Motivational Quote #23

"Most of our obstacles would melt away if, instead of cowering before them, we should make up our minds to walk boldly through them." - Orison Swett Marden

This particular Marden quote should be posted above my desk. Like many, I often let obstacles stand in my way instead of plowing through them. The scary part is that sometimes when my husband finds a solution for dealing with that obstacle, I immediately come up with a new one, so that once again, I cannot move forward. Sound familiar?

I have struggled with this aspect of my personality for years and it is through helping others that I found I have been able to help myself. While encouraging writing friends to pursue their dreams, I actually find a way to encourage my own.

An aspiring author faces many obstacles, and they often aren't easy obstacles to overcome; especially with self-doubt and fear of failure looming close by. But if we take the advice of Marden, who believed that our thoughts influence our lives and our life circumstances and that we have the ability to "...make the world we live in and shape our own environment," then we soon realize that the only thing stopping us from achieving success is us.

Does that mean that everyone who dreams of being a writer can do so right off the bat? No. Maybe we have to take classes to hone certain skills. Maybe we need to spend time networking and surrounding ourselves with people who can help us achieve our goals. Maybe we need to get organized first and really decide what our goals are.

What Marden's quote is saying is that you can do all that as long as you decide to tackle those obstacles instead of being afraid of them. I know I can do it...and so can you!

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.

Take Our New Poll

You can participate in our new poll in the sidebar. Tell us what keeps you from being committed to your writing career. If you choose "other", please feel free to elaborate in this thread.

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 #9

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts."---Winston Churchill

I like to research the origin of the quotations I post here so that I can attempt to understand the meaning behind the author's words. This time, my research turned up something interesting. The above quote is attributed to Winston Churchill; however, The Churchill Centre states on their site that their research proves that Churchill never said this in his books, speeches, articles, or papers.

So, we are left to consider what the meaning of this quote from a potentially anonymous source might mean and how aspiring authors can apply it to themselves. Let's break it down.

"Success is not final" - When you achieve one of your goals do you just stop there? No, you keep going and begin working toward achieving your next goal. After your first published credit aren't you going to want to see more?

"failure is not fatal" - Failing is not the end of the world. It might seem so at the time, but if you look at failure as a learning experience, then you have the strength to brush yourself off and get back on that horse again.

"It is the courage to continue that counts." - Aha! This is really what the aspiring author needs to remember. Dig deep down inside yourself and work through the rejections (the failures) and bravely continue on. When that "Thanks, but no thanks" letter comes in, don't take it as a reflection on you as a person. Don't throw your computer out the window and swear you'll never write again.

Lick your wounds for all of five minutes, then continue on. You have the power to make your dreams come true. Use it!

Motivational Quote #7

"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

This FDR quote comes from his undelivered Jefferson Day speech for April 13, 1945. By this time in American history, the Nazis were only a few weeks away from surrender, the Japanese were retreating, and the U.S. Forces had invaded Okinawa.

President Roosevelt died the day before this speech was to be given and Harry S. Truman became President.

One can only imagine some of what was going through Roosevelt's head as he read this speech over and again in preparation to deliver it on Jefferson Day. He was looking for peace now that the end of the war was near. He was asking Americans to have faith that they could together bring about lasting peace. And he was saying that the doubts they had today are what would limit tomorrow's potential.

Isn't that true for many of us aspiring authors? Our fear of failure, our fear of success, our self-doubt keeps us from realizing our full potential, from reaching for our dreams with both hands outstretched toward the stars.

Even I am guilty of it at times. My husband will suggest I tackle a new project and my automatic response is, "I can't do that." I don't give any thought to what he's asked me to do or what I would need to do to complete this project. It's just easier to say, "I can't."

Why do we do this? Why do we automatically doubt that we have what it takes to make our dreams come true?

Who knows your potential more than you? Who knows your dreams better than you do? No one.

So, who is going to get you there other than you? No one!

Mickey Rooney once said, "You always pass failure on the way to success." So look at failure as just part of the journey that gets you closer to obtaining your dreams. If something doesn't work then instead of letting self-doubt take over, do some self-analysis. What went right? What went wrong? What other possibilities are there?

You have the power to make your dreams come true. Use it!

Motivational Quote #5

I'm a bit early this week, but we'll be away on Saturday and I am in the midst of preparing for the Muse Online Writers Conference that is kicking off on Monday, October 13th.

