Happy Tuesday to you all!
Well, let’s see, what is happening with me? Oh, that’s right, I’m still editing. Sigh! But it is necessary and as much as I moan about it, I am happy to do it if it improves my book. While I’m making changes to the manuscript, I am having a friend of mine, Lizzy, construct a new website for me, and I’m excited about that. It is in its infancy stages but you can find it here.
I’m also working on the final tagline and logline, and of course the perfect query letter will also have to be written….and we took a bunch of pictures and one of them will eventually be the book cover. What else? Well, you get the point…it seems to be an endless process, but it really feels like I’m on the homestretch heading for the finish line.
One of the photos I’m thinking of using as the inspiration for the book cover is here……..
Let’s see….what shall we talk about today?
How about fear?
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Charles Stanley
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
I see this every single day, writers who are afraid to try things because they think they will fail. My, my, my goodness, folks, it’s now or never in my humble opinion.
So what if you fail? The best hitter in baseball fails seven out of every ten times he steps to the plate….how’s that for a sucky percentage of success?
If you don’t know how to do something in this business then learn. Reach out and ask for help. That’s how we all learn. If you are afraid of negative comments then surround yourself with positive people. If you are afraid of being rejected then get over it.
If you are a writer then the only way to succeed is to risk it all. There are no instant winners in this lottery. We all have to go through the process, and the process at times can be uncomfortable and demoralizing, but it is necessary if we are to grow in our craft.
TIP OF THE DAY
Step out of your comfort level. I recently accepted a challenge from two writing friends and wrote two poems. They were less than great (LOL) but I did it and I’m a better writer because I tried.
Big fish in little ponds never experience the freedom of open waters unless they take a risk. You can quote me on that since I just made it up. J
WRITER OF THE DAY
If you want to know anything about marketing your product (your writing) then pay attention to my friend Heidi, a marketing specialist. She has been helping businesses to advance for years now and her suggestions can help you as well. You can find her on HubPages here.
PROMPT OF THE DAY
I’m in a summer state of mind. I hope this picture puts you there as well.
I THINK THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY
Back to the editing I go. I hope you all have a fantastic and productive day.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Yes, you are very correct my friend. If we let fear control us, we will move nowhere. God knows I have failed many times, but that is how we learn. I am especially prone to learning from failure, because I don’t tend to listen and heed other people’s failures.
Great post my friend, and I have bookmarked your new website–Cool!!!!
Thanks for your thoughts, Greg. I learn quite well when there is pain involved in my failure. LOL I wish it weren’t so but I’m afraid it is.
Bill, I love the above photo for Resurrecting Tobias. Is that you with long hair peeking out from under the hat? Hehe. You know I’m dying to see you with long hair!
Just wanted to stop in and say “hey”. I’m trying to finish the research for my blog post so I get it live. BTW, you have a big mention and link in my upcoming post. Something you wrote has inspired me and I’m going to share it with the blogosphere.
Have a great day and happy editing! 🙂
Yep, Sha, that’s me with the shaggy hair. I love it unless the wind blows. LOL Thank you for mentioning me in your new blog post. I’m looking forward to reading it.
I agree with your thoughts and also loved the picture for your book,…it resonates peace yet those graves speak volumes 🙂
Happy editing, Bill
Thank you so much, Ruchira. That is Bev’s favorite picture and I try hard not to disagree with Bev. 🙂
I let fear stifle my confidence in writing about anything for a long time. It is terrible and I think about all the missed opportunities I had to express myself and didn’t take because of False Emotions Appearing Real. I won’t let that happen again. Thanks for the motivation, again, Bill!
Mari, I love that you know that acronym for FEAR…I’m glad you found your way out of the darkness.
I’ve been pushing myself out of my comfort zone for decades, Bill, and it’s still scary at the outset. Managing to do something you weren’t sure you could accomplish has a liberating effect. Most of us would prefer to play to our strengths, but how can we know what we’re capable of achieving if we never go beyond our perceived limitations? Even failures have their worth when we learn from them and try harder (as well as smarter) the next time.
I was very shy when young (yes, really!), and dreaded even making small talk. Imagine how frightening it was for me to enroll in a college speech class and be compelled to make six speeches in front of a room of people that term? Sure, I was quaking in my shoes, but the feeling of exhilaration I experienced after every successful speech was priceless. Forcing myself to take that class proved extremely valuable to me in the career that chose me. (No, I didn’t reverse the order of words at the end of that sentence. I sort of landed in my career inadvertently while pursuing a different one, but it worked out well.)
