Monday, May 10, 2010

The Secret to Having it All is...


...believing that you do.

This statement hangs on a wall in my home, and I love it.

To me, it's all about perspective. Some rich people are miserable. Some poor people are happy and content. The difference lies in their viewpoint.

Do we appreciate material things and successes more if they've been a long time coming? In my opinion, not that anyone's asking, is that yes, we appreciate hard-won successes more. Kind of like driving clunkers for many years, then affording a Mercedes. If a 16-year-0ld receives a Mercedes on the day their new license is printed, do they appreciate it as much?

As a writer, I'd love to have a book published NOW. If it doesn't happen right away, I'm cool with that. I'm just happy I have the skills, the desire, and the determination to write.

Rejection after rejection is a bummer. But dear author friends, we are in good company. Anita Nolan blogged about famous author rejections. Gone with the Wind rejected 38 times? Margaret Mitchell would have loved acceptance right away, to be sure. But imagine her excitement after 38 rejections. If she had given up...I shudder at the thought.

Those of you with published books, did it happen right away? Or did it take years, and you savored the victory even more? I'd love to hear your stories!


26 comments:

  1. This is such a great post, Julie. Just read this morning that Meg Cabot got a rejection a day for a year before getting published. She keeps them under her bed in her NY apartment. And shhh, we have a post on rejections coming tomorrow on our WOW Weds from a writer who JUST got a two-book deal. Can't wait to read more successes here on your blog!

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  2. Great post, Julie. (Reading "About Me" and thinking we're peas in the same pod. I'm also married (24 years!!!) and have two sons.)

    Rejection... well, it sucks. But, like everything else in life, it is what we make of it.

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  3. Martina and Marissa, I heard the same story about Meg Cabot. Gives us hope, right?

    Patty, 24 years of marriage is amazing! Two sons, even more amazing. Thanks for visiting.

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  4. Good point. I feel successful in many areas of my life, but my career, not so much. When it finally happens, I'll know I worked hard for it, spilled tears over it, and spent many hours plagued with doubt. And I'll have an inspiring story to tell. I hope.

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  5. Theresa, you'll be telling your grandchildren about your journey, and they'll be amazed!

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  6. I love to hear the rejection stories as well. I find them incredibly inspiring. Thanks for that link. I'm going to save it somewhere! My story was a bit strange. I explained it early in my blog but I may go back to it since I think it gives people hope that there are alternative paths to publication.

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  7. KarenG, I'd love to hear your story! I'll go to your blog and check out the early stuff.

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  8. I love the quote that you have hanging on your wall - it's so true! I'm about to start the whole query process with my first novel, so I'm expecting to start my rejection collection - but as one agent at a conference put it, "You only need ONE yes!"

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  9. Kristi, best of luck with those queries!

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  10. Julie, I love that sign! I need it up in my own house. Those words are so true. If it were easy and anyone could obtain it, what value would there be in getting published?

    This is embarassing to say, but I heard Miley Cyrus' "The Climb" twice on the radio in thirty minutes on the way to a PB conference a few weeks ago. Even I have to laugh at my willingness to admit to listening to Miley Cyrus. I know. But, the point is, I thought it was very fitting given where I was headed. "The Climb" really is what counts.

    Marissa

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  11. Marissa, who can resist the wise words of Miley Cyrus! Yes, "the climb" is what truly matters.

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  12. It took years, and it was right away. Does that make sense?? You forget the struggles the moment an editor says, "I want to buy your book."

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  13. Cynthia, years, then right away. It does make sense!

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  14. Great quote, Julie. I'm a lover and great believer in the power of a positive attitude. If we let it be our guide, we will succeed.

    Thank you for the follow on Oasis. ";-)
    Sheri~

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  15. Sheri, so true about a positive attitude. What a huge difference it makes!

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  16. Julie - Your post just lifted my spirits! I agree, hard-won success is sweeter. And what is success without setbacks? If it's luck, well then, I've never even won a raffle in my life, so I better stick to working! :)

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  17. Such a great topic, Julie! Sometimes we (aspiring authors) need to be reminded that many of the great ones received tons of rejections as well.

    After enduring two years of fertility treatments before conceiving our twins (talk about a roller coaster ride of emotions!), I've learned how to deal with uncertainty and disappointment.

    This journey in life is just another milestone I hope to reach, and if it doesn't work out, I still have my family and friends (and all my blogging buddies, too) to keep me going and smiling along the way.

    I guess the rejection letters are so tough because we know how hard we've worked to complete our projects. But I'm a firm believer that persistence and patience pays off in the end!

    Have a great day, Julie!

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  18. Hi Julie, I was retired before I could work hard enough at writing to get published. It wasn't my first novel, but the mystery I started for a novel writing class in late 2003 was published in February 2007. There was an element of luck (being in the right workshop at the right conference in 2005). However, I still don't have an agent, and will be going back to work on that this summer.

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  19. Tory, a great perspective, as always!

    Patricia, it's nice that you now have the time to work on your writing! And it doesn't seem as if you had to wait TOO long before getting published. Congratulations!

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  20. Excellent reminder. While I do want it know, I also know that I'll appreciate it the more I have to fight for it. Thanks for this post and for commenting on my blog yesterday. :)

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  21. I just read a quote (attributed to Ben Franklin, though I haven't confirmed) something along the lines of "The secret of success is being satisfied with your portion". Very similar to yours.

    I also agree that money has nothing to do with being happy. I knew a guy once who was well-enough off that he hadn't worked in DECADES (and he was only 50)...yet he was the most miserable S.O.B. I've ever met.

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  22. I love that statement - belief is so very important. I do like hearing about rejections and people's path to publication. I did a series on my blog called 'Idea to Author' (you'll find it linked along the side-bar somewhere) about how folk found success - it was strangely theraputic!

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  23. Shannon, yes we all want it now! That's human, right?

    Miss V, love the Ben Franklin quote. I've never heard that one, but it's so true!

    Jayne, the rejection stories of published authors is strangely comforting. Maybe because it gives us hope!

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  24. Believing that you do...waiting to acquire something special...yes, in the optimistic quest there is a lot of personal growth. Thanks for the motivation here.

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  25. It's been a slowly building process for me, and worth it. Because every project builds better skills, so when you finally are published, your craft is in place. Far too many people look back at their early published work and shudder.

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  26. Paul C, you're right about personal growth along the way. Makes us appreciate it more!

    Devon, I like the way you put it: building better skills, and our craft is in place. Very nice!

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