I’ve been thinking about failure a lot lately. Forward progress on all of my current projects have been stymied by a variety of things. I’ve been far too much in my head. Not only is that a scary place to be, it is also an unproductive place to be. What writing I’m able to get done comes in fits and starts, ie. 250 flash-fiction words at a time. Sales are down across the board. So are the pages read numbers on Amazon. I struggled with revisions on one project and after struggling with revisions on a second, I’ve simply trashed the entire first three chapters with the idea of starting over. Except every time I stare at that blank page, I discover my imagination is just as blank. Freaking hampster wheel. *grrrr At the moment, I’m pretty much feeling like a failure. Then the Universe, in it’s infinite wisdom, drops this into my inbox…
One’s ability to succeed, Silver, is always proportional to one’s willingness to fail.
Besides, all failures are temporary, all tigers are paper, and life is a many splendored thing.
Go for it, Silver –
The Universe
© http://www.tut.com ®It also helps to happy dance and “woo-hoo,” lots, Silver, but these are optional.
Put this together with a comment from an aspiring writer who is also a reader of my books dropped a comment on facebook, saying she thinks my books are brilliant. That’s worth a big “woo-hoo.” And maybe a little happy dance. So, time to face the failures, put them behind me and move on so I can set myself up to succeed. That’s how it works. It doesn’t come on a silver platter. It come from hard work. No more moping. Time to jump off that damned hamster wheel, get on a merry-go-round, and grab the brass ring! Who’s with me?
Silver James 
Silver –You kick ass as a writer ,a friend and a cheerleader to those of us who struggle to get words on the pages, and keep going.
I have struggled lately because my heart doesn’t know what the hell is going on, when it seemed like things were going well- its nice to have a bright spot- but that is fading away, but Ive dealt with this before, so I should be good at it.So my mind is doing the dog trying to catch his tail going around in circles.
Can you say pity party for one.
But I have been pouring it on the pages, I have lots more blog material.
So hang in there, my dog will eventually cstch his tail and it will be I did it, time to move on the better things.
Have a great day.
Thank you for your kind words, Kimber. And yes, your dog will and things will be better for us both. I’ve managed almost 2500 words on the rewrite, plus 250 more words on Sade’s next book so I AM making progress.
You’ll find your path, tail or no tail and you’ll have great days ahead! ❤
You are brilliant. But it’s nice to have an objective party tell us things like that. And yeah, that’s seems to be the wicked headspace a lot of us are stuck in right now. Sales down, no one’s reviewing, the bills are due… and it all feels like it’s outside our control. Sort of ‘what’s the point of all this anyway?’ It’s a dark and lonely place. Good thing we writers have each other to commiserate. And the universe to whisper positive things in our ears.
For me, at least I’ll be able to go into the woods and start working in there again. And maybe sneak away to do some fishing. Not today, mind you, but the option is there.
Exactly! I wish I could go into the woods with you, just to tramp around and talk and commiserate and rant and shake fists at the vast cosmic void. And now I have another earworm for you. 😉
I lurve that scene! I also love the huddle ‘pep-talk’ from that movie.
You’re welcome in my woods anytime. It’s not 100-acre, but I’m sure we could find Eeyore in there somewhere.
As much as I identify with Eeyore, I fear I need a bit of Tigger in my life. Of course, Pooh is always welcome. 😉