When the Going Gets Tough...
I live by mottos and quotes. Here are some of my favorite provocative little sayings that are meant to encourage and motivate.
A journey of a thousand words begins with one word.
Facing the blank page each morning is always a challenge. But I can do one word. And then another. And another.
Success is a ladder that can't be climbed with your hands in your pocket.
No siree. If you want to succeed at writing there are two things you must do. Park you butt in the chair and pound those fingers on the keyboard. Okay, you might have to do a few other things too, like submitting. But none of it will occur unless you first take control of your writing process and just do it.
Have a heart!
Discover the heart of your story. Dig down and uncover the layers on your story and your characters. Write the story of your characters. Above all, write out of enthusiasm. Write because you can't stop.
It's like swimming in peanut butter.
Uncovering the heart of the story, digging out deep character motivations and trying to sort it out feels about the same as trying to swim in peanut butter. It's murky, sticky yet delicious. So hunker down and keep swimming.
When the going gets tough—you're getting somewhere.
I find I hit a wall when I am about to write a powerful scene or attack some emotional issue. I also hit walls when I am on a steep learning curve. I don't always embrace the tough times even though I know they are good for me.
Never write a story before its time.
So many times I've been excited about a particular element of the story and rushed ahead without knowing what I need to know in order to create the story. Usually it's because I know one character so well I want to tell their story but I don't know the other characters. I end up wasting time and having to go back to do the work anyway. So now I try and keep from starting my story until I know what I need to know. For each of us, what we need to know to in order to be ready to start is different.
The only thing worse than writing, is not writing.
Have you procrastinated all day rather than face the keyboard? How did you feel at the end of the day? Like you had a bad case of mental constipation? Then you know the truth of these words. Nothing feels better than getting some words on the page.
You never fail until you quit.
I'm convinced the only people who don't get published are the ones who stop trying. Of course, I don't mean you endlessly send out proposals on the same story. There's also the need to keep learning and improving.
I asked other writers to contribute their favorite writerly sayings.
Dale Ketcham shares these inspirational saying:
"Never give up. Never surrender!" from the movie Galaxy Quest
"Strong women make the best stories." A headline from somewhere that she keeps above her computer as a reminder.
"Rejection builds character" A ribbon purchased at Midnight Madness at the NYC RWA National in July.
When Donna Clayton, author of 30 books for Silhouette, talks to high schoolers she tells them this next one because she's trying to make the point that you have to be self-motivated to make it in this business. www.DonnaClayton.com
The best thing about being a writer is that you’re your own boss, the worst thing about being a writer is that you’re your own boss.
Lucy Monroe, http://www.lucymonroe.com/, author with Harlequin Presents says she lives by the motto:
You can't guarantee success, but you can guarantee failure by giving up.
and loves ... If you shoot for the moon, you'll land among the stars.
"I know enough to write well."
Deborah Grace-Staley www.deborahgrace-staley.com got this from a Joan Johnston luncheon speech at Duel on the Delta a few years ago. Anytime Deborah starts to doubt herself, she remembers the 100s of workshops she's been to, the numerous articles on writing she's read, and looks at the writing awards she's won and repeats this phrase.
"By my writing I both discover and create who I am." Frederich Buechner.
Carolyne Aarsen says to her this means writing isn't just putting words on paper. Because she has to dig deep into herself, her writing becomes a way she finds out things about herself she didn't know existed. And, at the same time, writing makes her more aware of who she is. It makes her stretch. It defines her. Each book becomes a part of her and changes her in some way.
Louise, president of Calgary Association of RWA, www.calgaryrwa.com says she is learning the truth of this quote from Ray Bradbury,
"Quantity produces quality. Only if you do a lot will you ever be any good. If you do very little, you'll never have quality of idea or quality of output."
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