Building a Writing Career

What I’m listening to: Blessed Be Your Name by Tree63

What I’m reading: Failing Forward by John C. Maxwell and River God by Wilbur Smith

Do you want to succeed?

What a silly question. There are few people I know who would answer that question with a “NO”.

But what does it take to succeed?

I’m reading “Failing Forward” and in the beginning of the book [page 13 in fact] Maxwell makes a very interesting observation. He said “One of the greatest problems people have with failure is that they are too quick to judge isolated situations in their lives and label them as failures.”

This made me pause and reflect on the writer’s life. Anyone in writing/publishing worth their salt will tell you that this industry is full of rejection. You’ll get it from editors, agents, fellow writers, and readers. So does that mean publishing is full of failures? Of course not.

Are rejection and failure synonymous?

I have to tell you, many days it DOES feel like it is. When that skinny envelope with the form rejection letter lands in your mailbox the last thing you feel like doing is declaring “I'm such a successful author”. No, it stings-and stings bad. But it is a part of the process. I’ve learned in this writer’s life that the more rejection letters I get, the more requested full Manuscripts I get, and the more freelance writing opportunities I get.

There was a time when I thought everything I wrote was PURE GENIUS. There was also a period of time when I thought everything I wrote was PURE JUNK. Neither extreme was correct. The truth was somewhere in the middle.

I’m sure the same is true for you. It's cliche, but still applicable-Success isn't determined by the number of times you fall down, but the number of times you get up. Each stumble along the path to publication you will learn something. And once you are published the lessons continue. I really think the key to building a Writing Career whether you want to be a freelance writer, a novelist, or anything else, is to daily put one foot in front of the other.

Some days you will take big steps and others you will barely move but keep moving forward.

This writer's life can be a lonely place so let’s talk. When has a disappointment [in writing or something else] ended up opening the door to growth and opportunity? Post the answer in my comment section and let's learn together

If you'd like a coach to help you down the path go to my website www.WritingCareerCoach.com to find freebies as well as my Writing Career Coaching course. Take advantage of any opportunity to grow.

And by the way, I’d urge you to buy this book. The link is below. Even if you don’t make it past page 13 it’ll be worth every penny.

Failing Forward: Turning Mistakes into Stepping Stones for Success

Your Coach for the Journey, Tiffany Colter