As a
young adult, a family friend gave me grief about going to college to get my MRS
degree. I had heard the comment before,
but this person I respected and the comment hurt. In reality, I did get the MRS degree before
my BSED. The fact haunted me and drove
me to overcome some pretty big obstacles until I did get that second slip of
paper. The funny part is I have continuously
used my MRS degree for the past 24 years.
I really only used the BSED for three years. I so love irony in real life.
From
the time spelling entered my life, I knew it would be a handicap for
education. I studied and studied and
failed and failed. In third grade, I was
introduced to Little House on the Prairie. I wanted to be just like Laura when I grew
up. I wanted to write. I can’t even begin to remember all the people
that said my spelling was so horrible that I couldn’t go into an English
field. In fact, one teacher wouldn’t
sign off for me to take College Prep English.
But how can you deny your heart’s desire? I loved to write. I loved playing with words either in my
daydreams or on the page creating scenes and characters. Did I listen to these people? Heavens no!
I talked with my guidance counselor.
She gave me permission to take the class. I also invested in a pocket dictionary. My second degree on my certificate is
English. I also worked in the writing
lab of the college I attended. I taught
English and journalism for three years.
The
latest naysayers in my life now make comments about me publishing. I have written four books and ten short
stories. I technically started the
process in 1993. My first rejection
threw me into a major case of writer’s block.
I actually listened to a naysayer.
Luckily a couple of supporters kept nudging me to write. In the last six years, I have written 592,857
words. I have been rejected three more
times. In that period, I have read a lot
of books and blog sites about writing.
In the past two years, my fiction writing has improved a good 50% or
more. I am so excited. I have struggled through the pathways of
traditional brick and mortar publishing verses e-publishing independently. I have chosen e-publishing for the time
being, but this entails more work. I am
learning more then I could ever imagine in all areas related to
publishing: formatting, sales,
promotion, uploading, and book covers. This
all takes a great amount of time, a little bit of money, and a ton of
patience. I am getting closer though, I
can feel it.
Thus,
the latest comment about me still not being close to publishing really annoyed
me. I have two short stories that are
done in the area of writing. My third
story is being read by 2nd readers.
My fourth needs one more run through and it will go to my 1st
readers. My fifth story needs a complete
edit as does my first book with my readers giving more perspective. These six pieces of writing will then need to
be formatted. I will need to work out
publishing pages, blurbs, pricing, book covers, and promotions. These last tasks I am learning how to do
while I am still writing and editing.
This is a huge amount of work. My
goal is to have them out by this next spring after taking four various classes
that should help in the process.
So,
what do we do about these negative comments that are thrown our way whether in
all seriousness or in jest? Definitely,
don’t take them to heart. I try to use
them as fuel. I blow at them coaxing
them along. Soon, the comments turn into
an inferno that will create success.
Best of all though, listen to all of the coaches out there. I am very blessed to have quite a few
supporters. I rely on them when I
struggle with the naysayers. Oh, and at
times, I can be the worst of all naysayers.
“I
have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me.” Philippians 4:13.
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