“Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” ---Dale Carnegie
I see fiction writers this way. I mean, where does it say that we will get published someday—or even finish our WIP? Even after all the time and the heart, brain, financial and emotional strain put upon our relationships due to our dedication to our WIP's, are we guaranteed success—our own “happy ending”.
But we keep doing it--we write. We write when it seems ludicrous to be doing so, when so many other things could be done—more productive and responsible things. But we write. And in the end it will be the “trying” Mr. Carnegie had mentioned that will be what separates the published from the ‘I wished I was...’.
So I can not stop. Honestly, I don't think I could now. Maybe procrastinate and sabotage myself, but not stop.
And then there’s that ‘thing’ which inspires us to keep writing. The details vary with everyone, but all will say it feels like a push inside of them, a inner drive. Or maybe it’s something more haunting, like a sirens song only they can hear (And NOT the little voices in your head. There are meds for that.) This song reminds me of that feeling, especially the last verse before the last chorus.
...All of us under its spell,
we know that it's probably magic.
Have you been half asleep
And have you heard voices
I've heard them calling my name
Are these the sweet sounds that called
The young sailors
I think they're one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
There's something that I'm supposed to be
Someday we'll find it
The Rainbow Connection
The lovers, the dreamers and me
Rainbow Connection, Kermit the Frog (Willie Nelson also does it justice)
Kailua Kona, Hawaii
I feel like this sometimes. I'm starting to feel it more so in my writing but I felt it a lot in my designs as well. thanks for the post
ReplyDeleteIt's nice to know you are not the only one. My writing woe's have been lessening the more I write. Isnt that the way? But I have been having doubts about my jewelry design. I have been making a point to ask myself "Would I wear this?" or "Would I buy this as a gift". It has been helping me sort out the designs I wish to spend time on.
ReplyDeleteAgain, it is nice to meet another writer/artist! Have a productive week ahead and a great Sunday!
Sometimes my heart gets heavy, wondering if I'll ever get published. But that's what makes the struggle important. The losing battles are the ones we must never shirk.
ReplyDeleteEmily Dickinson, who had fewer that a dozen poems published in her lifetime, who was devastated by the literary critisms of her closest friend, wrote this :
Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all.
But Tennyson, no stranger to loss and depression, wrote these famous lines :
That which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
Thank you for your insightful, inspiring post, Roland
Thank you again Roland. I shall add those quotes to my ever growing collection of quotes. ;-D
ReplyDeletePresently, it is not my fear of not getting published, but finishing one of my longer stories. I know I can do the volume in a decent amount of time. I did so in the Fan Fiction world. It's different when its your own characters and stories. I have every confidence I can get into other writers heads and continue their work, but to lay out your own story... You know the feeling. Like running around town naked during rush hour--exposed. Lets just say I am heavy into self sabatoge. But I shall fight it!!!
What a gorgeous Hawaii photo!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, if I were writing only to be published, I'm sure I would have given up long ago. But it's just like you say, I don't think I could stop now, even if I wanted to.
Thank you. I took it a couple visits ago across the street from my in-laws. Nothing but lava rock, sea turtles and sunsets.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with you Susan. I can't think about publication right now. I have to think--and do the writing. That's my focus.
And of all the addictions I could have, this one is truly preferred.
I consider it more of an inner-pull than a push. Like gravity, its useless to fight it.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Glad you pointed me back to it!!