tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post1234109327437464523..comments2023-10-15T03:20:42.697-04:00Comments on Blog of Author Michelle McLean: Dreams UndefeatedMichelle McLeanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-9543011722084668732010-08-10T10:38:55.132-04:002010-08-10T10:38:55.132-04:00Fantastic post! So much of this business is about ...Fantastic post! So much of this business is about developing a thick skin, of getting over our own egos, and of being open enough to listen to what's being said about our writing and learning from it. The only person who'll defeat you is yourself, you know?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17008393380426608631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-53088924379292474342010-08-09T13:03:53.312-04:002010-08-09T13:03:53.312-04:00Well said! I love getting this kind of inspiration...Well said! I love getting this kind of inspiration early in the morning :). Thanks for the post!JEMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04043891292719086478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-13886096975918169732010-08-09T12:09:23.764-04:002010-08-09T12:09:23.764-04:00Love that line! Thanks so much for sharing and for...Love that line! Thanks so much for sharing and for the words to help nudge me along! :)Windy Aphayrathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10274305159511812518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-10570816428923415292010-08-09T10:44:24.636-04:002010-08-09T10:44:24.636-04:00By the way, "Don't act like you want it i...By the way, "Don't act like you want it if you'd don't really. And if you want it, act like you do."<br /><br />Priceless. Perfectly said, absolutely agreed :DMichelle McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-54600015562350654712010-08-09T10:43:11.995-04:002010-08-09T10:43:11.995-04:00wonderfully said :) A good hiatus is definitely ca...wonderfully said :) A good hiatus is definitely called for every now and then. I generally take a nice long break between projects, whether they are successful or not. And I always take a day or two when I get a particularly harsh critique so I can come at it with fresh eyes and perspective, when the sting of the initial rejection or critique has faded a bit. I usually come back from these breaks energized and more ready than ever to work.<br /><br />And it really is amazing what taking a break from it all can do for you. You have to live life before you can write about it :)Michelle McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-88825707932231605952010-08-09T10:32:23.751-04:002010-08-09T10:32:23.751-04:00Agreed. Nothing brings me more emotional pain tha...Agreed. Nothing brings me more emotional pain than seeing people in a position of power (e.g., parents and lovers) actively engage in dream-squashing activities. When I see someone just give up on their own because it's hard, that actually makes me angry. Don't act like you want it if you'd don't really. And if you want it, act like you do.<br /><br />That's not to say that sometimes some time away isn't called for. I've had a few hiatus periods in my life, and I think those were valuable.<br /><br />As a wise man once said, "I'm no writer; but if I were, it seems to me I'd wanna poke my head up every once in a while and take a look around, see what's going on. It's life, Jake. You can miss it if you don't open your eyes."C. N. Nevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-76260672289146759342010-08-09T10:27:05.094-04:002010-08-09T10:27:05.094-04:00Exactly right, C.N.! A good stream of rejections u...Exactly right, C.N.! A good stream of rejections usually means there is something that just isn't working - opportunities for improvement, for sure. Blind optimism helps no one.<br /><br />What I hate to see is the person who gets a stream of rejections and instead of sitting down to see what needs tweaking, throws their hands up in despair and never sends another query. <br /><br />Or the person who gets tough critiques who becomes too overwhelmed, depressed, or angry to do anything about it instead of buckling down and fixing what needs fixing.<br /><br />Rejections and critiques shouldn't be ignored, by any means. But they also shouldn't be used as an excuse to throw in the towel. <br /><br />Thinking of it now, I probably should have clarified that I'm not talking about optimistically plowing ahead on the same project for years and years LOL Sometimes, a project just need to be shelved (I have a few of those myself). But those shelved projects shouldn't be used as a sign that you'll never make it. I know very few writers who publish the first book they ever wrote. <br /><br />Bottom line, I don't want to see anyone quit because the road is a tough one to follow. It might take 20 years and 100 manuscripts, but if writing is what you love to do, don't let any of the setbacks defeat your dream. Work harder to obtain it.Michelle McLeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08730366330276974943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-83427395552496370702010-08-09T10:02:04.142-04:002010-08-09T10:02:04.142-04:00Never give up, but also try to learn (when appropr...Never give up, but also try to learn (when appropriate and possible) from the down-turns, too. You can also defeat yourself by blinding charging into a dead-end writing career on optimism and terrible execution. <br /><br />Sometimes a rejection is a rejection. Sometimes a rejection is part of a pattern that should call a writer's attention to something that needs to be adjusted.C. N. Nevetshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00375714948653196993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-5353890080791175772010-08-09T08:53:43.653-04:002010-08-09T08:53:43.653-04:00Great post and so true. Thanks! I've figured ...Great post and so true. Thanks! I've figured this one out on my own, but it still feels good to hear it!Creepy Query Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18115161057496086972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-48328336839423958952010-08-09T08:35:20.131-04:002010-08-09T08:35:20.131-04:00There's only one way to guarantee failure: giv...There's only one way to guarantee failure: give up.Matthew MacNishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03264738483763244969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-69835925416954322002010-08-09T08:33:23.412-04:002010-08-09T08:33:23.412-04:00Thanks Michelle. Great post. Helped me out after a...Thanks Michelle. Great post. Helped me out after a tough rejection yesterday.Jared Larsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02015044660613908060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-89528435837409769642010-08-09T08:07:28.657-04:002010-08-09T08:07:28.657-04:00Great post! I know if I never see my books on a bo...Great post! I know if I never see my books on a bookshelf, it isn't because I didn't try. ;)Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-507167840242313545.post-2065563552623708802010-08-09T08:05:37.851-04:002010-08-09T08:05:37.851-04:00Thanks for the pep talk!Thanks for the pep talk!Vicki Rochohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07381089434014961076noreply@blogger.com