We’ve come a long way in these last few weeks. I know some of you have received wonderful news of an offer from an agent or editor. Others have new contracts. Sadly, some received disappointing news. We’ve talked a lot about that. Hopefully, you’ve been able to put some of my suggestions in place to help you through that emotion. When dealing with disappointment—or any negative emotion—there comes a time when we just have to pick ourselves up by the boot straps and move on. Easier said than done. I get that. I really do, but at some point, you’re only hurting yourself if you don’t. Here are a few things to keep in mind as decide to move on. 1) Leave it in the history books. Regardless of how […]
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Dealing With Disappointment, Part 3: Love the One You’re With
One of the greatest disappointment challenges we face as writers is that of self-esteem. If your great story is rejected, criticized or questioned, it can eat away at your sense of self worth until you conclude you’re a bad person. It’s important that you love the one you’re with: YOU! You’re with you more than anyone on the planet…yes even Aunt Bessie who follows you into the bathroom. You have to guard your beliefs so that rejection doesn’t equal bad person. It’s a common malady but there are things you can do to help. Here are what I consider the top five: Hold a pity party! No, you didn’t misread that. For 11 minutes and 43 seconds, party hearty. Mumble and grumble about how unfair life is and how disappointed […]
Read the RestDealing With Disappointment, Part 2: Why Don’t I Feel Better?
Remember in the Sound of Music when after all the Von Trapp children did everything to overcome their disappointment after discovering Maria had returned to the Abby? They sang and tried to brave their feelings only to have the smallest one, Gretta, utter in despair, “Why don’t I feel better?” That same sigh is all too common when writers are disappointed. Even when they try to grin and bear it, they still wind up with a heavy hearts. Your hopes lifted your spirits to an all-time high, only to toss you out of the plane without a parachute. When you plummeted back to earth, you emotionally crashed and burned. Please don’t agree with me and stop reading now. Listen to your heart. Fire in your soul, whether it is from […]
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Dealing With Disappointment, Part One: Ouch! That Hurts!
Many of you recently attended the ACFW annual conference in Dallas. Those who did pinned hopes on getting some sort of exciting news or opportunity. MBT Voices overall received overwhelmingly positive news. So why am I writing this? Because with the sweet comes the bitter. I’ve dealt with and helped people through disappointment for decades. There are some things I’ve seen in the circumstance that contributes to the emotion of disappointment that I want to share. Having Unrealistic Expectations. Truly there are novice novelists who go to their first conference expecting that the biggest publishers in the industry will stand in line to snatch up their masterpiece…that hasn’t quite been finished. Ok, it really hasn’t been written yet, but with a contract in hand, they could stay up late one […]
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