Another edition of #IWSG! One cheer for steadfast support. One hooorah for neurotic writers (but quietly, because we don’t want to startle them, be nice). And the third for our Ninja Captain, Alex Cavanaugh. If you didn’t know, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is his brain-child.
As always, join in on the first Wednesday of the month. Answer the question, or not if you like, and click around to read other blogger’s answers. Be assured that your travels will be gentle, with no bumps (i.e. rabid, AlL CaPs BaDd SpEiLInG TrOlLS !@#$%). Somehow the group has banished the bastards with good strong spells, or else writers are less likely to become under-bridge-dwellers in the first place. Either way, your trip around the blog hop is safe.
The question for December is:
As you look back on 2017, with all its successes/failures, if you could backtrack, what would you do differently?
Our co-hosts for this month are: Julie Flanders, Shannon Lawrence, Fundy Blue, and Heather Gardner. Hop on by and tell them thank you.
The answer for December is: Nothing.
That sounds arrogant, so let me explain. 2017 for me was mostly full of failure. No agent, no published book, lots of rejection letters. I did get around 20 articles published on various websites and earned a trickle of money from them, which was awesome. But for the most part, 2017 was a learning year and I wouldn’t change a day of it.
I needed all of those “no” and “not for me/us” and “not ready yet” answers to point me on the way to yes. I have to know what I’m doing wrong to begin doing it right, if that makes sense.
I won’t pretend any of that was fun. It was a bit like being the mole in a game of whack-a-mole, to be honest.
Hi publishing people! So, I wrote this thing-
NO! No! NO!
Oh, well OK. Haha, that’s fine. I wrote this different thing that you might-
(This concludes A Visual representation of SE’s 2017.)
So yeah, none of that was fun and I’d rather not do it over, but it was priceless in terms of experience. I’ve spent this last year getting knocked around in the school of hard, and I’m ready to start using what I’ve learned to get better. Maybe even to start hearing some “yes” answers to my queries.
I wouldn’t go back and change a thing*.
*Mostly because that would mean I’d have to go through all of the learning again and that would be painful.
Featured image via stocksnap.io and Negative Space
20 articles published in 2017? That’s awesome, S. E.! I often feel like life is a game of whack-a-mole ~ LOL Wishing you all the best in 2018!
That seems to be a pretty universal feeling, which is comforting. We’re all getting whacked together. LOL. And thank you!
20 articles published is huge! Congrats on that!
Thank you! That is one thing that feels pretty good about 2017 🙂
I desperately needed my first round of rejections, too. And then, when I went through them again, when I was starting to research for my next round, I learned even more. Some of the agents really did leave the business after they rejected me, so… that makes it feel a lot more subjective.
How subjective it is kills me, but at the same time I know people just like what they like. It’s probably hard to be an agent and have to say no all day, every day.
Great visuals! I totally get that whack-a-mole feeling. ugh.
Let’s not do 2017 again. 🙂
Cheers to 2018!
Yes!
At least you made it safely out the other side!
There’s that silver lining. Thanks!
Fun post! I’m about to jump back into the querying trenches. Let’s hope I emerge with all my limbs intact. May 2018 bring you peace, prosperity, and lots of writing time.
Thank you! Welcome back to the trenches, if welcome is the right word.
Great attitude. It will get you far, I am sure.
It’s try to take it well, or end up rocking in a corner trying to hug my ego. So, thank you! I’m working on it.
I understand about the rejections!!! Writer’s definitely develop a thick skin of armor through it all. I hope 2018 will be a turnaround year. Love the funny pictures. 🙂
I admit, finding gifs is the part I love most about blogging 🙂