Stop Eating Bats!

Yesterday morning, I settled in with my coffee, flipped on GMA, and watched Josh and Robin chat about the morning news.

A headline scrolled across the bottom of the screen about an Ebola outbreak in Africa.

Yikes.
Seventeen years ago I read a book called The Hot Zone by Richard Preston. How do I know it was seventeen years ago? We'd just moved to Toledo, Ohio. I didn't know anyone, so I joined a book club at the library. I was twenty-three years old, and I think the closest person in age to me was oh, about sixty-five! But I loved going. It introduced me to books I never would have read, including this one.

So, anyway, I started reading The Hot Zone (which, by the way, is non-fiction!!) and became so horrified I had to finish it in one day. The book seared in my brain, and the one thing I pray I never contract? The Ebola virus!

I will not go into all of the gory details describing the symptoms, but the fact there are people suffering from this right now gives me chills.

BBC News: Africa shared the scoop on the current outbreak. I've linked the article HERE. What surprised me the most? "'Guinea has banned the sale and consumption of bats to prevent the spread of the deadly Ebola virus,' its health minister has said." (BBC News: Africa)

People actually eat bats?

I'm squeamish. I'm also paranoid. My entire life I've believed bats to be little more than mosquito control and rabies agents. To hear that anyone considers them a delicacy messes with my head.

"'Bats, a local delicacy, appeared to be the "main agents" for the Ebola outbreak in the south,' Rene Lamah said." (BBC News: Africa)

Lesson learned. Stop eating bats. Repeat after me. 

STOP EATING BATS!!

Have you read The Hot Zone? Is there a book so horrifying, you've never been able to forget it?

Have a terrific weekend!!

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Neurotic? Oh yeah!

On Wednesday I told you about my first experience with a manuscript being rejected. So I thought I'd share with you the downward spiral of my thinking last summer. No, I didn't have these thoughts often, but when they occurred I wanted them to go away. Pronto.

Here's the setting: summer, home, not working on a new book (mistake #1), studying books on craft in a vain attempt to learn something, trolling through writer's sites on the Internet, and trying to avoid the following thought process.



In Jill's head:


A form rejection! Form rejection. That's bad. That means my writing is so bad, they can't even sign their name. If they sign their name, it means they see something in my writing, but they didn't. Why couldn't I have gotten a signed rejection? There's hope with that. But not with a form. No hope...

Do they keep the worst manuscripts ever submitted just to take out and laugh at every now and then? I wonder if they post a really bad first page on their bulletin board and throw darts at it? Surely they don't have time for that...do they? What if they do?! My book is on an editor's bulletin board and someone has drawn a bulls-eye around it and they are all taking turns throwing darts at it. And they're laughing--ha, ha, ha, ha, ha...

What if they put a long note in their computer next to my name that says something like, Don't ever read anything by this author again. Or, Writing so bad, I threw up. Or This one will give you the hives. Or even, If I ever read anything this terrible again, I'll quit the industry...

What am I going to do now? I don't want to give up on my dream, but what if my dream is unattainable? What if I'll never be good enough? Wait a minute...

I don't ever want anyone looking at my work again. It's childish. It's poorly written. It's lame. I'll never improve. Do you have to be born with talent? Am I deluding myself?

Oh no! I'm one of those American Idol contestants who thinks he's the best singer ever and doesn't even comprehend how bad he really is! I might as well burn every piece I've ever written and tear my robe and put on sackcloth and shave my head and...

How embarrassing! I told all of my family and friends that I'm writing and they know I submitted a manuscript. I have to tell them this crummy news. Will they pity me? Will they shake their heads and wonder how to break it to me that I should quit? Do I have to tell them I completely stink?

Stink... Do I smell too? I'd better check the armpits. I can't tell. Maybe my deodorant is working properly. At least something is working properly and I know it isn't my word selections. If only they had deodorant for bad writing, you know, to cover up the stench of no talent.

I could make a fortune if I came up with that deodorant...

Back to reality.

Okay, so you can see the downward neurotic spiral. The worst part was the more I tried to avoid the thoughts, the more they kept pounding in my head. I finally embraced them. I realized I needed to deal with the pain and doubts swimming in that crazy brain of mine.