I found this quote today from one of America's most well known and best loved 19th century writers.

"What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us. And when we bring what is within us out into the world, miracles happen." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Thinking about this quote from Emerson, I wonder how self-doubt and past failures hamper what we feel we can accomplish today and how fear of the future and the unknown cripple aspiring authors from moving forward in their careers.

Now, keeping in mind that before Emerson became a writer and public speaker he was first a Unitarian minister, it is easy for us to discount this quote as religious gobbly-goop. Miraculous happenings fill the pages of the Bible and it would seem likely that Emerson reached into his religious background when he said this.

But does this quote apply to a secular world--a world filled with believers and non-believers?

I think it does. I believe Emerson is saying that what has happened in the past and what might occur in the future is nothing in comparsion to the power that is inside us. And if we allow that power to come forth, we have the ability to shape and change the world--whether it be our own little world or on a much larger scale.

Self-doubt, dwelling on past failures, and fear of the future do not allow us to move forward with our writing. They stop us from bringing forth the power that is inside us. They stifle creativity.

Don't let this happen to you! Allow self-doubt to keep you humble and able to accept new ideas. Put your fears in perspective, but don't be afraid to take the chance that stands right in front of you.

The power to shape your future is inside you. Bring it out into the world and watch the miracles happen.

Putting Fear of Failure in Perspective

Along with the issues of self-doubt and anxiety, fear of failure can be a huge obstacle for an aspiring author to overcome. Last year I read Judi Moreo's book, You Are More Than Enough Every Woman's Guide to Purpose, Passion & Power and I came across a section where Judi talks about fear of failure. This is what she had to say:

"What's wrong with failure anyway? Why do we let it stop us from doing, achieving, and having what we want? Failure just means you've discovered one more way that doesn't work. Thomas Edison worked for more than a year and a half to create a better, long-lasting light bulb that could be used in a mainstream application. During that time he found 9,999 ways that didn't work. If he hadn't persisted, you might be reading this book by candlelight! If you try and still don't get the result you want, it simply means you were willing to risk, it might take longer than you expected, your goal was unreasonable, you have to do something differently next time, or you have an opportunity to start something new which is more suited to you.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could just overcome this fear? We know there's always a chance we will fail, so why worry about it? Everyone else has the same chance of failure as we do. We are not the exception to the rule, but we will never succeed unless we try."

Looking at fear of failure in this way makes writers heroic every time they send out a submission; even if it gets rejected.

I found a few quotes about mistakes which further help to put fear of failure in perspective.

“The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.” - Edward J. Phelps

"It's okay to make mistakes. Mistakes are our teachers - they help us to learn." - John Bradshaw

"The greatest mistake a man can ever make is to be afraid of making one." - Elbert Hubbard

"So go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because that's where you will find success. On the far side of failure." - Thomas J. Watson, Sr.

Terry Bragg, the author of 31 Days to High Self-esteem put together an eight-step plan to overcome failure. I would like to share it with you here:

Step One: Take action

"Action gives you the power to change the circumstances or the situation," says Bragg. What could you achieve if you weren't afraid to fail? Nike has an ad campaign that says, "Just do it." Write this down on a sticky pad and attach it to you computer screen.

Anytime you feel paralyzed by fear of failure, read that quote and heed it's advice.

Step Two: Persist.

How many times have you heard published authors give advice that includes, don't give up? Why do you think that is? Because successful people don't give up! They try something, and if it doesn't work out, they try something else. They keep trying until they get the results they want.

Step Three: Don't take failure personally.

Here's a big one. When you don't get the results you want, it doesn't mean you're a failure. It simply means you tried and it didn't work out. See Step Two for what you need to do next.

Step Four: Do things differently.

This is a no-brainer, but there are so many people out there who keep approaching things the same way and not getting the results they're looking for. Well, stop it! Don't be afraid to try something new. It might make a world of difference.

Step Five: Don't be so hard on yourself.

Raise your hand if you're too hard on yourself. Yes, mine is raised to. I am my own worse critic. I give into negative self-talk. As Bragg says about failure, "If nothing else, you know what doesn't work."

Step Six: Treat the experience as an opportunity to learn.

I'm a strong non-fiction writer, but fiction offers me challenges like there's no tomorrow. The most difficult thing I struggle with is "show don't tell". Luckily, I have a good group of people who critique my work and offer suggestions.

