Let me just say here and now, I don't get it.
I get that no one wants to be rejected. But to actually fear the process? To shake at the thought of pushing the send button?
Don't those writers understand that for every one of them, there are 100 other writers who aren't afraid to submit, who aren't going to spend days agonizing over whether or not they should send their book to their dream agent or wait until they've revised it for the 209th time? This is not a business for the faint of heart. You need a thick skin and a bold approach.
You know what else? Those fearless writers are the ones who will end up with representation and a contract first.
Dorothy Thompson said "There is nothing to fear except the persistent refusal to find out the truth, the persistent refusal to analyze the causes of happenings."
I love this saying because it really applies to fearful writers. If you're afraid to find out the truth - that your writing isn't up to a certain agent or editor's standards and you're afraid to find out why by working on your craft, why are you a writer in the first place? Getting rejected sucks, but it's not scary. It should be a motivator for you to study the craft more, find out how you can make your work better. Not cower in a corner.
Look, if you're too afraid to submit but you want to pursue writing as a career, you have a choice to make. Get over it, or do something else with your time. What else is there?
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Only Thing We Have To Fear...
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Nice post. I've never gotten going to the effort to write but then never submitting. I've had several people in critique groups with that exact problem.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and the truth!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed meeting you! You are a fun person!
And thanks for the honest opinon on the bangs-- the next time we ever meet--they might well be back in place:) Who wants to look old when I'm there already!!!
LOL Kristen!
ReplyDeleteThis is so true. With my very first manuscript I was so afraid. After it got rejected (disclaimer*the horrific synopsis got rejected) I felt even more fearful. But then logic took over. The gist of it is, if no one sees my work, then how will I ever get published? I'm not fearful now. I love to mail stuff off and hit that send button.
Great, great post!
I agree with Terri! It was wonderful to meet you. :-) Maybe one day I can trek down to your chapter meeting.
Exactly. I'll admit to going through the fear - in an almost yoyo-like fashion - but there always comes a point when I have to get over it, and get back to submitting. Otherwise, what the heck am I doing all this for?
ReplyDeleteI'm not afraid of submitting. But I have to make Easter Pie and I am afraid of messing that up.
ReplyDeleteAnd what do we have to lose by just hitting send? Given that we have that "security blanket" that is the faceless internet, it's easier than ever.
ReplyDeleteYeah I don't get that either. You have nothing to lose - I'm not a person who wants to live with regrets. I'm not afraid of rejection either. It sucks but I'd rather get rejected than never try...
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Hear, hear! I don't understand it either. I get that it's not a FUN process, but it's the process we have. The one that leads to publication. If you're not willing to engage in that process, you're admitting that writing is just a hobby, something you do for yourself alone. And that's fine, if that's all you want out of it. But don't lie to yourself--if you never submit, you'll never be published. End of story.
ReplyDeleteI don't write, but I do edit and I have a lot of author friends. I don't understand the fear of submitting. I've heard several authors talk about their piles of unsubmitted manuscripts. It usually makes me roll my eyes and think, "Get over yourself!"
ReplyDeleteI've even heard authors say they're not just afraid of rejection, but of editorial comments and revision requests as well. Half the time I can't decide if it's fear or vanity making them say that. It's irritating from an editor's standpoint.
That's like abandoning your child because sending him to kindergarten is too scary.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
For a long time I was afraid to submit - and I finally realized two things. One - life is too short to worry about getting a rejection, or edits or revisions, and Two - I was more afraid of success than I was of failure because I wasn't sure I could handle success. Twenty-eight published books and stories later I see that success isn't so bad after all.
ReplyDeleteAmen. I am the opposite of being afraid to submit. In fact, I'm submit happy, which isn't for everyone. After the first dozen rejections, you get used to it and you grow a thicker skin and you keep pushing yourself to write more, better, and faster. :)
ReplyDeleteI don't get it either... but I started submitting when I was 14. I'd gathered well over 100 rejections by the time I was 20.
ReplyDeleteIt really helped me to grow a thick skin, which is something I see a lot of writers lacking. If I had a dime for every post I saw whining about a bad review... oy...