]]> http://awritersguidetowords.com/2012/03/23/the-human-body-word-list/feed/ 0 deannsicard http://awritersguidetowords.com/2012/02/21/fearing-rejection-by-deann-sicard-first-appeared-on-all-day-all-night-writing-divas/ http://awritersguidetowords.com/2012/02/21/fearing-rejection-by-deann-sicard-first-appeared-on-all-day-all-night-writing-divas/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:09:16 +0000 DeAnn Sicard http://awritersguidetowords.com/?p=210 ]]> I recently read an article on “fear of rejection”. The writer focused on how to overcome rejection in a social situation. I read every word and found myself quaking in my shoes, just contemplating doing a few of the things she suggested.

Since I have a fear of meeting new people and making a total fool of myself, I wanted to panic, bury my head in a drawer of old mismatched socks and ignore any of the suggestions she made. But something held me back. Something spoke to me. Something beyond the need to break out of my self-imposed shell.

This writer could have been talking about my writing as easily as she was talking about getting a social life. What about you? Do you have the same fears?

How often do you avoid writing? Maybe you tell yourself you just don’t have time to write. Do you feel writing the story that lingers in your mind, whispering to you late at night, is useless? Nobody would want to read your work. Or maybe you don’t see yourself as having the talent, the gift of writing. You know, like all those successful writers.
Do you feel hopeless, as if writing is a waste time? Do you waver back and forth about pursuing your dream of being published?

You are not alone.

Seriously, you are suffering these fears with the masses. Every writer out there (okay, there may be ONE writer out there, who has never experienced this fear, not likely though) spends hours, days, weeks, even years in fear of what others will think of their work. The difference between many of them and many of us is that they willing face that fear head on. They write through the fear. On top of that, they are willing to send their work out for other writers to critique and submit to editors for possible publication. You need to adjust this way of thinking.

Do you want to face your fears? Do you want that story out of your head and down on paper? Do you want to be published?

Only you can make the decision to go forward. You don’t have to do it alone, though.

1. Step out of your comfort zone–take a chance.

2. If you are not part of a critique group, join one.

3. Look for a mentor–someone willing to listen to your fears. Let them push you past your fears.

4. Write a goal list, for your writing. As part of this list, add a section for failures achieved. Why? So that you can mark off everything you’ve learned along the way.

5. Look at writing as growing process. By changing your perspective of failure, you’ll note that each lesson learned makes you stronger and more skilled as a writer, moving you one-step closer to achieving your dream.

6. ALWAYS, remember the difference between defeat and success is PERSERVERENCE.

Failing is not failure.

As Thomas Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

DeAnn Sicard

Check out All Day, All Night Writing Divas for more articles

Have fun writing–DeAnn.

Thanksgiving Letter

My Wake-Up Call

My thanks to agent Ruth Cohen eons ago for my first rejection letter when I submitted ALL the mistakes a beginner possibly could. 146, single-spaced pages, football hero, sex by page 43, with a copyright since my writing partner and I were positive someone would steal that wonderful schlock.

Ruth kindly praised our writing but suggested we read a few romances or consider writing mystery, and she asked if either of us had recently gone through a divorce (we both had), because, as she put it…Your hero is a bastard.

That was about 60 short stories and 50 books ago. God bless the Ruth Cohens and Kate Duffys of the publishing industry. I owe them big time! And my thanks to friend Liz, who got me off my butt and proved that a book–albeit a bad one– could be written in two days.

Sunny, who writes as
Bobbie Cole & Lyn Cash
~ laughs & love in every book ~

http://authorlyncash.blogspot.com/

Just a few titles under Bobbie Cole
Memories of You (GoodReads.com and Amazon.com)
Leaving Mama (GoodReads.com and Amazon.com)
La Bella Luna (GoodReads.com and Amazon.com)

Here are a few titles under Lyn Cash
Just Desserts (Ellora’s Cave)
Mistress Mine
Ring of Seduction (Ellora’s Cave)

Not a lot of people know Linda also writes short erotic romance stories under the name Miranda Stowe, her family included, because those stories can make some readers, HER included!, uncomfortable in their explicitness. But if you’d like to know more about the naughtier side of her writing, you can visit Miranda’s blog/website at http://mirandastowe.blogspot.com/.

Miranda Stowe’s book released this year:
Best Friends Share Everything (menage)
Caught in Heat (paranormal shapeshifter)
Mile High Service (interracial)
Dreams of Wolf (paranormal shapeshifter)
Taken by a Killer (romantic suspense)
Coming soon…
Saved From a Killer (romantic suspense)
Framed as a Killer (romantic suspense)

Go visit her blog, You’ll love what you find and much more.

http://www.mistydietz.wordpress.com

Ana Morgan caught the romance writing bug eight years ago. When she discovered it was harder than it looked, she took online classes and tackled weekly garden and cooking newsletters for her 100-share CSA. CSA members urged her to compile her essays into a book, and she became the gardening columnist for Northwoods Woman magazine. Ana is polishing a time travel romance, has finished a first draft of a western romance, and has an outline for a contemporary romance. She’s also the critique loop moderator for the From the Heart Romance Writers a RWA-chapter. She lives on an organic farm in the north woods of Minnesota with a
husband and more wildlife than she can count.