In the writing world they say that practice makes perfect. So I am practicing a lot. And I'm learning a lot. Each time I write a short story, I am improving my craft. Each article I read about "show don't tell" brings me that much closer to mastering this aspect of fiction writing on my own.

Step Seven: Look for possible opportunities that result from the experience.

If you submit a short story to a market and receive a rejection letter, what opportunities or benefits does that provide?

Well, it could provide you with an opportunity to review your story with a fresh set of eyes and revise it to make the story stronger. Perhaps this also gives you the chance to perform additional market research and find a home that is even a better fit than the one you had originally chosen.

Always look for the benefit.

Step Eight: Fail forward fast. According to Bragg, this is a term used by management guru, Tom Peters. It means that the way to learn is to make mistakes. So if we want to learn faster, we must make mistakes faster too. The important thing to remember is to not repeat those mistakes.

With eight tiny steps you can move forward with your writing career, without the fear of failure.

I want to leave you with a powerful quote from Susan Jeffers, which came from her book, Feel the Fear...And Do It Anyway:

"I said to myself: 'You mean all those people out there that I’ve been envying because they’re not afraid to move ahead with their lives have really been afraid? Why didn’t somebody tell me!?' I guess I never asked."

This article originally appeared at my old Aspiring Author blog on 6/1/08.

What Makes You an Aspiring Author?

I often wonder what makes writers aspiring authors instead of published authors? For myself, I know a lot of it is lack of time. Yet, I also know, I waste time here and there that I could more wisely use to concentrate on some of my works in progress.

So, why don't I do it? Hmmm...that is a good question.

I promised that I would be bringing you some new stuff soon. And here I am delivering on that promise. I would like you to comment on why you feel you haven't become a published author yet? I'll start you off:

1) Time
2) Lack of support from family and friends
3) Haven't found the right market
4) The shoulder vultures named self-doubt and anxiety keep me from submitting my work
5) The editors I've submitted to don't recognize good talent when they see it

Okay, that last one is supposed to be funny. But seriously, I want to know what you think is holding you back. Then we can talk about some of these reasons you haven't been published yet and possible solutions in future blog entries.

So, let me hear ya!

This article originally appeared at my old Aspiring Author blog on 4/24/08.

Here are some of the responses we received at the old blog:

Rebecca said...

Cheryl,
I think all of those are the reasons I haven't been published yet, although, I really think it is because I haven't found the right niche.

Dorothy Thompson said...

Can I answer even though I'm published? I think the #1 reason is the competition. For the aspiring author, he or she is having to compete against the established authors for publisher's slots and there aren't enough to go around. So, they either pay to be published or they self-publish. It's like a catch-22 situation. If you want it now, you pay for it. If you want to wait, there's too much competition. It's no wonder half the writers give up.

Theresa Chaze, Wiccan Writer said...

I think there are several reasons why authors aren't published.

1. They are insecure about their work so they don't put the hard work behind it that it takes to succeed. Nearly every writer ever created has a wall of rejections. The key is to look at them objectively, learn what you can from them and move on.

2. They are holding out for the big traditional houses to snap them up and make them millionaires over night; that only happens in the movies. Even JK Rowling had her share of rejections. It was always a crap shoot with the big houses. More often than not they will not put their money and time in to a new writer; usually they will let them prove themselves in another venue before considering them.

3. They aren't willing to be honest about the quality of their work. Every one can be a writer, but not everyone is willing to learn how to write. Just because you can put together a correct sentence doesn't mean you can make an interesting statement or create drama. Taking writing classes not only teaches the craft, but help to make contacts as well.

4. They don't have an honest understanding of the business end. It is a creative forum, but it still is a business. You have to know what the market is looking for whether it be fiction or non fiction. You wouldn't send a science fiction novel to a publisher who only publishs romances.

Dorothy Thompson said...

Agree, Theresa. I think more and more people are turning to their own publishing companies to publish their books. I know a lot of people who have chosen that route. I still say hold out for the big publishing houses but don't expect to become a millionaire if it happens, and then on the other hand, be very very prepared for rejection because 9 out of 10, it's going to be a rejection and after so many rejections, that's when the aspiring author turns to other means of publication. LOL, I think we're not helping Cheryl at all.

allison pittman said...

