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A collection of snippets of the books I write and, occasionally, my life and the things that inspire my writing...

Friday, April 4, 2014

A to Z D is for Dreams, Doubts, and Determination.

So, you have a dream? You're going to be a published author. "Published Author". Hot dang! Well if that doesn't have a nice ring to it!  A book with your name on it. Nice dream. It really is. And a lot of good things start with a dream. I can still hardly wait to see my name on the cover of a book. It is one of my fondest dreams. In fact, it's far beyond being a dream; it's a goal.

So, like many of you, I've been chugging away at making it happen. And in the current publishing landscape, we can hardly keep up with what's involved in realizing it.  But there's one truth for anyone who is getting a book out there with their name on the cover: you have to write the book first.

Another D word comes into play. Discipline. Write everyday.Write something, Write anything. Even if it has nothing to do with the novel you're writing. Like anything else, practice improves performance.

Here is where a challenge like NaNoWriMo is beneficial. If you don't know what NaNoWriMo is, let me explain. It's short for National Novel Writing Month. It takes place each November. Participants sign up here: National Novel Writing Month then check out the site now and read what it's all about. The idea is to write at least 50,000 words of a  novel in the month of November. It's another activity that brings writers together. And it motivates you to write everyday, --just like Blogging from A to Z motivates you to write everyday.  <--Had to get that plug in here, even though I suspect that if you're here reading this, you're already familiar with the A to Z.

Back to my Ds. So, the book's written, and you've begun to share chapters of it with trusted friends and family. You can't believe they like it! They're praising your writing skill. And then it sneaks up on you. A little voice from somewhere in the wilderness of your mind. In my case, each time someone said, "I didn't know you could write! It's pretty good!", that sneaky little voice qualified their praise with "Yeah, pretty good for a lab tech." Then it continued slapping my confidence. "Not very good for a real writer, though."

That little nagging voice at the back of our minds just won't let up. In some ways, that's good. And in some ways, that's bad. That little nagging voice is a reality check--to not allow praise to go to our heads so much that we stop trying to improve our writing. But it can be bad when it doesn't allow us to recognize when we're on the right track. When we need a pat on the back instead of a kick in the pants. It can be hurtful... downright insulting for such a little voice.

And I have to tell you, that voice is a survivor. It's nearly impossible to silence it. And you are not alone suffering it's insults, it's badgering. There is a group, brainchild of Alex J Cavanaugh (he's a co-captain here at A to Z),  called the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Click here IWSG to get a little help, a little loving-- to get you through that doubt. :-)


My final D is for determination. Sometimes you need Dogged Determination to keep you writing. But keep on writing. Write through that doubt to reach the dream ;-)

Visit other April Blogging from A to Z Challenge by clicking here.

22 comments:

  1. Yes those are all goals important for the writer. Writing a book was always a goal but then so was sailing around the world. When I tell people I'm a writer they always ask if they would know my name. Nope sorry Stephen King I'm not but there are children with my books on their shelves and with another one coming out this year maybe there is space for one more :)
    Best with your writing and the A to Z Challenge.
    Moondustwriter

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    1. Awesome that you write children's books! Your comment makes me ponder just what success is. One of my blogposts for A to Z will tackle that one. Thanks so much for visiting! Good luck on the A to Z. :-)

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  2. You nailed it -- just write SOMETHING every day, even if it has nothing to do with that book you're dreaming & scheming about. Has your blog writing helped move your book forward? I'm hoping the A-Z blogging will get me out of my post-NaNoWriMo writing funk. Good luck, and happy blogging!

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    1. Thanks, Rachel. I hope it gets you out of your writing funk, too! :-) Yes, the blogging has helped, indeed. Wewriwa motivates me week in--week out. :-)

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  3. Hi,
    Visiting from the A-Z. All good D-words here for your posts. I believe in writing something everyday too, though I don't write novels.
    Best of luck for the challenge,
    Nilanjana.
    Madly-in-Verse

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    1. Thanks, Nilanjana. What a lovely name! Thanks for visiting and best of luck with the A to Z. :-)

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  4. Thanks for visiting my blog, I'm visiting you back! I self-published my first book on Amazon last year and you hit the nail on the head! It feels great to see that cover that I designed with a photo I took and my name on it (even if it is on the internet, not a physical book I can hold). But, that doubt creeps in and I started thinking, "wow, I wrote that ten years ago. I think I can do better. I am ten years better now!" And I need the discipline to keep writing in my busy schedule!

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    1. Hi Robin. Thanks for the kind words. I think so many of us feel the same way, but writing can be such a solitary pursuit, we often feel like we are the only ones who feel like we do. :-) I bought your book today. :-)

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  5. You’ll do it Teresa. I did NaNo two years ago. But because my story still ended up with plot holes I’m using what I wrote to re do the story hopefully with a plot. It was definitely beneficial

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    1. :-) Thanks, Susan. Doubt is a crazy thing. It defies intellect. It defies common sense. Glad that Nano worked for you. I've done it twice. Tayden poured out in just under a month, but it wasn't a Nano project. I think what I need to do is finish one and publish it--and move past the fear. :-) Thanks for all of your crits and your encouragement. :-)

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  6. I'm a huge fan of NaNoWriMo. I'm usually such a procrastinator, but participating with other writers helps me with my discipline. I've written four rough drafts through it, and it's always a rush.

    Hope you’re having fun with the A to Z challenge,
    Jocelyn

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    1. You know, sometimes I think we're not really such procrastinators. I think life is just that busy.Okay...okay...maybe some of it is procrastination! :-) I agree--it is a rush. Thanks for visiting. Enjoy the A to Z :-)

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  7. I gave up on the published author dream. The whole business is too cutthroat for my liking, and self-publishing is terribly expensive. The pursuit was making me lose my love for writing, so I stopped it. I do, however, wish you luck.

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    1. Thank you for the kind wish, Tempest! And thanks for visiting :-)

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  8. I am on a creative writing circle that meets monthly...been together for over 10 years...yes some have gone on to publish but primarily just being in the presense of others who are encouraging and not critics, helps to continue the practise..but do like the."Write everyday.Write something, Write anything."...journalling has always been an essential personal tool. Again visiting from A to Z!

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    1. That must be nice--to have a group that meets in the real world. All of my interaction is online. I live in a fairly rural area, so I think it might be tough to get one together. Maybe in time... Journalling--yes, a great tool. Thanks for visiting, Bonnie. :-)

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  9. I participated in the Insecure Writers Group last month. Haven't gotten a post up this month due to the A to Z business. I hope I don't get kicked to the curb!
    Thanks for the visit to Poetry of the Netherworld.

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  10. My mom always told me that the more you write the better you get. Nice post! This is my first year with the A to Z Challenge!

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  11. SSS really helped me and as you know I've been remiss in WWW. But my main problem is I don't have those necessary two or three crit partners. When I do get back to the novel which I will, I'll of course do WWW and seriously hunt out some partners

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  12. Coming over from that A-Z challenge.
    Oh yes, that little bugger of a voice just sometimes needs to shut up! I do love your advice.
    ~Naila Moon

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