Blogger: Michelle Ule
Location: Beautiful Sonoma County, California
The news has been full of depressing stories lately, from natural disasters to fiscal errors to grim prognoses for the future. And the publishing world is no better.
It can get downright discouraging.
But Scripture gives us an antidote for discouragement, and that is thankfulness. We’re reminded on several different occasions “in everything give thanks.”
With that in mind, I’m going to spend this week talking about the discouragement antidotes I’m focusing on these days and what I’m thankful for in the current writing life.
Today and tomorrow I’m thankful for opportunity.
Actor Charlton Heston, in his biography An Actor’s Life, noted an actor needs someone to watch him perform. Writers and artists can put together their manuscripts and paint their canvases, he pointed out, whether someone witnesses the activity or not. Actors play to an audience, but if you don’t have one, you’re not acting.
So, while I may not be publishing books, I still have plenty of opportunities to put my writing skills and passion to work. I don’t think writers have ever had more opportunities to see their work in some form of print, even if it’s just cyber-ink.
Blogging and social networks, not to mention tweeting, provide ample spots to post your thoughts for the world to see and resonate with. You don’t even have to write your own blog–you can comment on someone else’s. I’ve been commenting on World Magazine’s blog for nearly eight years. Of course blogging doesn’t pay anything, and that’s part of the discouragement, but you can see your name in official Times Roman 12.
E-book opportunities and Amazon’s continuing foray into different forms of publishing mean the chance to have some form of book exists even if you don’t have a traditional publishing house contract. People can actually make money off some of these e-book sales; though again, for most writers not enough to feed the children.
Print-on-demand means you can get a book into a reader’s hand without having to fill your garage with books you’ve self-published. That’s an enormous plus if you have a marketing platform.
Some authors even have figured out how to make money on their websites. Mary DeMuth and Randy Ingermansson are two that come to mind.
Winepress, Smashwords, Lulu and even Apple iPhoto make it easy to put together your own book of writing and pictures to give to your family.
So, while I may not be able to see my name on the spine of very many books, I can get my thoughts out into the marketplace of ideas. I’m thankful for that opportunity.
How do you deal with discouragement in this current publishing climate?
What can you be thankful for in your own writing life?
I’m thankful for the days Fibromyalgis symptoms subside enough for me to write. I may be tired, grumpy and sore, but I use the bane of my existence as grist for the word mill. Dean Sault wrote about angst in the writing process. Its one of the tools of the writer’s trade. Readers need to identify with the writer’s words and if they don’t ring true, they walk away. A super human writer seems too distant to the reader. The reader thinks, “They don’t understand my life. They couldn’t possibly…” I humanize my characters with all the foibles that exist in real life. Its not a gratuitous sprinkling of diversity, but real characters breathing from the pages. Of course levity is part of life and it tempers the heaviness of the prose. Humor is an essential part of any genre… Its part of the human existence… God has a sense of humor; he made human beings, didn’t He?
Thanks for the link to the World Magazine blog…didn’t know about that one and it looks worthwhile.
And thanks for encouraging us to be thankful and positive!
I was feeling discouraged about getting more books for kids published because mine haven’t sold well. But an SCBWI Yahoo group I belong to just had a discussion about the same topic and so many people shared their experiences of persevering after years of failure and finally getting published that I’m all revved up and ready to go again. While I’d like to earn money with my writing, if God gets my words to people who need them that will make the work worthwhile.
Great post, Michelle!
I deal with discouragement by focusing on the small things. Sure, the ultimate brass ring would be to have several successful novels in print, but if I only think about that, I’d probably give up pretty quickly. I just got my first short story accepted for publication in a magazine, and that was a huge boost for me. It makes me want to go work on my novels that much more. But even smaller than that, I celebrate every new follower on Twitter, every “like” on Facebook, and every hit on my blog posts. It means people are reading what I have to say, and, really, what more could an author want?
Amen to what Lindsay said! I have to remind myself that my words are not for me, but rather for His glory. When someone tells me they’re encouraged by a post or article, I know that’s a huge blessing.
Honestly, I’m not discouraged. I guess I just don’t have the time to waste on it. Yes, I would prefer my book to be flying off the shelves, but I am only in so much control of that. I can do everything I know how to promote my book, but ultimately it is up to the buyer.
I’m thankful that I’ve had the chance to concentrate on my writing over the past 6 years. It looks like I might be returning to the work force, and my writing time will be less, but I’m okay with that as long as I stay focused and keep working away at it a little at a time.
I’m eager to see what else you have for us this week, Michelle. Thanks for reminding me to be thankful.
On those days when I’m feeling overwhelmed and discouraged I have to close my eyes to the reality of this business and trust God. I get on my knees in prayer and thank him for all of the gifts and opportunities that he has given me and leave the discouragement with him. I continue to do all I can do and let him handle the things I can’t do.
God is good…
I’m most thankful for blogging. Where else can I write what God prompts me to write, post it and know that within minutes He can direct anyone in the world to read it. My greatest joy is knowing that His word never returns void to Him, but accomplishes the purpose for which he sent it out. Amazing!
I deal with discouragement in this current publishing climate by stopping writing for a while and shift to reading. I read until I come down with a severe case of Sidelines Syndrome—defined as an overwhelming need to get back in the game—and then I resume writing.
DAT
P.S. Don’t go looking for Sidelines Syndrome in a medical book. I coined the phrase and blogged about it a couple of years ago.
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