Attitude. How to Earn an A for Author Attitude. Make yourself your most valuable writing career asset. I began teaching workshops to writers over three decades ago. From the beginning, my mission was to share what I know about the publishing world.
My knowledge comes from many years as a book editor and literary agent. My mission comes from many years as an unpublished, then published author. Back then, I could have benefited from what I have learned since as a publishing professional. I pass those lessons on to you, so that you may navigate the publishing marketplace more effectively in your own writing careers.
The specifics of my message have changed as your author needs have changed. My current message is about how to combat the self-sabotage I find so rampant among writers who hope to be published, or better published, in this time of diminished opportunities.
Getting published has always been a challenge. Finding success in any competitive arena is difficult. Many try, but relatively few are chosen. That situation has not changed. You may not be able to alter these circumstances, but you can alter the way you respond to them.
Attitude. How to Earn an A for Author Attitude. You must empower yourself in your writing career. You empower yourself when you commit to two priorities. #1. To use your time and talents to grow your career potential, however tough the challenges may be. #2. To control your reactions to the limitations you encounter along the way.
You can make it through these difficult times. You can make it through because you already possess at least some of the skills and resources that will take you there. You only need to reassesswhat those resources are, and be guided toward a strategy for employing them. That strategy begins with examining your Attitude.
Triumph through adversity has everything to do with Attitude. And your first Attitude Adjustment must be to accept the following. To succeed you will have to do battle. You have no other choice, if your passion is to write and bring your writing to the world.
Attitude. How to Earn an A for Author Attitude. Your second Attitude Adjustment must be to fight back fear. Struggle against fear as fiercely as your story heroine struggles against the obstacles in her path in order to survive and thrive. I have waged similar fear-filled fights in my writing career. As an author, you are destined to do the same.
Will yourself through the scary places. Here is a practical exercise to prepare you for that adventure. First thing every morning say these words, out loud and with passion, to your mirror. “I will not be afraid today. I refuse to let anxiety infest my spirit today.”
How else do you fight back fear? Change your thinking about now and the future. Change your attitude toward today, and also toward tomorrow. Particularly in terms of your goals for yourself and your writing career.
Attitude. How to Earn an A for Author Attitude. Stop discouraging yourself. Stop thinking of your goal as far away. Stop thinking of your progress toward your goal as painfully slow. That kind of thinking ends in discouragement. That kind of thinking drains your hope. That kind of thinking will not help you triumph in your struggle to succeed as a writer.
Do not squander what Ralph Waldo Emerson called the Power of Enthusiasm. Never relinquish your Powerful Enthusiasm. Enthusiasm is the energy you need to fuel yourself and your writing career through testing times. Enthusiasm will carry you to your goal.
Don’t miss my other Attitude Adjustment posts. I guide your Powerful, Enthusiastic Journey. I show you how to put your psyche on your side. How to escape the frenzy the writing life can become. How to notch up your discipline. How to recognize and utilize the abundance that surrounds you.
Join me here. Learn what we all need to know, and never forget Attitude. How to Earn an A for Author Attitude.
Meanwhile, ask your crucial questions. How does your attitude need to be adjusted? What fears do you face about your writing career? What do you most eagerly desire to know? Add a question comment to this post, or email me at aliceorrbooks@gmail.com. I will be honored to respond.
Alice Orr – www.aliceorrbooks.com
Alice Orr’s Christmas story A Vacancy at the Inn – Riverton Road Romantic Suspense Series Book 3 – is available on Amazon HERE. Enjoy!
Praise for A Vacancy at the Inn. “Grabbed me right away and swept me up in the lives of Bethany and Luke.” “Undercurrents of suspense move the story along at an irresistible pace.” “The Miller family is rife with personality quirks, an authentic touch that demonstrates Alice Orr’s skill as a writer.”
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Thanks, ALICE! Important message!
Hi Christine. You may have figured out that I most often blog about what I need to be reminded of myself. Why is this of use to other authors? Because we all march through similar valleys as we struggle toward fulfilling our goals. The attitude we carry with us, in our psyches, has a huge impact on the way that struggle goes and, crucially, how it feels. Attitude may not be everything, but it affects everything. So, yes, I agree with you that this is an important subject. I am glad I remembered to remind myself, and everybody else, to make A for Attitude a priority. Meanwhile, I hope you are doing well in all things, as we struggle through. Alice
Thanks for this post, Alice. I’m continually fighting fear and discouragement.
Dear Anna. It is good to hear from you. We all struggle against fear and discouragement You are not alone, but I know that is cold comfort. You need a more specific, personal response, so that is what I am going to give you. Please forgive me if I overstep. I have watched for years as you have given so much of yourself very generously to all of us, to our writing community. We are all grateful to you for that, including me. On the other hand, I care about you. I sense that writing is what gives you the most satisfaction, the most inner fulfillment. If that is true, maybe it is time for you to put yourself and your writing work first. My suggestion is that you review all of your commitments, all of what you give to others. For each item on that list, say to yourself, “Do I absolutely have to be the one to do this? Could someone else do it instead of me?” Be hard nosed and straight-up honest about this. I know how difficult it is to say no to people, to feel their disappointment and the guilt that will cause in you. But the choice is actually a simple one for you.
Either you prioritize your own true needs, or you frustrate yourself forever, which leads directly to fear and discouragement. You deserve to save yourself from that guilt and the trap of seemingly endless commitments and obligation. You are worthy of that gift from yourself, and your writing it worthy of it too. When you encounter the disappointment of others, and you will, say to them, “I need to regroup right now. Ask me again next year.” The reality is that by next year someone else will have stepped in, and you and your career will be in a very different place, with less fear and especially less discouragement in attendance. I know all of this to be true because I have had to go through the same process more than once in my career, and in my personal life also. I know it is a hard thing. I also know it is a good thing, even a crucial thing you must do for yourself. Don’t think about it much, just do it. I for one will applaud when you do, and your writer self will applaud you as well. Meanwhile, you know where to email me if you ever need to chat about this or anything else. Happy Holidays. And Keep on Writing Whatever May Occur. Alice