Every once and a while I see not only online but in person, that even though someone has achieved so much they still need a pep talk. And well pep talks is something that I've gotten rather good at over the years.
That being said, here is my pep talk for both published authors and us (myself included) aspiring authors. (You can also use this for anyone else who is chasing and those who are working their dream job)
There are two things that I've learned that you need to do and remember.
1. No matter what enjoy what you doing, always remember that you are doing something you love.
- Don't let anyone, including yourself, turn you against something that you love. That means that you shouldn't burn yourself out to the point that you hate what you had once loved. (I've personally did this with film, which I have my degree in) If you need to take a break from a project or from work itself, then do it. Let it be an hour, a day or a few, then do it. When you come back to it, you will be refreshed and clearheaded to only improve what you are working on.
- Don't compare your work to other peoples. No one does anything like you do or love what you love. If you try to do something that you don't love then you can see it. Follow your heart and chase what you love and don't let anyone else try to convince you that what you love is wrong. And know that you are not lone in your struggles. Every author has someone saying why are you doing that? Why don't you do this there is more money in it. Ignore them. Follow your gut and as long as you are able to keep doing what you love is worth more than all the money in the world if you ask me. (Though it is really nice to be able to pay the bills, which is really important if you ask me.)
2. Celebrate all victories no matter how small.
- I don't care how big or small a victory is, take it. Don't beat yourself over pitfalls, bumps in the road, any type of setbacks, rejections, or smack talk people might do.
- Let it be sending out a manuscript for the first time or the one thousandth time after a rejection, the fact that you are still putting yourself out there is an amazing feat in itself.
- Get some good feedback from an industry professional or a critique partner, take it, think about it (you don't have to always use it) and see what will really make your work better, and celebrate that you have someone who is there to give you productive feedback. They are there to make you, not everyone has this. Celebrate this, don't beat yourself up over the feedback that you might not like. If you don't feel to the core that it wont make your work better, then don't use it.
- If you get a rejection from an agent or an editor than thank your luck stars, don't beat yourself up for it. The industry is subjective. Everyone has their own tastes and not everyone is going to love your work. That's the reality for both readers and industry professionals. Do you really want someone working with something you've spent so much time on that doesn't love your manuscript just as much as you do. Hold out until you find that perfect team of agent, and editor for your work. Look at the bright side of things, not the rejections in itself.
- When you do get the big offer from representation from the right agent, that they sell your first book, and get all those great reviews, then all that hard work you put into it is worth it. Now get back to work and keep doing what your doing and through all those hard times you can see those baby steps of little celebrations with the big ones and it will help get you through the roughest of lows you have.
Well there you go. A pep talk broken into two main components that have been keeping me going as I learn this industry and try to make my mark in it. Keep your head up and I'll do the same as I make the baby steps to reaching my ultimate goal. Cause I will make it, it's just a matter of time and I'm more than willing to keep working on it even if it years.
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