Writer's Survival Guide
In my never-ending quest to procrastinate, I browsed through a writing advice book: The Writer's Survival Guide by Rachel Simon. It's clear she has been a working writer, and she has solid counsel to pass along. I particularly liked chapter 2, "Big Emotions and States of Mind." Simon lists
The general antecdotes to the negatives among that list are found in chapter 3: setting boundaries; celebrating every accomplishment; committing to ourselves that our writing is valuable; believing in our own inner voice; exhibiting humility, discipline, patience, and tenacity; and having writing friends.
Of course she describes and expounds. She sometimes sounds too New Age-y for me, but pretty much I agree with her views.
- Competitiveness--a seething desire to best everyone else
- Confidence
- Contemplativeness
- Ego--"a rigid self-perception of supposed perfection"
- Energy
- Envy
- Feelings of failure--"a shudder of vast disappointment in ourselves"
- Feelings of inferiority
- Guilt
- Insecurity
- Inquisitiveness
- Laziness
- Loneliness
- Love/Hate--"contradictory epiphanies about our work"
- Meaningfulness--"a glow of dignity from engaging in purposeful activity"
- Paranoia
- Passion
- Pride
- Shame--worrying about what will happen when everyone realizes that you are a fraud.
- Spiritual contectedness
The general antecdotes to the negatives among that list are found in chapter 3: setting boundaries; celebrating every accomplishment; committing to ourselves that our writing is valuable; believing in our own inner voice; exhibiting humility, discipline, patience, and tenacity; and having writing friends.
Of course she describes and expounds. She sometimes sounds too New Age-y for me, but pretty much I agree with her views.
posted by Lois at 5:26 AM
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I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things you want to see happen. 