Writer should be spelled W-A-R-R-I-O-R
by Lisa Yarde
Wow. I've slogged through the blood, guts, muck and mire over at one of my favourite boards this weekend. I feel just as bruised and battered by the experience as those who lived through and posted it. People in tears over 1-star reviews, writers vowing to quit, another episode of "vote that bitch down" and the reviewer from hell can make anyone, even leather-skinned me, want to come in from the cold.
Word of advice to you would-be published writers: bring your armour (your rational half), your best sword (your best book) and your best shield (the people who will still love you even if you never write another word) when you step into this arena of publishing. You will need it all for your sanity. Arm yourself with a bit of patience, common sense, business sense and you'll survive.
What's waiting for you? Your worst nightmare. People who do not give two shits of a rat's ass who you are, what you think you've written and why they should read it. These troll folks thrive on a writer's misery and guess who they'll be eyeing someday?
What's a writer-warrior to do?
1. Stop thinking of your book as your baby. A parent will do anything to defend their baby against all harm. Granted, even the fugliest baby in the world has parents who adore it. But's that all about your heart. I'm asking you to bring your HEAD to this fight. Your book is your BUSINESS. Sometimes, business stinks. Learn to recognize that it's about the book, not about you. Stop making things personal. Focus on the book – not the one you put out that the critics have almost slashed to death. It's already out there. The other side has seen it and judged its worth. Time to put that rusty sword away and come out swinging with another one. An even better one.
2. Stop giving other people control over your emotions just because they didn't like your book. I say this as someone who's received wonderful and piss-poor reviews in turn, so believe me, it will feel like crap when you receive the latter kind. Just remember you're in good company; all the great writers have a 1-star review too. Do not let anonymous or mean comments from people whom you will never meet or interact with face-to-face make you anything other than who you are. If you drop your armour, that rational side of your brain that should say, "This is one person's opinion," then they've already won. Your next adversary – self-doubt – won't be so easily defeated.
3. Stop judging your self-worth by your books. If I had to, I could walk away from self-publishing tomorrow with full confidence and no regret. Why? Writing is not my full-time career (not yet!) and it sure doesn't define my existence. It is a portion of the sum of my parts, not my whole being. Writers are so wrapped up in the lives on the page that sometimes we forget the other people. You know, the real ones? The folks who loved you before you even thought of writing. Who will still care about you even if you stopped. Remember them? Keep them at your side cause they don't judge you by what you can do or write but for who you are. You'll need them when the first form rejection, first bad review, first pittance in royalties come in. Trust me, they are your best shield against what's out there.
For now, I'm waiting for you in the trenches. Come out fighting!
Word of advice to you would-be published writers: bring your armour (your rational half), your best sword (your best book) and your best shield (the people who will still love you even if you never write another word) when you step into this arena of publishing. You will need it all for your sanity. Arm yourself with a bit of patience, common sense, business sense and you'll survive.
What's waiting for you? Your worst nightmare. People who do not give two shits of a rat's ass who you are, what you think you've written and why they should read it. These troll folks thrive on a writer's misery and guess who they'll be eyeing someday?
What's a writer-warrior to do?
1. Stop thinking of your book as your baby. A parent will do anything to defend their baby against all harm. Granted, even the fugliest baby in the world has parents who adore it. But's that all about your heart. I'm asking you to bring your HEAD to this fight. Your book is your BUSINESS. Sometimes, business stinks. Learn to recognize that it's about the book, not about you. Stop making things personal. Focus on the book – not the one you put out that the critics have almost slashed to death. It's already out there. The other side has seen it and judged its worth. Time to put that rusty sword away and come out swinging with another one. An even better one.
2. Stop giving other people control over your emotions just because they didn't like your book. I say this as someone who's received wonderful and piss-poor reviews in turn, so believe me, it will feel like crap when you receive the latter kind. Just remember you're in good company; all the great writers have a 1-star review too. Do not let anonymous or mean comments from people whom you will never meet or interact with face-to-face make you anything other than who you are. If you drop your armour, that rational side of your brain that should say, "This is one person's opinion," then they've already won. Your next adversary – self-doubt – won't be so easily defeated.
3. Stop judging your self-worth by your books. If I had to, I could walk away from self-publishing tomorrow with full confidence and no regret. Why? Writing is not my full-time career (not yet!) and it sure doesn't define my existence. It is a portion of the sum of my parts, not my whole being. Writers are so wrapped up in the lives on the page that sometimes we forget the other people. You know, the real ones? The folks who loved you before you even thought of writing. Who will still care about you even if you stopped. Remember them? Keep them at your side cause they don't judge you by what you can do or write but for who you are. You'll need them when the first form rejection, first bad review, first pittance in royalties come in. Trust me, they are your best shield against what's out there.
For now, I'm waiting for you in the trenches. Come out fighting!
Lisa Yarde
__________________________
Urban Book Circle® (UBC)
__________________________
Urban Book Circle® (UBC)
Words & Photographs: Lisa Yarde
All rights reserved 2012. Copyright © Lisa Yarde
Edited by Deidre McAuliffe
C O N T A C T
Published by Urban Book Circle on May 16, 2013
Urban Book Circle® (UBC)
All rights reserved 2012. Copyright © Lisa Yarde
Edited by Deidre McAuliffe
C O N T A C T
Published by Urban Book Circle on May 16, 2013
Urban Book Circle® (UBC)
