The Cost of Perseverance

Perseverance. It’s that stick-with-it-ness that makes dappling writers move from okay to great, can help midlist writers become bestsellers, and drive writers to shove past their failures.

Let’s face it, if you are going to make it in this business (whether you go the indie or traditional route) you are going to need some major perseverance to hone your craft, get heard, and drill down to your core audience and basically, succeed.

<Rah-rah-rah. Insert Jean’s inspiring pep talk here.>

But what about the dark side of perseverance? Like any magic, there is a dark side.

For example, the other night I curled up against my husband who was watching “Flipped Out” on his tablet. This show features the one and only Russell Hanz of “Survivor” fame. The premise of the show is that Russell and his brother buy a house, fix it up, and then sell it within a month–hoping to make a tidy profit while they are at it, of course.

The interesting part for me was Russell–and not because he is an awesome multi-dimensional character, but because he was saying that he went from working man to famous overnight. He was one determined player on “Survivor” and went back for 3 seasons (meaning he had to leave his family for at least 6 weeks each time–and with no contact during those times) in hopes of gaining the title “Sole Survivor.” (Not to mention the million dollars.)

And all of this determination and perseverance to make that goal is trickling down and affecting his personal life. He and his wife were talking about splitting during “Flipped Out.” (She says he hasn’t been the same since his obsession with winning “Survivor.”) Being in the midst of a break up obviously is not easy. This ended up causing him friction in his business life and he ended up taking a week off the renos to get his life in order after his personal problems affected his judgement. (He shoved an officer and got himself cuffed and stuffed–into a squad car.)

The moral of the story is this: Perseverance in your quest for greatness is fabulous. You are going to need it. But sometimes you need to give your perseverance a rest and take a breather. Remember who is in your life and why. Find that balance.

If you are doubtful about taking a breather, note that many of the AQC (AgentQuery Connect) members who have taken a bit of time off come back renewed, with honed skills, a renewed purpose and drive… and often find their publishing success shortly there afterwards.

How about you? How do you balance the “good” and “evil” sides of perseverance?

Writing is the Easy Part

It’s all the other stuff that is difficult.

Think about it. You get over making a plot that works, a timeline that doesn’t have major flaws, characters that aren’t flat, dialogue that feels real, and even though there are tough spots, it is invigorating. It’s fun. Those are challenges you can surmount. They are within your control.

And then you get to the hard part.

If you agree–feel free to share this badge. Please don’t alter it.

Selling your writing.

Not just the polishing which takes time, but writing a perfect query letter to snazzle-dazzle an agent, crafting a synopsis that shows off you, your writing, your characters, your plot, and your story’s amazing standout sizzle.

You build a platform which is so dependent on hitting the right note to convince others to take precious time out of their lives and follow you, like you, comment on you, share you, etc. Creating brand ambassadors is no easy, quick, overnight happenstance. It takes time, dedication, and a slow and steady consistency that could try a monk.

Meanwhile you see others hitting their mark and accelerating past you. Reveling in success. And in some ways, it is yours too. It’s wonderful to see. You were there when it happened, you helped them with critiques or simply with a little cheerleading. They show you that it is possible. That dreams do come true.

But sometimes…

Sometimes it sucks. You know it. I know it. They know it. Sometimes you have a bad week where life beats you up, kicks you around, rubs dirt in your eyes, and makes it difficult to even meet your most basic goals or emotional needs.

You want to cry. You want to feel sorry for yourself. You want to tell the world they’ve forgotten about you and that they are missing out on something big. That it’s not fair.

But you. Must. Not. I repeat: You. Must. Not.

The Internet is forever. What is posted one day and deleted the next isn’t necessarily so. Alexa has a wayback machine, Google has a searchable cache. Think screenshots. People quoting, copying, sharing. Think before you post. Now and for always. And especially if you one day dream of becoming a “public” figure in some way shape or form. This even affects people looking for jobs these days–employers Google candidates. So be careful! If you have to vent, tell someone you trust in real life, not on a public, online forum.

Also remember if you whine and moan and carry on to your following you will be branded a bitter, jaded, what-have-you and that will be it. One day of sharing your deepest, diamond-hard angst and railing against the unfairness of the universe will break that carefully built house of cards faster than aiming a fan at it.

Have faith my friends. Know that the universe knows when it is the right time for you. Be encouraged. You can do it. You are not alone. Share your encouragement here.

Too Much of a Good Thing is a Terrible Thing to Waste

Sometimes, one ends up with too much of a good thing and has to trim the cupboards so things don’t get rank, forgotten, or go to waste.

