Love + Skill

Forgive this super late post! My boss is on vacation & I've been in charge. Tip for today: always say 'thank you' to your bank teller. Good thing I am not a stress eater. I'm 100% sure I would have gained 15lbs this week. It brings back not-so-fond memories of the "freshman 15". *shudders
Anyways...back on track :)

"When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece."

Everyone knows (& if they don't, they will soon find out) you must love to write in order to write well. You have to love it just to want to write. Whether you have a given talent or you have sweated endless nights to become a better writer, it is necessary for the said equation to work. If you have one or the other but not both your novel may fall flat. Think carefully about a writing career before you choose it. For us writers, writing is our passion, our life and one of our loves.

The Only Place Where Success Comes Before

"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary."

Growing up I was told 'if you want something, you have to work for it.' Writing is exactly that. If you want to have a career as an author you have to work for it. Lately, I've been having very crazy dreams that would make amazing novels. The only problem is, I'm not sure I have enough skill to pull them off. So, I'm taking the next step. I'm working to become better as a writer. Is it going to be hard? Yes. Will this change my style/voice as a writer? Possibly, but not all change is a bad thing. Will it be worth it in the end? Ah, the always haunting question us dreamers face. The answer is simple. Yet another truth to live by: you will never know if you don't try.  :)

Better Things Ahead

"There are better things ahead than any we leave behind."

Every aspiring author dreams of this day. A day when an agent will come calling & we can leave the things in our past that held us back. Finally, finally we can move forward toward better things, such as seeing our book on a shelf.
For those trudging those query trenches, this quote gives hope. Someday. Someday we'll wipe the sweat from our brow & nod our head at our great accomplishment.
Hang in there little buddy. We'll get there together.

Patience Vs. Force

"Our patience will achieve more than our force."

Everyone has heard, 'Patience is a virtue'. It truly is. Patience I believe is one of the hardest thing to learn. As humans in this day in age, its all about instant gratification which has become part of our nature. In order to grow in patience we have to deny ourselves of instant gratification. Our hasty decisions can have unfavorable results.
I'm finding myself in a great hurry to query for my novel. But my novel is currently under revision. I don't want to rush through it and live with regret afterwards. I'm sure no aspiring author would want that. So for now I'll be patient. :)

What Worry Does and Doesn't Do

"Worry doesn't empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength"

Worrying will do nothing but totally exhaust you. All your time & energy is wasted on too much thinking.
Don't fret about all the little things. I know. Easier said than done. But focusing on the bigger picture helps tune out the white noise. So take a deep breath...and don't worry yourself sick.

Any tips that help you not to worry?

When Adventure Finds You

"When you least expect it, great adventure finds you"

Let me just tell you, I love adventures. Whether its to the grocery store or to the library, anything can be an adventure. And adventure makes everything fun. Maybe its my inner child. I do know enough to never turn down an adventure. Who knows where it will take you?! The possibilities are endless.

Making Up Your Mind Has More Power Than You Think

Forgive the miss on last week. I'll give you a double dose of encouragement today!

"If you made up your mind that you can't do it, you're absolutely right."

"You can't test courage cautiously."

The first quote reiterates the point of many. Once your mind is made up, its the direction your life will take. It's the one block in Jenga that sends the tower crumbling down and scattering the pieces. This is so powerful. Your mind can give you unfailing determination and the will a of super hero. Your mind, likewise, can poison your entire being down to your soul, leaving you like a whithered flower. Pretty powerful stuff. So think hard before you make up your mind. No. No you cannot test courage cautiously. It's all or nothin' so throw your chips in, kind of thing. You're either acting courageously or sitting in the corner. What little knowledge I have of the publishing world, I have discovered the publishing world requires one to be courageous. If you're not courageous, you'll never get that nice advance or publisher. You'll never snag that agent with a witty query letter, you probably won't even write a query letter. You'll be too shy to ask for a critique. Who am I kidding? You won't have any one read your manuscript. This my friend why you need to be courageous without hesitation. If the cowardly lion can become courageous, then so can you. w