Are you one of those lucky people who traveled a smooth road to success? Whatever that success may be? Cool - thanks for stopping by - nothing to see here. I wish you continued success. Buh-bye.
Are you one of those people who have to work harder? Whatever it is that you do? You've been down the yellow brick road, the bumpy road, followed moldy breadcrumbs, hit a dead end or two, and know that a shortcut through the Gumdrop Mountains is a cruel joke disguised as a pretty portal to paradise? Maybe you've done the real-life version of Candyland, and just when you closed in on your personal castle of decadent dreams - freakin' Plumpy or meddling Mr. Mint snatched you up and forced you back like you were some kind of amateur? *raises hand* That's so me!
I've accepted that I have to work harder. I've accepted that easy doesn't mean better. No matter what, I refuse to give up. That personal desire to succeed drives me, fuels me, and makes me never take accomplishments for granted. I'm determined, perseverant, committed, and stubborn :) <--- hubby is probably nodding at this one.
What about you? Got what it takes to make it? Of course you do!
I've made craptastic choices. I've written stories that make my eyes bleed. I've sent in work that fell a few thousand miles short of my best. I've let people down, unintentionally. I've let myself down. I'm human with a boatload of flaws, but I learn from my mistakes. Not right away, because you know that would fall under easy and I already let you know upfront I don't do easy, but I do learn. And when I learn I like to share.
So I'm sharing that we have to take the stumbles and dodge Lollipop Woods on our journey to The Castle of Dreams. If you've suffered from a rejection of a story you thought had gingerbread cookie goodness written all over it - and now you want to drown your sorrows IN gingerbread cookie goodness - hey go ahead - it won't affect MY hips...oh, what I mean to say is...don't you dare surrender. Don't you dare drag yourself down to the molasses swamp. And don't you dare detour off to Lord Licorice's Lair. Flash a brave smile, brush off the cookie crumbs, maybe stop at Grandma's (I hear she makes awesome sauce) and get back on track.
Be accepting of mistakes. Remember that you hold all the tools you need to improve. Learn from the mistakes and apply them. Looking back can help ground you in the now, and it can ready you for the future. Make each day better. Keep working, striving, reaching, moving forward. Don't forget to pause and reward yourself for all that hard work. We all need to work harder at being good to ourselves and create healthy habits.
So you have to work harder? Big deal! You'll appreciate the end results more. You'll appreciate YOU more.
~Ann Cory
14 comments:
I love the game of Candyland because it meanders! Guess that's life. We very rarely take a straight path to anywhere worthwhile!
Great post! Extremely thought provoking. I must admit that you're right. I also must admit to not liking it all the time. Okay. That's a lie. I don't like it at all. It's hard work to work hard to achieve your dreams. :) Yes, in the end the rewards can be great, but getting there can really suck. Generally, it takes me a lil bit longer to admit that I've made a mistake than it should. Rather than search for a solution right away, I tend to whine and wallow in the icky, sticky molasses swamp of denial a bit longer than I should. But when denial fails *duh* and I finally decide to take an honest backward glance at the situation, I pull myself out of failure and begin again. Usually, with painful and embracing lessons learned, I eventually succeed.
Agreed!
Instant success may be sweet, but it lacks the subtle flavors. The difficult journey makes for a more palatable tale.
Sorry, just trying to stick with the metaphor :-)
Keith Gouveia
Rejections won't kill a writer. They just mean the publisher wasn't the right place to submit at the moment. Perseverance is a positive quality in this business as long as it's tempered with respect. Nice post.
*waves* Morning Julia :) Candyland will always be one of my favorites - especially love to play it when I'm sick, lol. Just when you think you're going to claim victory - you turn a card - or a life obstacle happens and poof - you're back at the beginning. Keeps things interesting :) Thanks for stopping by!! *hugs*
Agreed, Anonymous :) It's hard work to work hard to achieve - but it's so satisfying and rewarding when you get there. It may take longer, but it's worth it. Keep reaching forward! Glad you popped by :)
Love the metaphor Keith :) Of course you're a master of words! Thanks for bringing your bad self by :)
Much appreciated Liz! Rejections are more valuable than most authors think. Thrilled you came by and posted!!
:)
Hi Ann,
Wonderful post. I needed to see that this morning. ;))
You’re so right about getting back up and swiping off the cookie crumbs. In my case, it's much easier to just tackle one of the kids around here, snatch their Oreos, and go sit in the corner and sulk—particularly when deadlines approach, time is running out, and writer's block occurs.
If this business has taught me anything it’s about time management, something I’ve yet to master but will eventually. Hey, I had a good role model and learned a lot from you!
Destiny
Hi Ann,
Fraid the Candyland aspect of this left me scratching my head. Sigh. I'm that old and have no kids around to keep me up to date on these things. LOL
But, I so identify with everything you've said. No matter how hard I work at this so called career, I never quite make it. Something always happens, a publisher goes under, an editor quits, family issues come up, a deadline flies by and I've missed it, I plough head on into a block of some kind...or a dozen other things.
I know I can do it, sometimes. I have huge self-doubt on alternate Tuesdays...or more often. I adore the craft, yet it destroys me when I screw up and make the dumbest mistakes. Oh, I'm willing to admit I made them, but it sucks I did it.
Okay, I could write a book here. And, it'd be as boring as mud. Thank you for allowing me to vent.
Now off to do the re-write my publisher told me to do.
Hugs
Dear Ann
Very good work well written and great blog.I wish you a wonderful and sunny week
Cheers
Hi Destiny :) I hear you on time management - was actually a post I did last week because it has taken me a long time to get the hang of.
You're so busy I don't know how you do it all!
Pleased you stopped by!! *tackle hug*
Hey Jude!! Nothing you write could EVER be boring. Nu-uh no way. You're such an accomplished author :) You and I have both suffered through publishers closing...not fun...but we keep going, and that's the important part.
I've missed you!!
Thank you so much Mannouchka - that means so much to me to hear! :) Have a lovely day! So happy you stopped in :)
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