And what a fun interview it was. Head over to Sarah M. Eden’s site on Friday and check it out. Then stick around to see all the other wonderful things about Sarah.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Defining success
According to Dictionary dot com:
suc·cess
/səkˈsɛs/ [suh
k-ses]
–noun
1. the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors.
For example: My daughter’s 16th birthday party was a big success.
2. the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.
For example: I succeeded in being admitted to the creative writing concentration at my college.
3. a successful performance or achievement: The play was an instant success.
For example: My attempts at DDR Max at my 16 year old birthday party was not a success; however, being cheered on by a roomful of teenagers was.
4. a person or thing that is successful.
For example: My son was a big success at DDR Max (and did not rub it in his mother’s face).
5. Outcome.
For example: You’re reading number five so I succeeded in holding your interest till the end of this post. Thanks for playing along.
So, what successes have YOU celebrated this week?
*************************1 Comment
Shelli says: Saturday, November 13, 2010
Validation
This last week was a trying one for me, and yet through it all I had immense support and help from writing friends, family, and even a professor or two. It's amazing the power people have to uplift one another. That's why I spend so much time on Twitter, connect with buddies during NaNoWriMo and love commenting on people's blogs. Not only do I get to let them know how much I appreciate them, but I get the chance to share my own thoughts and remind myself just how good life is and how many experiences I've had.
I was insanely optimistic as a child. I mean, so much so that people would sometimes get mad at me. They'd ask me why I was so happy all the time, but I couldn't really explain it. Only that I was. Each day in life was filled with new opportunities, and each day was one that I could let go of what happened in the previous one.
I remember when I first entered the writing world seriously and how disillusioned I was. I thought writers were in competition with each other, because of course each one wants you to buy THEIR book. I kept surmising how incredible it was that they were so supportive of one another; going so far as to encourage the purchasing of one another's books.
I thought, "Wow. I guess that's one way to do it. Encourage people to buy someone's book and in return they'll plug yours." It's important to keep in mind that while I was having this skewed sense of the publishing world I had been going through a difficult time of life. One in which I was working out through my writing. I was down. A little disheartened by life, and had lost a bit of that smile I was so admired for in my youth.
Writing brought me great joy, but the lessons I learned from others brought me even more. I got to know other writers, joined groups, and found a world of immense validation and understanding. People weren't plugging one another's books just for sales or out of expectation. It's because they each loved writing and loved EACH OTHER.
No way.
It was like awesomeness in it's most...well, awesome form. I found courage I didn't know I had, and met fantastic people with a true understanding of what writing is and what it can do. That we're not in competition with each other, only with ourselves. Like I said....awesome. What a great opportunity for writers to use the power of their words to offer support for one another!
Just last week I was recording a passage in Spanish and when I was through my husband commented, "Wow. You're really good." I thought I was going to float away. He'd only heard me speak Spanish in little snippets before, but for some reason this longer segment allowed both of us to see how far I had come in the language. I felt rejuvenated. Alive. I wanted to learn even more. Study even harder. Write a book in Spanish!!! I felt like I could take on the world.
All because he offered a word of love and encouragement. Which begs the question: Have you ever helped someone take on the world? Given them hope? How do YOU do it in the writing world?
I was insanely optimistic as a child. I mean, so much so that people would sometimes get mad at me. They'd ask me why I was so happy all the time, but I couldn't really explain it. Only that I was. Each day in life was filled with new opportunities, and each day was one that I could let go of what happened in the previous one.
I remember when I first entered the writing world seriously and how disillusioned I was. I thought writers were in competition with each other, because of course each one wants you to buy THEIR book. I kept surmising how incredible it was that they were so supportive of one another; going so far as to encourage the purchasing of one another's books.
I thought, "Wow. I guess that's one way to do it. Encourage people to buy someone's book and in return they'll plug yours." It's important to keep in mind that while I was having this skewed sense of the publishing world I had been going through a difficult time of life. One in which I was working out through my writing. I was down. A little disheartened by life, and had lost a bit of that smile I was so admired for in my youth.
Writing brought me great joy, but the lessons I learned from others brought me even more. I got to know other writers, joined groups, and found a world of immense validation and understanding. People weren't plugging one another's books just for sales or out of expectation. It's because they each loved writing and loved EACH OTHER.
No way.
It was like awesomeness in it's most...well, awesome form. I found courage I didn't know I had, and met fantastic people with a true understanding of what writing is and what it can do. That we're not in competition with each other, only with ourselves. Like I said....awesome. What a great opportunity for writers to use the power of their words to offer support for one another!
Just last week I was recording a passage in Spanish and when I was through my husband commented, "Wow. You're really good." I thought I was going to float away. He'd only heard me speak Spanish in little snippets before, but for some reason this longer segment allowed both of us to see how far I had come in the language. I felt rejuvenated. Alive. I wanted to learn even more. Study even harder. Write a book in Spanish!!! I felt like I could take on the world.
All because he offered a word of love and encouragement. Which begs the question: Have you ever helped someone take on the world? Given them hope? How do YOU do it in the writing world?
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