Photo by outcast104

I surrendered. When I listened to my heart, when I dropped to my knees and prayed, I knew I'd be okay.

A form rejection--any rejection--is just part of the process. It's not the final grade on your writing. It's just a stepping stone. It can paralyze you. It can motivate you. It can do both. But it can't kill your dream--only you can do that.

Enjoy your weekend!

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Calm Those Irrational Fears

Last week we talked about fears that creep up and paralyze our writing. Guess what? We don't have to put up with fear. We don't have to pay attention to the medley of irrational thoughts playing in our head.

I'm sure you've heard the saying "you have to face your fears." Writers, especially, should follow this advice. Left unchallenged, rotten thoughts will erode our confidence and stifle our talent.

Here are a few come-backs for specific fears.

Fear 1: "I'm never going to be able to write an entire novel. It would take me YEARS!"

Come-back 1: "I can write a novel--one word at a time. Plenty of people finish novels. Why should I be any different?"

Fear 2: "My writing is boring, and the grammar is amateurish. No one would ever want to read it."

Come-back 2: "I'm intelligent, and my writing is boring, full of amateurish grammar sections, I can fix it. I want to read my work, and that's all that matters right now."

Fear 3: "The editor I just submitted to is going to laugh at my query/synopsis/partial."

Come-back 3: "I've done my homework and put together a polished, thoughtful submission."

Fear 4: "It's going to take me a decade--no, a century!--to get published."

Come-back 4: "I have no idea how long it will take me to get published, but I will continue writing, submitting, and learning while I wait."

We all have fears. I deal with new ones on a regular basis. The key for me is to not let myself dwell on ridiculous fears. I talk back to them! It works!

Another way to lick fear is to talk to another writer about it. Writers are generous creatures and they always make me feel better. Some people just have a knack for saying the words I need to hear.

Fear also burrows in when I'm extra-stressed. Sometimes we're able to keep fear under control until we start a new manuscript, submit a project, find out someone we know just got "the call," or get another rejection letter. I try to keep that in mind when the same fear keeps rearing its ugly head.

We need to prevent fear from breeding by feeding our souls. I discussed this earlier in the year, but I think it's a good time to re-hash the concept. When we're overworked, overtired, and stressed out, our minds become susceptible to fears.

So take time for yourself. Do something that brings a smile to your face and a happy sigh to your heart. And don't feel guilty. You need this.

So...how do you deal with fears? Do you talk back to them? Call a friend? Dive into a slice of delicious cake? Take a walk? I'd love to hear from you.

Join me on Wednesday for a light discussion on setting limits.

And...

Get Motivated! It's Monday!

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Fear of Change

The title of this post is broad, so I'll narrow down the focus. Writers at every stage in their career deal with change. I think every new change will fill some writers with terror due to their inherent personality, while the same changes will be easily shrugged off by people with a different temperament.

One thing I understand about myself is that I am who I am. I don't fight my feelings, but neither do I let them overpower me. It's okay to feel fear; it's not okay to let it stop you from living the fullest life of your dreams.

Writers who are just starting out may fear how their life will change. How will I fit writing into an already tight schedule? How will my friends or family adjust to my new commitment? And what if my book is an instant success--how will I deal with the changes that will bring to my life?

Writers who have already tackled those fears may face other scary monsters. What if this book gets rejected? What if I can't finish the next book? What if I run out of ideas? I've told a lot of people that I'm trying to get published; what if they all begin to think I'm a loser? What if the rejections keep coming? Will I have to decide if I want to continue writing? Maybe I was wrong--maybe I'm not really a writer?

Writers who've gotten "the call" and who've published a book or two may find themselves with a whole new set of fears. What if I was a one hit wonder? What if I sell my next book, but I get less sales? Will my editor still want me? What if my agent hates the proposals I come up with? Can I match my earlier success? What if I can't squeeze in the line-edits my editor needs in two days? How will I ever get all the promotional work done for my last book and still write my new book?

Writers who have been multi-published may have a different level of fears. Have I already written this premise before? What if my writing is getting stale? What if I run out of ideas? What if my editor decides she wants newer, younger, fresher writers? The enthusiasm and energy I had five years ago is wearing thin--how do I cut back on the number of books I put out without alienating my readers? Without my editor dropping me? When am I going to have time to enjoy my success?

