Blogger: Rachel Kent
I asked some published authors to share with us what they do when they become discouraged in their writing. This happens to everybody, even those who are published!
Authors still experience rejections and sometimes have heartbreaking things happen to them–like canceled contracts or books going out-of-print long before they should have. Sometimes an editor is let go from a publishing house when he or she was the person championing the project. There are many ways for an author to become discouraged in his or her writing.
These quotes come from authors who have experienced a hurt or two in their careers, but they didn’t quit. Here’s what they have to say in answer to the question, What keeps you writing when you are faced with discouragement?
“I have been discouraged twice when I received the ‘good news’ that I was getting a multiple book contact only to have it fall through because of a change in publishing direction. When I received the bad news on both accounts, I had a little pity-party, and then (eventually!) I surrendered myself and my writing to God. I knew He had a good plan for my writing… and if doors were closing, then there were perhaps other plans I didn’t know yet. I didn’t let these closed doors keep me from writing. Instead I looked at other areas where I felt God had been speaking to my heart. In both cases God brought different projects to replace the ones I lost…I also learned that this journey isn’t about me. It’s about God and what He’s doing in the world. I also learned that closed doors can be new opportunities to share God in ways I hadn’t thought of before!”
“My passion for story keeps me writing. I cannot not write. To quit is to forgo my purpose in life, and I’ll only do that when the casket is closed. Is it faith in the God who purposed me to write? Or is it the driving passion for story? Or is it both? I think it’s both.”
“Having to pay my bills, for one thing. 🙂 But more to the point, I keep writing because it’s my gift/talent from God, and I’m happiest and most content in my relationship with Him when I use it. Been doing so for 35+ years and have never resisted going to my desk to write–regardless of the outcome. Of course I have discouraging days like everyone, but for me, pushing through gets me through!”
“I try to set aside time to sit and listen and journal. It seems this is when the Lord always shows me the big picture and nudges me to the next step. Over the years I’ve ‘heard’ His direction more when I’m silent before Him than in all the long conversations I have with others about my woes.”
“Yesterday I was at a library speaking and a woman, enthralled by how many books I’d published, asked me,'”Can you tell me how you used to get through all those rejections?’ I said, ‘Used to? I just got a manuscript rejected three different times last week!’ With each point of success, there are new ways to fail, so keep your chin up. It’s not about avoiding failure. It’s about how you face it.”
“It’s only a book. Besides, in God’s economy my failures have taught me a lot more than my successes. Best to just keep pedaling.”
“I’m a writer. That’s what I do. So I keep on writing, no matter the circumstances. The reality is that I can’t not write. As for what gets me back on track when need be? My agent.”
What keeps you going when you face discouragement? How do you brush off the hurt and move forward?
“New ways to fail.”
*Yes, indeed. I can prepare myself mentally for the challenges I anticipate, but new ways to fail will hit me broadside. I suppose that every new success comes with new ways to fail.
*My day job is in performance improvement. I’ve been trained to not to call it failure–it is “an opportunity for improvement.”
*I take comfort in God’s knowledge (it isn’t new to him) and presence (I am not alone).
“An opportunity for improvement?” I like that, Shirlee.
“An opportunity for improvement” … I love that, too.
I lean into God through the failures and try to understand what he wants me to learn.
Thanks for sharing this advice, Rachel!
“As for what gets me back on track when need be? My agent.” AMEN!
Rachel, Your colleague and my wonderful agent, Rachelle, has talked me off the ledge more times than I want to consider. It happens to all of us. When it gets really bad, I consider the reason I’m writing, and ask myself what I’d do if I stopped. That usually works.
Thanks for the reminder.
What an encouraging post, Rachel. This especially resonated with me: “It’s not about avoiding failure. It’s about how you face it.”
*For me, I find that first I need to talk to God when I’m discouraged. I also have a few trusted friends who will share truth with me when I need to hear it. Then, I push on. To not push on is to give up. And that’s not an option.
It’s impossible to avoid discouragement, but my passion to write keeps me going. The characters in my story will also call me back from despair. “Don’t give up on us.”
Very timely for me, as illness had made writing very difficult (and still does), and discouragement in other areas of life had completely taken away the ‘meaning’. I knew I could write, but didn’t know what the heck I was writing ABOUT.
* What brought me back? This community. The grace and encouragement I have received here have given the truth to the assertion that we are His Body. I was on the verge of giving up; y’all would not let me.