As we speak (write and read), I have ten tubs of ice cream in the freezer. Woot! And this is after finishing off two. Darn those grocery people putting the good stuff on sale all winter! I’m buying it faster than I can eat it! And the problem is that some of it is getting a bit, well, ice crystally. And you CAN’T let ice cream go to waste! So, what to do? Eat!

This ice-cream cone has nothing on me!

On the career side of things, I have a similar problem. Currently, I have many first drafts kicking around waiting to be edited as well as stories half-written and abandoned. See, the problem is that while editing stories, I need a break. So what do I do? I treat myself to writing a new story. (Or I have this brilliant story idea and HAVE to write it RIGHT NOW!) But then life intercedes, or I go back to the edits and the story ends up sitting. So, over the past few years, I’ve ended up with many beloved stories that aren’t ‘quite there’ yet.

And instead of a freezer full of ice-creamy goodness, I have a hard drive full of storyline goodness. All very, very tempting. But you can’t be a story pig, because there is only so much time in the day. So what do you do?

That’s where I am right now. I’m ready to dive back into my stories… but which one!?

Do I work on the one that is ‘most ready’ and get it up to snuff? Do I continue working on the story that is in the literary agent showcase over in WEbook’s Page to Fame contest in case anyone wants to see it? Do I play with the kids’ story I was working on a few months ago?

Choices… choices.

Details, Details, Details

You know the expression, details, details, details. It’s often expressed with a slight eye roll and blase attitude. Well, I’ve been thinking about details lately and those slight nuances between people, countries, etc. Maybe it’s all the travel I’ve done this summer. Or maybe it’s related to my curiosity as a writer.

There was a time where I shrugged my shoulders at details believing they were unimportant. Besides, who cares? I could make those up. I was a writer after all. I could extrapolate and get away with it. I mean, you can’t experience everything and that research takes time! Time away from writing.

Now I think differently. The correct detail in the right place can bring a whole scene to a truth that can drive at the reader. It can make something really work. Or more importantly, not work. For example, mentioning baby wipes in your 1940s novel when they weren’t invented until the 1970s. Yeah, that’s just being lazy and will get your ass kicked.

That’s right. Time travel, baby! Yeah!

A week ago we went to Disney World. Having been to Disneyland, I figured I could extrapolate what Disney World would be like. And then I went. Ha! There is that false sense of ‘I can imagine anything’ popping up.

I couldn’t extrapolate the details of Disney World, Florida, or even several, specific travel details (even though I usually step foot in the US at least once a year). Even the way Disney theme parks have evolved in the past 20 years made my detail sensor step back and say, “Well, now. We’d better take an extra look at this.”

The small details like the way sweat beaded up on the insides of my wrists at 5:30 at night while dining outdoors (I didn’t even know my wrists could do that), the way rules for passenger conduct in buses and airplanes, etc, in the US are emphasized first and foremost that this is a law! What if I had written a story about a gal who flew to Florida in August and she didn’t even sweat after 3PM? What if she had checked her bags WITHOUT charge for her flight on United Airlines? Oh, how that would have made American readers howl at my naivety/stupidity/lack of knowledge. Kind of like that check-in agent come to think of it….

And most of all, I would not have realized just what a flirt Mickey and Minnie are! My goodness. No wonder everyone loves them, they are a complete hoot.

I’m thinking I might set my next novel in Italy and what I’ve learned from this latest trip is that I’d better go immerse myself in the details of Italy. What do you think?

Curious Writers

I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon as I get more and more into this whole ‘writer thing.’

What might that be, you ask?

Are you curious, I ask back. If you are, it’s quite fitting as what I have noticed is an increased curiosity. Yes, that’s right, I’m now more curious than the cat.

I find I go into situations seeking tidbits I can pull into my writing or tuck away for later. Like what someone’s house looks like and how it reflects their personality–or doesn’t. They way people say things. The way certain places smell. The colour of the sky in different parts of Canada. And the most funnerest (other than making up words that are totally improper grammar) part of this whole renewed curiosity thing would have to be satisfying that curiosity with doing new things. I mean, if you are handed the opportunity to try wakeboarding, you have to try it. If you have an axe and permission to lop down some pines, you gotta seize the day. And savour it. The smells. Which muscles ache the next day. The textures. The way the water feels as you hit it. The way the sap travels freaking everywhere.

It’s curiosity about life, my friend. If you don’t have that, what do you have?

Yes, my adventurous nature has been renewed, my inner child prompted to the surface, and all in the name of making me a better writer. Life’s gems are laid out before me like a smorgasbord. And I’m hungry.