I haven’t seen your poems yet, but hope they’re available to read, or will be. Although poetry is definitely not my strong suit, I’ve penned a few verses (very few) just to see if I could do it. I have a great deal of respect for “real” poets.
I really like the picture, especially after clicking on it to get the full-screen effect. It has a pensive quality that should provoke interest, and I can visualize it on the cover of the book. Your in-progress website is coming along nicely, too. “Thoreau of the 21st Century” has a nice ring to it.
Jaye
Thank you so much, Jaye! You are everywhere my editor friend. I just clicked off of your editing and here you are again. LOL
Speech class was painful for me, and then I ended up as a teacher and loved speaking to my classes. Go figuree!
Thanks for the input on the picture. I haven’t decided for certain yet but I’m leaning in that direction.
I am here. Sorry I stepped out for breakfast with some old friends this morning and love your new website coming for your author page. Seriously cannot be more existed for you if I tried to be!! Hope you are enjoying your day and I know fear never stopped you before and will not now in the least!! 🙂
Janine, truth be told fear has stopped me in the distant past. I had to learn that life is for the living and not for those afraid to live. I hope you had fun with your friends. Good for you!
my first question would be why isn’t the prompt being used as inspiration? it’s stunning!
FEAR? I’m full of it! Daily! Boy do you have it right,Bill-bro – it NEVER ENDS – and lots of it can scare the be-jesus out of ya! Every small hurdle expands my comfort zone AND my confidence.
Still…it never ever ends, it seems..
Checking out Heidixx
Hey Sis! Thanks about the prompt. Wish I was there right now. LOL As for fear…we face it or we don’t, and we live with the consequences.
Say hi to Heidi for me…she knows her stuff.
Thanks, Sis!
You got me with this one! And that quote is awesome.
I seriously love that photo for the cover. It’s a perfect complement to the title.
Thanks Lizzy. The more I thought about the other one the more I realized it didn’t work.
Nice to hear from you, Bill.
Thanks, Randee. The same to you.
It’s as though you wrote this for me today, lol! You’ll see why when you read my latest post on GHB 🙂 Exciting things ahead. Terrifying, but exciting. I’ve also just started editing my ebook from the 1st draft. Did the first chapter and didn’t throw in the towel – hallalooooya!! Love the photo you’re considering for your book. Good luck with the rest of your editing and have a fantastic day!
You are too funny, Mel! I’m sure glad you didn’t toss that book in the trash while editing. That is surely a good sign. 🙂 Thank you my dear, and I’ll be by your blog shortly.
Happy Tue…- Thursday already?!
Yeah, what has fear to do with it when concerned not to hurt public reaction by my ignorance. You’ve said it before, repeating again: ” if you don’t know how to… reach out and ask for help…” ” You- ALLL ” out there are busy too busy and respecting you loyalty prevents to ask for basic directions pulling you down when you’re up there ” tag line or longline “– it’s like being in a jungle looking around asking myself ” what are you doing here?” , it’s reserved for those who know what they’re are doing…
Knowing there isn’t way back once you know it’s room for you too, and everyone in this race cam was overcomer after a failure. A question ” so what if you fail? ” easy to respond to: won’t be the first nor the last time. . . Head on collision has won all my battles up to now …
Someone suggested get blogging , it’s good starting ground ; so I’ve jump into “conclusion” and here where all has stopped ….
Blessed day my friend.
Ah, Michael my friend, those head-on collisions are no fun, are they? But it does harden our head and make the next collision a little less painful, right?
Thank you for your thoughts. If you start a blog you can count on me being there.
bill
Yes Bill ” if I ” ( don’t know next step…)
Well my friend, it will come to you eventually.
I came across your website through hub pages…..and i am glad i read your posts specially this one. I too write ( i hope u visit my sites and give some feedback) but i am scared of the rejection by publishers so i haven’t sent any story/ poetry anywhere. You are right, I should risk failure to grow as a writer. Thanks.
Shoma, for some, just the act of writing is enough. Nobody says you must send your work to publishers…but if you do, be proud of it. You are a writer…your writing is part of your heart and soul….no one can reject that which is born from the heart.