There's a common illusion among unpublished writers who are trying to get published that once they get "the call" and their books are on shelves, their problems disappear. Fear? No way! What could they possibly be afraid of after their dream comes true?

Maybe some of the fears and problems will disappear, but new ones take their place. That's why it's vital to come up with strategies to deal with them. Fears will change, but we can use the same strategies to knock them down. Next week we'll look at ways to say "adios" to our fears.

Join me on Friday and...

Write Already! It's Wednesday!

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Common Fears of Beginning Writers

Maybe Monday isn't the best day to discuss fears, but I'm going to shrug it off and do it anyway. One reality of life is that when people have to deal with a difficult situation, they often feel as if no one on the planet has ever dealt with that situation before. The pain can feel isolating, and the correct course of action seems hazy because, of course, it's the first time EVER in the universe that particular problem has occurred.

Right?

I'm sure your snickering a little. Me too. We can be self-delusional at times, and it can be painful to realize other people have indeed been through what we're going through. You mean I'm not the first person on earth to ruin a friendship, get a divorce, forget a major appointment-- you fill in the blank. When we realize that we have plenty of company in our particular failure, there may be, for a brief moment, a sensation of let-down. After all, it can be a teeny bit romantic being such a spectacular failure--and the first one at that!

Later, though, comes an inevitable feeling of relief. If someone else has been in the same situation and lived to tell about it, well there really is hope. And that feels good!



With that in mind, I'm sharing with you a few common fears of beginning writers. Maybe you've been through these already, or maybe you've been spared these feelings? I know I've felt them at one time or another, and I still wrestle them down on occasion.

Inflated Belief #1: My writing is awesome! So clever, so original--it's going to knock the world's socks off!

Corresponding Fear #1: No one has actually read my work or commented on it. What if it not only doesn't knock the world's socks off, but it becomes a dart board of laughter at some editor's desk?

Hey, some writers do impress editors with their debut (and never-been-seen-by-anyone-other-than-dear-old-Aunt Betty) manuscripts. The majority, however, do not impress on the first go round. Guess what? That's okay. If you're reading this and haven't submitted a manuscript to an editor yet, I'm going to give you a great piece of advice that's been given to many, many writers. Have another writer critique it.
Find someone you trust, who you know will give you an honest, but kind, evaluation, or do the exact opposite and give it to a complete stranger. Whatever works for you. ACFW and RWA both have writing chapters where you can meet other writers or find an online critique group.

Another great option? Enter your manuscript in a few contests that offer feedback. It's not easy hearing our work isn't perfect, but it helps us grow as writers. And, hey, maybe you'll get lucky and it really is the greatest book by a debut author! You'll feel even more confident sending it to an editor.

Feedback will help you find a middle ground in your confidence level. You won't feel like a hopeless shmuck, nor will you have unfounded delusions of grandeur. You'll simply see areas where you can improve, and you'll see areas that you truly excel at. Then you can think how awesome you are--and mean it!

Inflated belief #2: A few people read my book and told me they loved it. It must be good.

Corresponding fear #2: They're just being nice. They hate it and are laughing behind my back at my ridiculous attempts to write a book. Why don't I just join the Witness Relocation Program and disappear?

The flip side of over-confidence in your writing is under-confidence. And yes, the two do appear simultaneously on occasion. Here's the reality of writing. Some people will read your work and they won't like it, but they'll do anything to avoid hurting your feelings. Other people, especially other writers who genuinely want to help you, will give you spot-on feedback. You have to honestly ask yourself which category the reader falls into. If you still lack confidence in your book, get a few more opinions. And always, always, trust your instincts. Don't take advice you don't agree with.

These are just a few of the big fears many writers who are preparing to submit to editors face. My hope is that all writers understand they aren't alone in their fears, their hopes, their confidence or lack of. The more writers I talk to, the more I hear, "been there, done that."

Doesn't that make you feel good?

Join me on Wednesday when we'll look at other fears writers face.

And...

Get Motivated! It's Monday!

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