking about this a lot lately.
As writers, we need to be brave almost every step of the way:
-decide to write
-begin to write
-finish a book
-share it with others
-be willing to accept criticism
-make needed changes
-query
-plow through rejections
-keep on writing
This is as far as I've gotten, but even after landing an agent, there's still revisions, editor rejections, more revisions, and after the book is published...reader responses-yikes!
This industry is not for the faint of heart, and I know my skin has grown much thicker through the years. So here's to all you writers out there in whatever stage you might be in. I know it's hard, but I'll be right there along with you being brave.
Everyday.
What have you been brave about in your life? Inspire me. :)
12 comments:
As sad as it sounds, filing for divorce. Coming from a christian background it was the hardest decision I have ever made and with three kids to consider one I'd put off for several years.
Sometimes you just have to walk forward and accept the inevitable.
I am, a big fat chicken. Don't think I will ever develop that much needed thick skin you need to survive in the writing business.
But I did, adopt the Nike motto, to suit my needs. It reads like this: Just Do It, Afraid!
So that's how I do everything, absolutely terrified. But no matter how I'm feeling inside, I force myself to just do it, anyway. :)
I think you have to be brave to be a writer and put yourself out there!
I could write a book about being brave, facing adversity ;)
I love love love Carol! She's wonderful!
And I think writing definitely requires you to be brave....I've gone through the query process and found an agent, but for me, getting a rejection from an editor has been the worst rejection by far.
I don't know if I could be brave about accepting criticism. =) You are super brave for doing this. From what we've been able to read so far, you're an awesome writer. I guess I'm brave when it comes to not knowing what will happen next in life. It really stinks not knowing but I've been able to get through it.
I'm thinking that many of us writers are masochistic to put ourselves through this!
12 years of rejection...but it all paid off in the end. I needed to get my teeth kicked in.
Being a writer requires kevlar armor for skin. If you don't put your work out there, you'll never get recognized. Putting work out often means being told it isn't good enough.
I believe every rejection means I'm one closer to the acceptance letter. Granted I don't know how many rejections I'm destined for. But I like a mystery :-)
I think, in order to be brave, you have to be afraid of something first. In that case, I am the bravest person ever! :-) But really, I'm more afraid of NOT completing the writing journey than doing what it takes to complete it.
I agree Ilima. We need to be incredibly brave for this writing thing.
Today I have a nasty inner critic that's rearing its ugly head about a scene I'm trying to write.
Thanks for posting this, Ilima, and for reminding me to be brave. I'm going to ignore the critic and get to work, even though it would be so much easier to sit on the couch and eat copious amounts of chocolate.
Martin-It's hard to think of much else to be braver for.
Jaybird-good for you for doing it anyway!
Angie-for sure!
Jen-it's what makes us stronger, that's for sure.
Kate-I love Carol too. She's so supportive.
Miki-you inspire me too! kiss that baby for me.
Jay-12 years. Way to go. That's the inspiration I needed.
Stephanie-One step closer. I like that.
Katie-You are the bravest person ever...but not because you're afraid. :)
Kelley-Writers are crazy.
Jer-kick that critic out the door! good for you.
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