The funny thing about failure--it's everywhere. It's also not something you want to hear or admit. But it's always there--waiting. A bad word to many. A blemish to a blank sheet. To those who strive for perfection, it's the boogey man under the bed ready to strike fear. Let's face it, it will happen to you. More than once. It comes in all shapes and sizes from a simple thing to something that will not only affect you but many, maybe thousands or millions.
So, I sat down with failure and poured a cup of tea. What is failure really trying to say? Is failure that bad? I guess it depends on how big it is, but I stepped back for a moment and really let failure tell me. It seems I've misunderstood it. Sure failure hurts that's how it gets your attention. And at the time that it strikes you may not know why until a later time. I'm talking possibly years. That's where the misunderstanding comes in. Failure gets blamed for a lot of things, but it's the victim that needs to pay attention and turn failure around. Send him packing. I will admit failure has entered my life on many occasions, more than I like to state, but it wasn't until recently when I really looked at it--with my own two eyes and not from others advice, although that doesn't hurt the situation--it softens it. Spins it. Allows perspective to set in.
What is failure really trying to say? Try harder? Do better? Learn more? That's part of it. It's also trying to say that nothing is perfect. There's always room for improvement and everything is flawed. Sure there's a normal but believe it or not that's left to interpretation. Failure is trying to tell me there is another way. It's not my time. Failure never said to stop or not try. It simply is guiding me another way.
That's where it gets foggy. I need to know a clear path. I don't like the unknown. That's why failure is scary. It's messes things up and cuts your yellow brick road in half, blacking it out, making it seems like it leads to nowhere. The only way to get back is to keep going, try something different, learn something new--grow stronger. That's what life is--isn't it? Growing and finding out who you are. Failure has to be there to make sure that happens.
My thoughts for today.
How is everyone doing?
Have a great day!
Monday, November 18, 2013
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
IWSG--Murky lake of writing
Well, not much is going on here. I finally got through that murky stage where you think you'll never write again or have an idea (whether it's great or not is undetermined). It's scary. It seems I go through it every time I finish a manuscript. I finally say a novel is done and a small idea comes but the characters don't speak. I think it's the brain telling you to stop and take a break. The remedy is--you should. Revising a manuscript for months can have your brain in knots. It needs to unravel. Of course when you're in the moment, it feels like an eternity. The end. No more words will flow. Patience eats at you.
But there is a light. That little pin hole that's making it's way through the darkness. See it. It's there.You're a writer so no matter what that spark will return. And that's where I'm at. The spark returned. Yes, I had my typical fit of "I will never write again because I suck and no one will ever want this," but I took a couple of days to send the brain to the brain spa and finally things are starting to flow again.
I'm still scared though. My last novel is going through the query process and I can't help but feel like I'm repeating my first experience, but I must go through it and be persistent to get anywhere. Right?So in a nutshell, I'm back on track. For now. I can't say that I will be a regular blogger but I'm still here now and again.
How do you make it through the murky blank lake of writing?
Have a great day!!
Monday, November 4, 2013
New releases, books to check out and congrats!!
Hi everyone! I'm trying to get back into a regular groove of blogging so we will see what this week brings. I have a bunch of things to highlight today so let's get to it.
1. If you haven't already, go check out the lovely Christina Lee's ALL OF YOU. It's hot!!! I did read this, and whoa, hotness. I'm team Bennett all the way. Currently, it's an ebook but will be released in paperback July 1, 2014. You go, Christina!!
Amber Scott should be enjoying life as a college freshman. She should be pursuing her dream of becoming a veterinarian. She should be working hard to make sense of her precalculus math class.
She shouldn’t be waking up her college roommate with screaming nightmares. She shouldn’t be flashing back, reliving the three weeks of hell she barely survived last year. And she definitely shouldn’t be spending time with sexy player Marcus Reid.
But engineering student Marcus is the only one keeping Amber from failing her math course, so she grudgingly lets him into her life. She never expects the king of hookups will share his painful past. Or that she’ll tell him her secrets in return, opening up and trusting him in a way she thought she’d never be able to again.
