It’s time for another brain dump for just five minutes. I missed last week (since I took the boys to Dallas to visit my cousin and the World Aquarium – which was awesome, by the way) but discovered this post on inspiration that was shared on the Five Minute Friday blog. Reading Kelly Ivy’s thoughts on inspiration were, well, inspiring.
Today, this Friday, I have five minutes to spare for the word of the day…try.
Let’s start the timer…go!
Lately, I feel like I’ve been trying really hard, but not getting anywhere. Specifically, I am trying to figure out how to make a living from blogging and writing. Even more specifically, I would love to just make enough to pay for my trip to the writing seminar in October.
I sit around and think…can I get paid to write on another site? Can I self-publish? Would people actually spend their hard earned cash? Other various thoughts spin through my head as I try to figure it out.
Sending in a submission to another website and then getting turned down is a punch in the gut. Things like that make me want to stop trying. Voices in my head tell me it’s not worth it. I’m trying too hard or not trying hard enough.
[Tweet ” I’m trying too hard or not trying hard enough. “]Then I remember how many manuscripts were rejected before Stephen King sold Carrie. I remember how many publishing houses closed the door on J.K. Rowling before one decided to take a risk on her. I think about the years of hacking away at a keyboard so many of my favorite bloggers spent before they had a real opportunity come their way.
STOP
Dang it. I have so many more thoughts on trying. I guess I will try and craft an entire blog post on the subject and not just five minutes of rambling nonsense.
What do you return to…to try and try again?
Lesley
Stephanie, I love the name of your blog and I’m glad to connect with you today through FMF (visiting from #11). I have experienced some rejection with my writing too recently and I agree, it can be a struggle to fight against that negative voice and keep going. I also thought of people like JK Rowling and how many times they were rejected before they succeeded. I’m sure rejection is part of it for everyone but it’s not easy.
I found this quote from Jia Jiang that encouraged me this week: “When we shy away from rejection, we reject ourselves and our ideas before the world ever has a chance to reject them. This is the worst form of rejection.” It encourages me to keep trying, keep putting it out there, believing that God has given me something to share. Hope it encourages you too!
Stephanie Clinton
Thank you for that quote, Lesley. Rejection or just playing the waiting game is so hard. Thankfully, there is a community of writers out there who get it. Thanks for stopping by.
Lynn
Oh, I so get this! The murky middle can be a tough time! I’ll hear often hear from successful mentors that it is when you push through that time you almost quit when the breakthrough comes. May you continue to stay inspired to keep going, knowing your words matter.
Stephanie Clinton
Thank you for that encouragement! It’s definitely a marathon and not a sprint!