AS A WRITER,
YOU MUST BE DETERMINED TO BE THE
EXCEPTION TO ANY STATISTIC THAT SAYS YOU WILL FAIL.
YOU MUST BE WILLING TO SEE THAT BLEAK TRUTH,
AND REFUSE TO LET IT APPLY TO YOU.
THERE'S A LOT TO BE SAID FOR VISION AND TENACITY
AS KEYS TO SUCCESS.
DON'T FOCUS ON STATISTICS RIGHT NOW.
FOCUS ON YOUR WRITING.
(Janet Reid)
It feels like every time I turn around, some sales stat or publishing poll is telling me it's too late for this, my writing won't sell, that won't work, I'm too old, etc. And to be honest, I do let it get to me now and then.
But there's a difference between being realistic, facing that "bleak truth," and letting it distract us from our dreams, from our goals, from what we truly believe is part of our destiny here on earth - imagining, creating, writing.
Focus, people. Focus.
My mother told me writing wasn't a job, when I was about 13. I've been proving her wrong ever since. (Unless she meant 'job' as in earns money, of course...) We have to keep pushing for our destiny.
ReplyDeleteI was told that, too. Writing was "cute" when I was young but the older I got, the more people told me I couldn't do it. I'm guessing they meant well, but it still hurt. But I'm always glad I followed - and still follow - my heart. :)
DeleteSo true! Sometimes it gets down right depressing what they are saying. There's been a few times I've stopped reading because I couldn't take the negative attitude. Writers are already insecure, why make it worse?
ReplyDeleteThere's a fine line between being informed and drowning in facts. I struggle with that, in writing and in life.
DeleteAnd the good thing is, stats change! So why worry?
ReplyDeleteKind of like how chocolate is good for you one minute and not so good the next. :)
DeleteI need that speech some days. When I feel down, I've learned to just keep writing.
ReplyDeleteWe write. That's we do. :)
DeleteYup, you have to keep pushing on.
ReplyDeleteYou know it. :)
DeleteIf I looked at statistics, I'd probably up and quit right now. I have ZERO ebook sales for going on 31 days straight. That's a new low for me since starting.
ReplyDeleteOh well. My next book is in my editors hands and I'm continuing on this roller coaster of an adventure.
Just like with real roller coasters, life and writing have highs and lows and twists and turns and breathtaking moments of joy and excitement. :)
DeleteHang in there!
The "focus on your writing" bit is what's hitting me the most right now. You can't let all the worrying keep you from writing anything in the first place!
ReplyDeleteWe have to write alongside the worry. Or through it. :)
DeleteFocusing on stats could drive a writer crazy. Keep writing, they change all the time. ;)
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm pretty sure most of us are already crazy. :)
DeleteLook at the headlines: ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE. The laws of science say a bumblebee cannot possibly fly -- yet it happily buzzs about despite the scientists. Live our dream -- not someone else's nay-saying, right?
ReplyDeleteLove the last line of your comment, Roland!
DeleteYes, I think I needed this quote today! I've been staring at my sales figures (low and lower) instead of writing. It's time to pick up the pen . . .er . . .keyboard . . . or both. :)
ReplyDeleteYes! Get back to writing! We can't control sales figures but we can control the effort and energy we put into our writing. :)
DeleteI'm definitely guilty of letting various stats or odds or whatever get me down but keep trying to remember to just focus on the writing since that's what I love doing. And I just have to say I love Roland's last line too! Perfect. :)
ReplyDeleteMay the odds be ever in our favor . . . . :)
DeleteStatistically, my writing may never make me rich. Realistically, I have until I die to keep trying. If I haven't made it by the time I'm dead, I will quit.
ReplyDeleteHa ha ha! Love this! And you're so right about having until then to keep at it, to keep writing. :)
DeleteYou can't if you don't. It's pretty simple, just darned hard sometimes. Of course, all someone has to tell me is I can't do something and guess what happens?
ReplyDeleteSimple but not easy, right? And that stubborn streak does come in handy sometimes. :)
Deletesquirrel!
ReplyDeleteuh, sorry. i don't have time to waste on the negative, but i definitely need to focus! enjoyable and educational as usual! thanks!
You're very welcome, Tara. Now, go write! :)
DeletePolls schmolls. If there's one thing I've learned with my freelance writing, it's that most polls are made up of statistics gathered by silly random polls that were directed to prove a point. If I can get a publishing deal, you all can!!! I'd say if you really look at that statistic, most people never make it because they don't put that work out there to agents/editors OR because they give up before they can make it.
ReplyDeleteI think it's important to understand where those polls and stats etc are coming from then take them all with a grain of salt. :)
DeleteI try not to let others' opinions about what's in and what's out keep me from doing what I want to do.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Cynthia! Keep up that attitude!
DeleteSo much truth! Yes, when you listen to stats it's hard not to let it get you down, but the difference between us and those stats is that we keep moving forward.
ReplyDeleteExactly! It doesn't matter how slowly we go, as long as we keep moving forward.
DeleteThanks, Madeline. I needed to read exactly those words this morning (even though it's Tuesday already--where does the time go?).
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! These Motivational Monday posts are good all week, don't worry. :)
DeleteI stopped paying attention to those gloom and doom stats a long time ago. As you've mentioned, they don't help us and can certainly hinder us. Also, they're often wrong.
ReplyDeleteI love this post: http://www.deanwesleysmith.com/killing-the-top-ten-sacred-cows-of-publishing-8-you-cant-make-a-living-with-your-fiction/
I just think we have to be really careful about the information we take in and how we utilize it.
DeleteI'll check out that post!
For every stat that comes out, there seem to be countless exceptions that surface as well. Don't let those numbers drag you down. Keep working toward your dreams!
ReplyDeleteLet's all be the exceptions to those negative stats! :)
DeleteThe usual comment is, "Retired? Why do you want another career? Wasn't the first one enough?" Answer: "No and duh!"
ReplyDeleteLove it! :)
DeleteI rarely need a push to write. Now when I'm wearing my revising and marketing hat that's a completely different story. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from Shout with Emaginette
Isn't it funny how some people love the writing part and despise the revising etc while it's the opposite for others? :)
DeleteGreat post. I'm going to share the link on FB and with a few friends. thanks for the reminder of what's important.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debi! Go on and spread the motivation around! :)
DeleteNumbers and statistics don't have much to do with creativity, I think. It's not like you can group writers into certain sets because each is unique even if they share genres. Just keep doing what you like doing!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you, Nick! :)
DeleteThat's the stuff, Madeline. We write because we have to. There's a fire within us that demands it. The numbers would be nice...but I'm going for posthumous fame.
ReplyDeleteI don't think you'll have to wait until then for fame, Milo. :)
DeleteCommenting about a month late, but I needed this post today. We writers are an exceptional lot, are we not? Finally swimming in from Janet's Easter blog list --JEN Garrett
ReplyDeleteIt's never too late for nice comments like yours! :)
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