When their fragile future together is threatened by a stalker Amber thought was locked away for good, Marcus is determined to protect her—and Amber is determined to protect Marcus…even if that means pushing him away.
3. Another New Adult novel has been released by Kevin Sheridan. It has a very cool premise. And I had the pleasure to read it before the release. Definitely one to check out!! Congrats Kevin!!
Title: UNDER A BROKEN SUN
Author: Kevin P. Sheridan
Publisher: Dancing Dolphin Productions
Blurb:
When the world is thrown back into the dark ages, Adam Dawson must find his way across the country to reunite with his father, fighting through the religious zealots who believe the end has come.
4. In YA news, Ilene Wong has sold her debut novel, NONE OF THE ABOVE to Balzer + Bray. A huge congrats to her!! It will be released Fall of 2015. Go give a her your love!!
Big congrats to all these authors!! Mark your calendars for the releases and definitely check out the books that are out!!
That's all for today. No exciting news for me. Just writing and revising. Basically, I'm just moving along . . . slowly. I plan to be back for IWSG on Wednesday!!
Have a great day!!
1. If you haven't already, go check out the lovely Christina Lee's ALL OF YOU. It's hot!!! I did read this, and whoa, hotness. I'm team Bennett all the way. Currently, it's an ebook but will be released in paperback July 1, 2014. You go, Christina!!
Title: ALL OF YOU
Author: Christina Lee
Publisher: Penguin/InterMix
Blurb: In this powerfully emotional debut New Adult novel, Avery has just met her hot upstairs neighbor. He’s irresistible. Tattooed. And a virgin.
Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating—she’s perfectly happy single. Privy to too many of her mother’s bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes.
When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him—for just one night. But he won’t accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing.
Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too.
So she needs to make a choice—let Bennett go or finally let him in.
Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating—she’s perfectly happy single. Privy to too many of her mother’s bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes.
When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him—for just one night. But he won’t accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing.
Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too.
So she needs to make a choice—let Bennett go or finally let him in.
2. In other New Adult news, the amazing Stina Lindenblatt revealed the cover of her debut novel TELL ME WHEN. Sweetness!!
Title: TELL ME WHEN
Author: Stina Lindenblatt
Publisher: Carina Press / Harlequin
Release date: January 20, 2014
Blurb:
She shouldn’t be waking up her college roommate with screaming nightmares. She shouldn’t be flashing back, reliving the three weeks of hell she barely survived last year. And she definitely shouldn’t be spending time with sexy player Marcus Reid.
But engineering student Marcus is the only one keeping Amber from failing her math course, so she grudgingly lets him into her life. She never expects the king of hookups will share his painful past. Or that she’ll tell him her secrets in return, opening up and trusting him in a way she thought she’d never be able to again.
When their fragile future together is threatened by a stalker Amber thought was locked away for good, Marcus is determined to protect her—and Amber is determined to protect Marcus…even if that means pushing him away.
3. Another New Adult novel has been released by Kevin Sheridan. It has a very cool premise. And I had the pleasure to read it before the release. Definitely one to check out!! Congrats Kevin!!
Title: UNDER A BROKEN SUN
Author: Kevin P. Sheridan
Publisher: Dancing Dolphin Productions
Blurb:
When the world is thrown back into the dark ages, Adam Dawson must find his way across the country to reunite with his father, fighting through the religious zealots who believe the end has come.
4. In YA news, Ilene Wong has sold her debut novel, NONE OF THE ABOVE to Balzer + Bray. A huge congrats to her!! It will be released Fall of 2015. Go give a her your love!!
Big congrats to all these authors!! Mark your calendars for the releases and definitely check out the books that are out!!
That's all for today. No exciting news for me. Just writing and revising. Basically, I'm just moving along . . . slowly. I plan to be back for IWSG on Wednesday!!
Have a great day!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)