Motivational Quote # 17

We talk a lot about fear of failure here, so it seemed only fitting that I would resurrect an old quote that I had mentioned in September of last year and make it this week's motivational quote.

"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."- Elbert Hubbard

Elbert Hubbard was a philosopher, lecturer, critic, publisher, novelist, essayist, and biographer. The son of country doctor, he worked on a farm and then held several jobs. After marrying his first wife, he set up a printing shop for The Philistine magazine. He and his second wife, Alice, died when a German torpedo hit and sunk the Lusitania.

While Hubbard discussed learning and fear of failure or making mistakes on more than one occasion, this particular quote touches upon something that can truly cripple an aspiring author.

In the poll we have going on right now about what keeps you from being committed to your writing, fear of failure is tied for the top spot with time. And one must wonder how many of those surveyed would find the time if they weren't crippled by fear.

Hubbard considered being afraid to make a mistake as the greatest mistake humans can make in regards to achieving their dreams. I want you to think about Hubbard's quote this week, and then I want you to write down on a piece of paper what you think will happen if you receive a rejection on a manuscript you submit.

Feel free to share some of your list here so that we can discuss them.

Motivational Quote #10

We've discussed fear of failure in the past and continue to revisit it because it can be so crippling to an aspiring author. This week's motivational quote comes from the late Robert Kennedy.

"...only those who dare to fail greatly, can ever achieve greatly."

Kennedy made this comment during his Day of Affirmation Address in 1966 during his visit to South Africa to champion the cause of the anti-Apartheid movement. He spoke to the young people at the University of Capetown and encouraged them in their work. And while what those young people faced was a much larger challenge than anything I have had to deal with, I find Kennedy's quote a great inspiration in the journey toward publication.

Daring to fail greatly might be the first time you submit a chapter for feedback to your critique group. Or it could mean the day you lovingly tuck your baby into an envelope and mail it to a publisher or agent for consideration. It might mean something larger or smaller depending upon where you are in your journey.

But what Kennedy's words tell the aspiring author is something she already knows, but tries to forget: unless you try, you can never succeed. Mickey Rooney once said, "You always pass failure on the way to success." How can we achieve one unless we are willing to accept the other?

Failure comes to all of us, but how we react to those moments when our dreams seem to slip out of our hands, is what makes the difference between a published author and an aspiring one.

Motivational Quote #2

Well, it's Saturday once again. We attended a wedding for one of the cousin's daughters today. Gatherings like this are such great fodder for writers. We can just sit back and observe those around us and oftentimes something clicks and it becomes the basis for a story. Here's this week's motivational quote. It's a good one and it serves to remind the aspiring author that truly nothing is impossible.


"Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." - Belva Davis

Motivational Quote #1

Hello all,

I often stumble upon quotes that I feel will work well for aspiring authors and I am going to do my best to share one a week with you. So, keep an eye for it each Saturday.

Here's one that I found a while back that reminds us we have to keep moving toward our writing goals and never give up.

"Achievement seems to be connected with action. Successful men and women keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit."

- Conrad Hilton