Welcome to a new week of artistry. Shall we begin?
Today I think we will talk about having an impact with your writing.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives.”
Jackie Robinson
So, what kind of impact do you want with your writing? Are you looking for comments? Are you looking for book sales? Are you looking for acceptance from editors or the reading public?
Remember that negative responses can be considered an impact as well. When I first started writing, I received a rather nasty comment one day on an article I had written for HubPages. Now I admit, at first I was upset…angry….and discouraged. I mean, nobody wants to hear that he is full of it or that he completely missed the mark, right?
Over time I have come to realize that even negative comments mean I have had an impact, and isn’t that why we all write in the first place? We want to make our mark in this world. We want to inspire or inform. So whether the comments are negative or positive we are still making an impact, and I find that comforting.
The same can be said when you get rejected by a magazine editor or a book publisher. There is one thing that is much worse than being rejected by an editor and that, my friends, is to never have tried and thus assured yourself of never having a chance. Being rejected puts you in great company and it means that you made the effort and took the chance, which means you have big cajones. J
It’s all about perspective my friends.
SITE OF THE DAY
If you don’t already follow Kelly’s blog then do so now. Her blog is called The Real Housewife and you can find it here.
PROMPT OF THE DAY
One of my newer pictures from my trip to Pe Ell this weekend. Yes, the new travel series, Exploring The Back Roads, has its initial entry today and you can find that here.
As for this picture, see me, feel me, touch me, sing along with me. J Use your senses and write a paragraph.
CONTEST OF THE DAY
The White Pine Press Poetry Contest is taking submissions now until November 30th. Entry fee is $20 with a $1,000 first prize. Here are those submission guidelines.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
I’m currently writing an article about writing excellence. Simply stated, I do not understand writing without trying to be excellent in writing….but then, I don’t understand parenting without trying to be excellent in parenting, or any other job or vocation or hobby or whatever. We have limited time here on earth; we have incredible gifts and talents; why would we settle for mediocrity?
I just don’t get those who are willing to settle for 50%.
THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY
Anything that I missed? Probably, but if so I’ll do it again on Thursday and try to plug the holes. Have a great week of writing and remember to drop me a line if I can do anything to help you and your writing career.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Wow! Thank you so much Bill! Thanks for the link but mostly the support…don’t we all need that? I do.
Oh gosh I have gotten some rough comments and like you said, at first it can throw you into a tailspin but then you realize it’s just a dumb comment. And THEN I noticed that the more controversial you are the more likely your post will be shared! Some people play on it…I don’t because I don’t like all the controversy:). Lol
Kelly, you are very welcome. I have always respected you and this was just a way for me to show you that fact. 🙂
I like your perspective on negative comments, Bill. I’ve only gotten a couple and they hurt my feelings or made me mad. Either way, my writing got a rise out of those who chose to be ugly.
Sha, I used to be very sensitive and was crushed by negativity….that is definitely no longer the case. 🙂
Had Parent-Teacher conferences for both girls at pre-school, so am running behind today, but as always just wanted to stop by to say hi and wish you a wonderful day ahead! 😉
Thanks Janine; I hope the conferences went well.
Thanks Bill. Yes even negative can help us if we look beyond our anger.
Have a great day.
Thanks the key, Greg! Give the ego a rest and see it as a positive.
Yeah…i know – i wrote erotica…lol..
mainstream erotica, mind you…
That doesn’t mean that i am an ‘erotica writer’. Nor does it mean that i’m not proud of my work..
Interestingly, it appears i’ve lost friends because of it..
How’s that for negativity…sigh..
Have a great day, my friendxx
There will be those, Sis, who appeared to be friends but who were, in fact, anything but. You wrote what you wrote; you are proud of it. It is a part of who you are as a human being. Like we used to say on the playground, if they can’t take a joke, fuck them! LOL I’m proud of you and I’m proud to be your friend.
Bro
Hi Bill,
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the fact that you want to write something that impacted others so much to the point that it actually hurt? On October 19th my Dad died and for the next week we had to deal with the arrangements for his funeral.
I bring this up, not so much because I want you to give your condolences, but because I have taken on the task of creating a hard cover book of his verse (he always refused to call it poetry) and including his biography as part of it.
This is on top of everything else I have going–working on my liberal arts degree, hubpages, working on NaNoWriMo (4th book in the Locket Saga), getting my author platform on track as well issues I am having with my own children. Not to mention that my sister’s cancer is back! It just seems all overwhelming.
I’m at the point where I am just trying to maintain some order just to get what absolutely needs to be done today. I would certainly like to be able to get a handle on what kind of impact I will really make. I am simply having a hard time getting through today.
I guess I am simply grateful for the impact that my writing is making for me. Writing for me is certainly therapy that keeps me from losing it when I am going through trying times like how I am feeling right now. If my writing impacts no one else, it is certainly my life line.
Cygnet, then that is the most important impact of them all for you. Yes, I feel very sorry for you and all that you are dealing with….and I do understand about overwhelming…..all I can do is listen and send you best wishes that the next day will be easier, and then the next, and the next. Here’s a hug to help you get through the morning.
I agree Bill.
I had read somewhere that if x number of doors close upon you…do not fret cause x+1 opportunities shall beckon upon you…patience is the key! In the meantime man ought to get up, lick his wounds and keep striving!
Ruchira, a writer without patience will not remain a writer for long. 🙂 Lick our wounds and keep striving…great words.
Oh that’s weird, I thought I already commented on this post. Probably because I read it on my phone yesterday 🙂 You know Bill, you hit the nail on the head with this post. My heart sours to write things that make an impact again. I know – we need to write about boring stuff that doesn’t interest us to pay the bills, but I really miss the other writing. Can’t wait for January when I get to start again with the creative writing. I’ve got a few things in mind and I’m so excited. Hope you’re having a fab Thursday my friend!
Mel, if I were in your position I would be going crazy. LOL I write for a living but still have time to feed my soul; if I didn’t my day just would not be fun and writing would just be a job….and how sad would that be? Thank you for sharing your thoughts and I really appreciate you taking the time to visit when you are so busy.