When I first became serious about writing, I had a great conversation with a well-established novelist, James Scott Bell. I remember just bawling and telling him I didn't want to be some cliche washed-up English teacher who never followed her own dream. We were in the dining hall at a writers conference. He took a napkin, drew a triangle on it, and he said the whole realm of publishing is found within that triangle. At the base are all the people who say they might want to write a book someday. At the very top is Max Lucado (author of hundreds of books!). Every step you take moves you higher, and puts you with a smaller group of individuals who have accomplished something. At the time, I'd written about 7 chapters of my novel, and he made a little mark a wee bit higher than the base and said, "See? Look how far you are already."

That little mark represented my first novel. Now I'm writing my fourth.

I still have the napkin.

Anonymous said...

I have something to add. Learning to write marketable fiction is very difficult. It can take years and then learning how to edit your own work can take more time. Many writers are not willing to put in all that work. They think they should sit down, write a book, get it published and become famous.

I think that's why some people self-publish, but I've read a lot of that work and it is sorely in need of editing and revision, for the most part. Yes, there are exceptions, but that's why they're called exceptions.

Marilyn said...

I wrote a Children's story for the little ones in my church years ago and read it during the morning worship service a few weeks before the holiday. I then shared it with family, friends, AND CHERYL, and many people said that I should look into having it published. I however know nothing about the process at all. I guess that is the reason why it hasn't happened for me yet. I wrote it to share a lesson with the children, one that they could remember throughout the year, not with publication in mind. It might happen yet, who knows.

Maureen Fisher said...

I was very lucky to find a small publishing house (via networking) to publish my first book -- Lachesis Publishing. I put my success down to a great plot and characters (I know, I know, that's immodest), luck, and PERSEVERANCE.

A lot of aspiring authors I know either get bored or discouraged. I spent three years writing, submitting, receiving rejections, re-writing, attending workshops, re-writing, re-writing, re-writing. Many people were surprised that I could persevere with the same manuscript, but believe me, persistence paid.

Maureen Fisher
www.booksbymaureen.com

Elizabeth said...

I want it bad enough but have recently discovered how important support is.
All just excuses aren't they?
~Elizabeth aspiring not for long

Anonymous said...

For me, I think it's that I have no confidence that anyone wants to read what I write.

If I could believe in myself more, I think I could solve some of my own problems.

Donna McDine ~ Children's Author said...

Cheryl...what a great idea! I am published with a couple of short stories and several non-fiction articles. And I feel myself getting pushed towards the niche of writing non-fiction. I especially like working off a theme list for a mag and I tend to gravitate to the non-fiction pieces. I have several queries out there and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll get at least one interest.

Warmly,
Donna

Cheryl said...

This comment is from a friend of mine. It brings up, once again, the issue of support and also discusses money:

"I fall under reason 6: Lack of resources in my area and my own coffers. There is pretty much nothing at all to help aspiring writers out here in the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs Area). All I have is what's online, and I haven't gotten the kind of help I need from those sources (only recently though). Instead of answering me directly, they refer me to books, blogs, and articles, most of which I have to pay to get, or don't make sense to me as I am still new at this.

I'd go to a conference, but I can barely pay the gas to go to and from school. The money it would take to go to a conference is WAY out budjet for me. So I'm stuck out here with little or no help but my own determination."

Rachel Newstead said...

I think in my case, it can be boiled down to lack of workable ideas and lack of life experience. I'm disabled and for much of my life I've led an extremely cloistered existence--there are probably ten- and eleven-year-old children who are more wise to the ways of the world than I am. So what do I write about?

The "write what you know" school of thought wouldn't work for me, obviously. I'm an animation geek and interested in old music. Not much to draw from.

I also could only write the sort of book I'd want to read, and I'm not interested in most genres of fiction--and don't feel qualified to write in the one genre that does interest me, science fiction. So you can see my problem.

Margay said...

There are some really great responses to this question - lots of brave ladies willing to put it out there for all to see! for me, I think part of it is fear of success - and the pressure to do it again. Right now, writing is still fun. Will it still be fun when I have to meet a deadline? What about criticism? How will I react if my book gets a bad review? Am I just a one-book wonder? All of these things add up to Fear of Success.

Lea Schizas - Author/Editor said...

The difference between aspiring authors and published authors is passions, determination and perseverance. I keep stating this, over and over.

I find many authors concentrate too much while they write, going back into their work and editing while writing instead of allowing the story to move forward and then worry about the editing stage.

We need to wear the writer's hat first, finish our stories, then wear the editor's hat.

For me, what slows my work, is my involvement with many groups and reading emails. These two areas need to come under control so I can move my work faster.