Clinging
Okay, first, as an aside . . . when the blue Wiggle starts looking like a sex symbol to you, you've been home mothering sick kids for WAY too long. Baby Girl, after seeming to bounce back, took a major step backward last night, and I was up all night long with a vomiting child again. The blue Wiggle looks HOT to me today. I think I have finally lost whatever tentative grip on sanity I had.But back to writing. I have a Buddhist quote for you:
The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new. ~Pema Chödrön
Think about this as it applies to your writing.
Some people cling to the "truth" that they "can't" do x or y in their fiction, or they aren't any good at queries, or they can't venture out to a conference and do an agent appointment, or they can't ask writer x to blurb their manuscript. They cling to insecurities that hold them back from any new reality. They fear rejection so much that they hold onto a false vision of truth that pins them, clinging, to the side of a rock, hanging over a precipice. They create truths to support their fears.
Others . . . well, they cling to the idea that they don't need an editor, that they are ready, that they know all there is about craft. Their truth keeps them from taking risks and improving as writers. They stop growing. They surround themselves with newer writers who fawn over them so that their truth is supported. They fancy themselves "editors" or teachers, when we all need editors and teachers ourselves.
Others? They cling to the rumors that spread through this industry like wildfire--that you can't sell a detective story right now, or a historical or a fill-in-the-blank (when really, if a book blew 'em away, you could sell anything at any time), or you have to follow x and y rules to break in. That there even ARE rules (aside from what's in Strunk and White).
And the worst truth to cling to has to do with facing that precipice. Peering down. Because nearly every writer has SOMETHING he or she really doesn't want to face. That, deep down, the current work in progress is a mess and maybe cannot be salvaged. That the voice isn't working. That they are surrounded by yes-men critique partners and there's some cold, hard reality about their writing that they just cannot bear to hear. And so they cling for all it's worth to the safe rock--which really isn't as safe as one might think.
Let go of some truth today. Hear something new.
Thoughts?
Labels: truth
posted by Erica Orloff at 7:08 AM
20 Comments:
I struggle with that daily. It seems the things I most resist are the things I need the most. Same with fear.
I'd be smarter to take comfort in the resistance and fear, since they're such a clear indicator of what I need to do.
LOL, but what is a blue wiggle? The images I'm getting! Cyberhugs to you and her ... how's she doing?
"They create truths to support their fears."
Um, yeah. How'd you manage to crawl inside my head while you were ill and completely distracted by laundry and sick kiddies???
(((hope everyone is on the mend this morning)))
Hi Spy:
Fear is at the root of so many human problems. Believe me, I have a closet full of 'em.
The Wiggles are an Australian kiddie show/"band." The blue one is, if you are delusional from no sleep, sort of sexy when he smiles. Plus he has an Austalian accent. And appears to keep himself fit. ;-)
E
Hi Lainey:
Thanks for the cyber hug. I really don't know WHAT is going on with Baby Girl. I thought we had turned a big corner . . . but she was bad, bad, bad last night.
As for truths that support fears . . . it keeps us in a nice safe box. You know I've blogged before about people who will e-pub 100 novels, all unedited or barely edited, or will self-pub book after book, and create a truth that they don't want or need NY. Now, if that's the case, then really . . . be happy in your niche. But then "truths" are created about how it's impossible to earn out advances in NY, or compete, or that it's a racket or this or that . . . slamming the other side. But what's down the precipice? Really? And believe me, it's NOT easy to face that. I definitely have a book or two in me that I just don't think I'm writer enough to write at the moment . . . therefore I haven't even TRIED yet. Mostly it's lack of time, but I know enough about myself to know that if I let go of the fear and tried, I might be surprised by the result.
E
I wondered about the blue wiggle too. Sorry about your daughter. I'm sending healing vibes to her.
When we sub, my CPs and I always tell each other to rip it up. (Politely, of course.) We want to know the truth, to get better, otherwise what use are we.
