Yesterday brought me two extremes.
I cried tears of joy, squeeeeeeing uncontrollably, one moment and fell into complete sadness the next. {HUGS} to those friends, who let me into their lives and shared their emotions.
How strange life can be. How weird and unpredictable this world we live in actually is. Living the life of an artist, brings an uncontrollable element – other people. Those who create beauty either with words or paint or whatever exist to share what they do and with that comes the fabulousness of acceptance and the devastation of rejection.
We can’t do what we do without people to receive it. And we want people to read our words, experience our art. And, lord help us all, we want people to LIKE what we do.
Therein lies the problem. That bad review… that rejection waving the red flag of failure. In our minds, we know not everyone will like what we do, we know the rejections will come. And no matter how many you get, they hurt! Our hearts scream that we’re not good enough. But we can’t give up, I mean take a day to shovel chocolate in your face and feel like an utter waste of space, sure. Then get up. Find friends who can remind you how awesome you are (and listen to them, people, they know stuff). Because the person who is wiping away tears of joy one day might not feel so hot the next. The despairing person licking the bottom of the carton of ice cream at 3 am might be celebrating a victory hours later.
I’m hovering somewhere in-between hope and giving up completely. I’m cheer leading for my friends. I’m CPing. I’m working on short stories, because they’re fun. I’m waiting (not patiently) for a new story contest to be announced… AH! And then panic because what if I enter and I suck! *breathes*
As I linger here in limbo, I take stock of my victories and sit with my doubts. If my life means forever cheer leading? That’s okay. I will continue to critique others’ manuscripts, because, when someone says that my comment helped them make their story better, I sit up straighter and smile brighter.
But I won’t ever stop writing. I won’t ever stop sending my words out into the world, hoping someone loves them. That darn dream.
The world is weird. The life of an artist is strange, unexplainable, a roller coaster of emotions. Get on the ride. Enjoy it. Relish the fact you get to ride even when turns evil. For all my writer friends, (and we won’t dwell on the sad fact that most of them exist on Twitter) stay awesome, keep supporting each other, share encouragement, share your words.
In the end, figure out who you want to be and BE THAT PERSON. You can’t ever fail at being you. EVER.
Why are you eating chocolate,no, scratch that stupid part of this question, why are you eating ice cream at 3am when you read a fabulous short story yesterday? It was a frightening, compassionate and fascinating character study.
On the other hand, thanks for articulating the misery of being a writer. Without those doubts, we start writing crap.,
Only other writers understand the chaos that goes on inside our beans. As Red Green says: We’re all in this together.
Thank goodness for all my writer friends!
Writing isn’t for the faint of heart. Even after you sell & people like your work, there’s always the next book, the next story. And you worry. If we get too complacent, it’s a bad sign.
True. Our doubts drive us to do better.
TBH, bad reviews don’t bother me. I know my story isn’t for everyone . . . and some people can’t enjoy a good story, they’re always looking for some flaw b/c who knows why? They’re jealous they never wrote their own story? They are bitter and miserable? I don’t give those people the time of day. And sometimes the ‘bad’ review can turn out to be a helpful critique that makes me a stronger writer, for which I’m grateful 🙂 So keep your chin up and just write!
Thanks! 🙂 Reviews are weird. Some help me choose a book and some are just rants.
Bad reviews sting at first, but the psyche is an amazing thing. Over time we grow more immune to the negative reviews, and sometimes, we even enjoy them. By that I mean sometimes the reviewer isn’t criticizing the writing, rather they’re criticizing the story and getting into a debate on whether such and such could actually happen or not. I take this as a good sign. I ticked them off enough to leave a review about it. I decided that’s better than indifference. Well, sometimes… 😉
Ooohh! Starting a debate, that’s great! Our words should inspire emotion, even if its arguing. lol
I still hold firm that your writing is awesome. I love going into your worlds – I look forward to it. And you are an amazing CP – my MS is sparkling because of you!! I will always be available to shout ‘You’re Awesome’! Because YOU ARE. We all know that rejections are part and parcel of the whole process, some of the very best have been told ‘No’ only to be told ‘Yes’ later on! x
Thank you! 🙂 I am truly enjoying CPing for YOU! Speaking of… I need to be reading.
I love reading your comments, they make me smile and laugh every time! 🙂
uh….WHO rejected you..they are TOAST!!!! i actually said worse words out loud but i didn’t want to put them here…you know..i’m somewhat civilized…..sorta…ANYWAY..you ARE an AWESOME writer!!! I am glad to hear that you wont stop. I also think its great you can cheerleader from the sidelines for others…and do it SO WELL that others benefit from it! and not have the green-eyed monster right beside you is even better.
a round of applause for YOU KATHY
I would bow, but … blushing and hiding. lol I have more rejections on the way, I’m sure. It’s okay. Someday I’ll get the yes. AND YOU GET A SIGNED COPY! I love reading what my fellow writers write. I love watching great things happen to fabulous people. And I accept whatever fate sends my way, once the words are out of my hand… it’s not up to me.
ahhhhh! a signed copy!!!!! just fainted and fell out of chair!!!!!
CANNOT wait for that day!!!!!!!
“The life of an artist is strange, unexplainable, a roller coaster of emotions.” Amen to that sister!
Put your hands in the air and scream!