I'm posting at ACA this Monday about when life hands you lemons--write about it. Come check it out.
Happy Writing!
http://www.cheriemarks.blogspot.com
http://www.cheriemarks.com
Into the Fire releasing October 5, 2011 from The Wild Rose Press
Showing posts with label Ass Cheek Angels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ass Cheek Angels. Show all posts
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
My Failures Have Served Me Well
I LOVE Top Chef, probably to an obsessive degree. My children know it as "Mommy's Show." But, due to circumstances beyond my control, I didn't get to see the finale until yesterday (thank you, DVR). I won't give anything away, but one thing Richard Blais, one of the final competitors, said toward the beginning of the show stuck with me. He said, "My failures have served me well."
Let me give a quick history, so you can understand where I'm going with this. You see, he competed on the show once before. This season was an Allstars show, and the competitors were all the great contestants who didn't win the title of Top Chef during their seasons. Hands down, Richard was the favorite to win during his season, but, in his words, "choked."
But, rather than go in with the attitude that he had to redeem himself (although there was a little bit of that), he really tried to focus on cooking his food, his way, and admitted losing the first time had given him an insight that his other competitors didn't have. He'd had an "epic fail" the others hadn't, and his drive and focus were unwavering this time around.
So, have your failures served you well? Mine have, and they still do. I wrote a manuscript that nobody but my mom liked. I've entered contests where I didn't even come close to finaling. I've been rejected quite a few times, by agents and editors. But from each of these experiences, I learned something and grew as a writer. I know my failures aren't over. There will be many more, but my attitude toward them has changed.
In this month's RWR, J. R. Ward discusses something similar. She is open and honest about how devastating it was when her publisher dropped her years ago. It felt like the end of the world, and she tells about crying in the parking lot of Whole Foods. But she didn't stay down. She started writing The Black Dagger Brotherhood series to do something new and different--to reinvent herself. It was perfect timing and great writing. Without a doubt, you probably know the rest of the story. She is now Bestselling Author J. R. Ward.
So what does this mean for you and me? How can we learn from our failures? Start small. Find someone you trust to read your work. Let them give an honest criticism, and get ready for the feeling of failure. But don't let it discourage. Let it encourage. Sure, there will be things to fix, but if you really are trying for a writing career, now you're one step closer because you've learned something about the craft of writing. Rather than shut yourself off from failure, embrace it. Find the kernal of goodness in what didn't work with your writing, and make it better.
Agents and editors want to see your best work, but in the end, it's all subjective, so the more eyes that see your writing before you send it out, the better you'll be able to weather a few problems along the way and make your story the best it can possibly be.
Happy Writing!
If you liked what you read, please "follow" me here and at my other blogs: http://www.cheriemarks.blogspot.com/
http://www.asscheekangels.blogspot.com/
Let me give a quick history, so you can understand where I'm going with this. You see, he competed on the show once before. This season was an Allstars show, and the competitors were all the great contestants who didn't win the title of Top Chef during their seasons. Hands down, Richard was the favorite to win during his season, but, in his words, "choked."
But, rather than go in with the attitude that he had to redeem himself (although there was a little bit of that), he really tried to focus on cooking his food, his way, and admitted losing the first time had given him an insight that his other competitors didn't have. He'd had an "epic fail" the others hadn't, and his drive and focus were unwavering this time around.
So, have your failures served you well? Mine have, and they still do. I wrote a manuscript that nobody but my mom liked. I've entered contests where I didn't even come close to finaling. I've been rejected quite a few times, by agents and editors. But from each of these experiences, I learned something and grew as a writer. I know my failures aren't over. There will be many more, but my attitude toward them has changed.
In this month's RWR, J. R. Ward discusses something similar. She is open and honest about how devastating it was when her publisher dropped her years ago. It felt like the end of the world, and she tells about crying in the parking lot of Whole Foods. But she didn't stay down. She started writing The Black Dagger Brotherhood series to do something new and different--to reinvent herself. It was perfect timing and great writing. Without a doubt, you probably know the rest of the story. She is now Bestselling Author J. R. Ward.
So what does this mean for you and me? How can we learn from our failures? Start small. Find someone you trust to read your work. Let them give an honest criticism, and get ready for the feeling of failure. But don't let it discourage. Let it encourage. Sure, there will be things to fix, but if you really are trying for a writing career, now you're one step closer because you've learned something about the craft of writing. Rather than shut yourself off from failure, embrace it. Find the kernal of goodness in what didn't work with your writing, and make it better.
Agents and editors want to see your best work, but in the end, it's all subjective, so the more eyes that see your writing before you send it out, the better you'll be able to weather a few problems along the way and make your story the best it can possibly be.
Happy Writing!
If you liked what you read, please "follow" me here and at my other blogs: http://www.cheriemarks.blogspot.com/
http://www.asscheekangels.blogspot.com/
Monday, February 28, 2011
Blogging Elsewhere
I'm blogging on the imperfect hero at ACA this week. Follow this link and come on over where we write by the seat of our pants:
http://www.asscheekangels.blogspot.com/
Happy writing!
http://www.asscheekangels.blogspot.com/
Happy writing!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Blogging Elsewhere
This week I am blogging at asscheekangels.blogspot.com. It is a group of ladies I met after the RITA's at RWA 2010. They are wonderful, and I am so excited to be part of the blog rotation.
Despite the name (you had to be there), the blog is about writers and their careers from inspiration to publication.
Happy Writing!
Despite the name (you had to be there), the blog is about writers and their careers from inspiration to publication.
Happy Writing!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Not Going to Let it Get Me Down
I am soooo close to finishing my short, and although there will be a few holes to patch and some characterization to perfect, I still like the story and can relate to the characters. I am now sitting at around 12,000 words, and I'm at the stage that I can feel the ending, so all I want to do is write until the characters get their HEA.
My motivator? The DAY JOB. The harder it gets, the more I need to write. Writing is like the one thing I have complete control over, and I love to put on my headphones, crank the IPOD, and let my fingers fly over the keyboard (easier said than done). But, at the end of every day, I get so excited to sit down at my computer and push a little further. So, what motivates you the most to get BICHOK (butt in chair, hands on keyboard)?
Oh, and on the 27th, I will be blogging at www.asscheekangels.com. It is a wonderful group of ladies that I cracked up with after the RITA's at RWA. Many different geographic locations, age ranges, and writing stages were represented. Jennifer Jakes was one of the Golden Heart Nominees. Anyway, one of the hiiiilarious stories led to the name of the blog. I have had something brewing in my head for awhile, and whew! I need the brain space, so check it out later this week.
Happy writing!
My motivator? The DAY JOB. The harder it gets, the more I need to write. Writing is like the one thing I have complete control over, and I love to put on my headphones, crank the IPOD, and let my fingers fly over the keyboard (easier said than done). But, at the end of every day, I get so excited to sit down at my computer and push a little further. So, what motivates you the most to get BICHOK (butt in chair, hands on keyboard)?
Oh, and on the 27th, I will be blogging at www.asscheekangels.com. It is a wonderful group of ladies that I cracked up with after the RITA's at RWA. Many different geographic locations, age ranges, and writing stages were represented. Jennifer Jakes was one of the Golden Heart Nominees. Anyway, one of the hiiiilarious stories led to the name of the blog. I have had something brewing in my head for awhile, and whew! I need the brain space, so check it out later this week.
Happy writing!
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