tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post7930750769865954806..comments2023-12-25T00:38:19.500-08:00Comments on Finding Wonderland: The WritingYA Weblog (archive): Coping MechanismsSarah Stevensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16534942492714970282noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-40903592972554676012008-03-12T10:36:00.000-07:002008-03-12T10:36:00.000-07:00I like the idea of doing jobs for which you can se...I like the idea of doing jobs for which you can see progress and results. That's a great idea.<BR/><BR/>Also acknowledging/remembering that we ourselves are a work in progress helps. Looking back at old work and seeing how far we've come can be an encouragement... and a helpful realization that eventually we may look back at THIS mss. and be able to see the flaws more clearly.<BR/><BR/>It's easy to be angry about the rigged game, but giving up on yourself as a player is much, much worse than anything any editor or agent could do to you.tanita✿davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01671822274852087499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-16334440423507327682008-03-12T08:03:00.000-07:002008-03-12T08:03:00.000-07:00In a blog post I wrote but never published, I wrot...In a blog post I wrote but never published, I wrote about some of those coping mechanisms I used after two professional rejections of sorts that, to put it mildly, bruised my feelings. I ended up doing five loads of laundry, purging my wardrobe, scheduling a donations pickup of said purge, and digging in the garden. The idea was that I could do jobs that had visible results. <BR/><BR/>Yesterday, I booked a gig, and that made me happier, but I knew that I couldn't wait for that gig in order to get over my feelings of disappointment. <BR/><BR/>Those original blog posts really resonated with a lot of us! I'm grateful. The timing couldn't have been more perfect.<BR/><BR/>Big hugs.Saints and Spinnershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04733517166056974501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-40262959209224845752008-03-11T20:12:00.000-07:002008-03-11T20:12:00.000-07:00"a book can be a friend, a comfort, an anchor"... ..."a book can be a friend, a comfort, an anchor"... <BR/><BR/>Ain't it the truth. Keep on truckin', Sarah. And pepper the tough days with naps, blogs and perspective. You're fighting the good fight to be sure...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-35711297626028902392008-03-11T07:46:00.000-07:002008-03-11T07:46:00.000-07:00Sam is right. Publishing has to be something you h...Sam is right. Publishing has to be something you have unshakable belief in yourself about, otherwise you'll clue in: "Hey. I'm playing a game and I don't know the rules and they might change?!" -- and you'll get upset.<BR/><BR/>Don't quit. THat's the main thing.tanita✿davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01671822274852087499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-20534734373914117602008-03-11T05:54:00.000-07:002008-03-11T05:54:00.000-07:00Here's a coping mechanism that is also the cold ha...Here's a coping mechanism that is also the cold hard truth:<BR/><BR/>We're playing a game in which the rules are not only stacked against us, but they are also unknown to us.<BR/>The complete rules are also unknown to editors, publishers and even the book-buyers. However, some people seem to have a feel for them.<BR/><BR/>So we might write what appears to be a good book, even a great book, but because of the rules of the game it's really a dud.<BR/><BR/>Some people seem to figure out the rules and slip in with a lousy book. And others are unaware of the rules and just happen to write a perfect book.<BR/><BR/>But the masters, like Sachar, have sussed out the rules well enough to play the game AND they write great books within those constraints.<BR/><BR/>So when you get rejected ... realize that you may have made a great shot, you just did it after the three-point buzzer went off or into the wrong basket or some such violation of the unknown, but sacrosanct rules.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09492841891625994218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-25251677313785806962008-03-11T03:48:00.000-07:002008-03-11T03:48:00.000-07:00Naps, gym time, new drawings, reading...all good. ...Naps, gym time, new drawings, reading...all good. So is reminding yourself of your mission. You already know what's important to you, and you're giving time to it. The world, slow as it can be sometimes, will have to catch up and pay attention. Or else! :)Sarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12225998457253574928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10890387.post-16944005962878894242008-03-10T20:03:00.000-07:002008-03-10T20:03:00.000-07:00Stephen King's nail-o-rejections always helps me. ...Stephen King's nail-o-rejections always helps me. Have you read "On Writing"? His rejections part is fabulous.<BR/><BR/>I read about the Welsh suicides a month or so ago. A terrible story.<BR/><BR/>Keep on keeping on, Sarah! You can do it. (I'm right here with you.)Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15169707337312707247noreply@blogger.com