Monday, March 19, 2012

WISE WORDS

I received a much needed email from a writing friend. I wanted to use this post to share her wisdom with you, in the hope it may help you in times of doubt:

"This writing life is very much a roller-coaster. The ‘quiet times’ do lead to all sorts of questions and doubts unfortunately, but we all go through that no matter how many sales under the belt. At times like that all you can do is focus on the writing itself and the love of writing itself, enjoy that feeling of putting The End on a new story. Whatever you do, don’t doubt yourself please.

Regarding not knowing why stories don’t get selected, I’ve got stories with an editor that I think are just perfect for that particular mag and yet they don’t get snapped up and I’m not sure why either. And the ones that do sell I can’t work out why those, and not the other ones that I think are as good, or even better. At another mag it’s the same. I never ever have any idea what will sell. A sale this week to them I was totally shocked by (I didn’t think the story had a chance). So really, you can only go crazy trying to work out editors minds. Write, send, forget. Sales will come."

Keep writing....

27 comments:

  1. Very wise words from your friend, Diane! X

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    1. Hi Amanda, thanks for stopping by and leaving a commment. x

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  2. I totally agree with the advice in your friend's e-mail. Don't bother trying to figure out why stories are rejected or accepted (as long as you've followed the guidelines). Just keep banging stuff out and be happy when it sells.

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    1. Hello Dream it, and welcome to my blog. I like your comment - well said! :-)

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  3. This is really helpful advice. I've got a couple of short stories and am plucking up the courage to send them. Somewhere.

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    1. Thank you helen. Sending you courage vibes..now, just do it and send those stories out. You may be in for a pleasant surprise :-)

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  4. This is really helpful advice. I've got a couple of short stories and am plucking up the courage to send them. Somewhere.

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  5. What a lovely email and great advice x

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    1. It was an email I really needed Teresa. I just have to remember to refer to this advice when those horrid doubts creep in. x

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  6. Your friend is very wise!

    Editors recieve many more stories than they can use so there must be times when they reject perfectly good submissions due to lack of space. I try to remember that everytime I get an envelope with my own handwriting on the front or a 'thank you for giving us the chance to read' email.

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    1. You are absolutely right Patsy. I guess I just got to keep on writing and keep on submitting and never give up!

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  7. Wise words indeed, Diane. Thanks for sharing them. It's strange how we can't tell which work will be accepted, but it does hsow we just have to keep writing and sending it out!

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    1. You are welcome Rosemary. Yes, so true... 'keep writing, keep sending' x

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  8. Great advice and well worth listening to. It really is impossible to tell what editors are looking for, and not worth fretting about :o)

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    1. Hi Karen, yes I must listen to that advice and re-read it when I do fret. You're right you know, it isn't worth fretting about - that doesn't do me any good I end up in a tizzy and can't write a damn word when I get like that. Thanks Karen x

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  9. That is great advice, and so true. All you can do is write the stories and make them as good as you can, then send them out into the world knowing you've done your best writing.

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  10. Thank you for sharing this. I think this not only applies to writing, but following your dreams... it's always a gamble, you never know when you will get to your destination, but you still have to do it, so that you may get to the end of your story. Thank you again. You have a very inspiring blog and I look forward to reading through it. :)

    Have a lovely day,
    Currie

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    1. Thank you for your lovely comment. I appreciate that. Yes, you made such a good point that these wise words can be applied to following our dreams. You have a lovely day too. :-)

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  11. Oh - you are sooooo right. Who knows what makes one thing fly and another not?? As you say, it's a matter of keeping on keeping on!

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    1. Hello Pat, thank you for your comment. Yes, I'm determined to stop asking why and torturing myself trying to work out why this got published and that didn't. I'm going to keep writing to the best of my ability and what happens, happens. :-)

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  12. You're correct about this.

    I've given you an award. Please stop by my blog for details.

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    1. Aww thank you Richard. Will go over to your blog for a visit :-)

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  13. "focus on the writing itself and the love of writing"

    Amen to that, Diane.

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    1. Thanks Patsy... I think, lol. My memory is failing me right now.. tagged? Ok will go over to your blog and hopefully that triggers the ol' memory hey! x

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