I think it's seeing the bravery of my CPs and other writing friends that makes me brave in my writing.
Hi Edie:
My best friend, a writer, inspires me. She took up writing a few years ago (at my prodding--she's amazingly talented) and her first novel, a fantasy, is agented and "out there." She had never written anything before . . . and the book is a msterpiece.
E
Back when my son and I watched Sponge Bob quite a bit, I would sometimes say I thought Sandy was sexy. He never said anything about her being a fictional character, or a cartoon. He would say, "Dad! She's a friggin' squirrel!" :)
A few months ago I nearly bought into the rumor that PI novels aren't selling. I was all set to overhaul my character, force him into something he isn't, when I finally came to my senses. He is what he is. Anything else would seem contrived. I've gotten a lot of good feedback on the book, and I still believe (after months on submission) that it will eventually sell. If not, #2 is in the works, and not subject to rumor manipulation.
So I learned something, eh? You write the best book you can, be true to your character and voice, get it out there and hope for the best. Listening to well-meaning but ultimately poisonous rumors on the internet can set you back and make you more neurotic than you already are.
Hi Jude:
Chick lit is dead. But you know what? Publishers are still buying "romantic comedy." They package it differently, maybe it's edgier, but it's still around.
E
I've read of two sales recently similiar to what I'm currently working on. I've tried not to panic, but there is a nagging voice that says "You took too long again." Instead of, "Yay. They're buying what you write!"
Stupid voice.
P.S.
The blue wiggle? I'm beginning to worry. ;)
That's interesting, Erica. A while back I went to an author's website and he said he'd queried widely with a "psychological suspense" novel. No bites. Then, he sent more queries out for the same book but this time called it "noir" instead of psychological suspense. That's the only thing he changed in his query. Bingo. Several offers followed and a series was born.
Hard to figure this business sometimes.
heather:
Believe me . . . I'M worried! LOL!
And let go of that voice. YOU have YOUR story to tell.
:-)
E
Jude:
I've heard of many similar stories from writer pals over the years.
E
Jude:
P.S. I've also had a friend sell a book as a "man" but not a woman. Same book. Pen name.
E
So true about those truths you said about e-pubbing with Lainey. That's totally my challenge (well, I haven't written anywhere close to a hundred books, yet), because whenever I talk to or read NY authors, they say "don't expect to make money from this" or "don't quit your day job" or "don't write with the view of publication; it's a long shot."
I totally need to not listen and not let them be my truths, but it's a challenge. Do you know I only know TWO authors who have NOT said one of the above? In fact, I deleted 90% of NY published authors' blogs from my Google Reader because I just didn't need to hear that anymore. I swear, I get that it's hard, but I just need to focus on writing. I can write fast enough to support me and a pseudonym, so I have no excuse.
There's a reason why you're my first read of the day, LOL. You always write such helpful and true things, that always seem to be what I need to hear.
If it was the Yellow Wiggle, I'd worry. The blue one is sort of cute ;)
Sending love and healing to you, your Baby Girl and the rest of your family.
This past month has seen me let go of a number of illusions about this WIP and I'm sure there's more to come. Growing is hard. But staying in the safety zone is less fun.
Hi Spy:
I guess as a risk-taker, I would never think to discourage anyone. It can happen . . . .
E
j.k.
You are right. Staying in the safety zone can get boring.
E
Spy:
Just write a noir romantic comedy and change your name to Bill. :)
Seriously, though, I try to think of NY not as a wall but a door. It's open to dozens of new authors every year, and I figure one of them might as well be me.
I'm not clinging to any truths. I swear I'm not. You are. Everyone else is. But not me. And that's the truth.
There's a reason why you're my first read of the day, LOL. You always write such helpful and true things, that always seem to be what I need to hear.
Spy took the words out of my mouth. This was another great post.
Hi Stephen:
Thanks. :-)
E
Post a Comment
<< Home