* And that especially goes for Carol Ashby; she worked with patience and humour to see ‘Emerald Isle’ come out of the darkness to which circumstance had seemingly consigned it. I physically could not get through the edits and formatting; she did that, and more.
* And advice? Reach out. If your soul’s getting a beasting, say something. Give someone the chance to help you.
“Say something” … yes.
It truly was my pleasure, Andrew. It’s s profound story.
Your comments here are a powerful antidote to discouragement
This is a great way to end this week. Thank you! I think like so many others have stated, when I’m discouraged, it’s my love for the story that keeps me going. And it seems like when one area moves discouragement your way, another area moves encouragement your way. Thank goodness for that.
-remembering the compliments and encouragement from early readers.
-knowing that my writing has a purpose, and it’s not just for entertainment.
-YES! My agent!!!
-my husband, he hasn’t bought me a card in years, but he makes the finances work so I can go to conferences or buy books.
-the love of writing.
-my agent.
-knowing that I have the power to change how one culture views another, and that the power is a gift from God and must be used wisely, and lovingly.
Huh, maybe I should get myself a cape and become HumbleGirl, while I’m at it?
-maintaining healthy relationships with family and non-writer friends so that when HumbleGirl gets a kick in the shins, all her Normals are still there, cheering her on.
Thought some practical methods might be of use to some of y’all – it’s easier to fight discouragement with a good Morale Toolkit –
* Maintain a regular sleep schedule, giving yourself one hour less than you think you need. Oversleeping is a bad habit. It lowers energy and resolve.
* Eat well, and try to increase your protein-to-carb ratio while keeping fat consumption low. A good diet helps maintain all those ‘positive’ brain chemicals.
* Exercise regularly. Again, you’re building brain chemicals that help maintain a positive spirit.
* Focus your reading and media viewing on stuff that will help maintain your belief in your core message, and your positive attitude. After a weekend-long Ingmar Bergman Movie Marathon you probably WON’T feel like getting back to your inspirational contemporary romance.
* When people compliment you, believe them. Most compliments are denigrated by the recipient; they become ignored, unopened and discarded gifts. DON’t do this!
* Keep in mind that you have an opportunity fairly rare in the world today…no, not the opportunity to write. The chance to live in a house that protects you from the weather, access to good food, clean water, and medical care, and the knowledge that there will be no midnight knock on the door presaging your disappearance from the life you know…and perhaps from life itself.
* Adopt a stray dog. The sight of a waggy tail that YOU saved can banish the blues quicker than a multi-book contract. And you’d look pretty stupid playing ‘fetch’ with a contract, anyway.
I love your suggestions, Andrew. Spot on, as usual. 🙂 And with that, I’m going to take a walk.
Andrew,
You wrote, “Adopt a stray dog. The sight of a waggy tail that YOU saved can banish the blues quicker than a multi-book contract.” The thought that came to my mind is, “The dog will still be there, ready to play, even if the contract falls through.”
*Thanks for your advice.
Thank you for these wonderful quotes, Rachel. The one that resonates the most with me is: “set aside time to sit and listen and journal.” That’s exactly what I do when I face adversity or challenges of any kind. And then I write out a prayer of petition and praise. God never fails to meet me between the lines of my journal and His Good Book.
Blessings on your weekend ~ Wendy Mac
“God never fails to meet me …” Yes, Wendy Mac. 🙂
Journaling helps me too, Wendy. Something bypasses the mouth and allows my heart to express my thoughts. 🙂 God meets me there in those words.
Shelli and Jeanne, journals are the purest form of “an audience of One”. It’s my favorite place to write–always. By the way, you both write my favorite kind of blog to read: from-the-heart. And Shirlee never fails to remind me of Ruth Bell Grahame with her unique, wise, and succinct words. I’m so glad to have met you all. 🙂
Thanks for all of the wonderful, thoughtful comments! I’m glad these writers’ words resonated with all of you. 🙂
I hope you all have an amazing weekend!
I keep a track of things that encourage me in my writing. It is a folder with the name; “Why I Write”. When I am discouraged I take out my folder and read through the reasons I write. It never fails to get me back on track.
One time I was discouraged because I couldn’t seem to just find the time to write. I read Ezekiel 12:22 “The days go by and every vision comes to nothing”? That really spoke to my heart. I felt rebuked again as I read a quote by Alan Redpath: “Say yes, to the burden that God puts on your heart, and say no to everything else.” I knew that I had some work to do.
Yes, my ‘journal folder’ keeps me encouraged to do the ‘write’ thing!