Category: Thyme for Writers

At last! We’ve reached the final step of APODS: Support. Some of that support is external, but you may be surprised to learn that a large part is internal.

Although writing is by its very nature a solitary profession, there are times when we need help if we’re going to reach “The End.” That’s why it’s important – I’d go so far as to say essential – to have external support. Typically, that support comes in two forms: personal and professional.

Personal – These are your cheerleaders, the people who encourage you on bad days, who celebrate your successes, who are there whenever you need the reminder that you’re a real writer. They may not be writers – in fact, most often they are not – but they’re the ones you can count on to cheer you when writing isn’t going well.

Professional – I’m a firm believer that every serious writer should be a member of a group of professional writers. Ideally, the organization has in-person meetings that you can attend, but if that’s not possible, find one with an active email loop.

Your professional support group is more than a group of cheerleaders, although they should cheer your successes. What they provide that the personal support group cannot is writing-related advice. They’re the ones who’ll brainstorm with you when you hit a mental wall. They’ll read a passage and tell you what works and what doesn’t. They’ll buoy you when you face rejection, suggesting other agents or publishers. They’re the proverbial shoulders to cry on, and they’re invaluable.

But, as valuable as external support is, it’s only one part of the picture. You, the author, need to support yourself. After all, no one else is going to write your book. Although there are many times when you’ll need internal support, we’re going to discuss the two most common.

The Muse is MIA

It happens. You’re excited about the book, but then the wellspring of ideas dries up. Or, as a fellow author says, there’s nothing in the well but kitty litter. Not good. So, what do you do?

• Take time out. Step away from the computer, leave your office or writing space, and do something totally different. Go for a walk; read a book; watch a favorite movie. Your goal here is to let your subconscious work while the rest of you plays.
• Talk to the animals. This is the time to find a confidante who won’t talk back to you, who won’t offer suggestions. While you’re grooming your dog or petting your cat, explain the problem. Tell it what’s happening in the book and what isn’t happening. Note: you need to be talking aloud, not simply thinking. There’s probably some scientific explanation of why verbalizing a problem helps solve it; all I know is that it’s an effective technique. What do you do if you’re like me and don’t have a pet? Talk to an inanimate object. The key here is to have a non-judgmental audience that can’t walk away.

You’ve Received a Rejection

Again, this happens. I won’t sugarcoat it. Rejection hurts, and if you receive enough rejections, you may consider abandoning the whole idea of writing. Don’t do that.

I’ve been known to say there’s no problem so big that chocolate can’t fix it. That is admittedly an exaggeration, but it’s worth considering. While you’re bingeing on Godiva, I recommend the following:

• Remember that grieving is a process. It’s only natural to grieve when you receive a rejection. After all, your story isn’t simply words stored in cyberspace. It’s part of you. Recognize that you’ll go through the same predictable stages as if you’d lost a loved one:
  • Shock
  • Anger
  • Resistance
  • Acceptance
  • Hope

Understanding the SARAH model can help you cope with your feelings and avoid damaging your future. Never, ever, ever respond to rejection when you’re still in Shock or Anger. It’s one thing to call someone in your personal support group and bemoan the sheer idiocy of the editor’s reaction to your story, quite another to vent those feelings to the editor.

• Open your “what’s special about me” envelope. You have one of those, don’t you? If not, you need to start one right now. Every time someone compliments your writing, save the comment. It doesn’t have to be an effusive endorsement. It might be nothing more than, “That line of dialogue is terrific.” All that matters is that it’s a positive affirmation of you as a writer. Whether you keep a printed copy of the compliments or store them electronically isn’t important. What is important is to keep the affirmations readily accessible for those times when you need to be supported.

When You Reach “The End”

Eventually, if you’ve persisted, you’ll reach “The End,” and your manuscript will be complete. What’s next? I recommend the Two Cs.

• Celebrations – Without a doubt, you should celebrate having finished your manuscript. This is the time to gather with your support groups and rejoice in the knowledge that you’ve accomplished something that’s only a dream for many others. You’ve finished a book. Wonderful, fabulous, spectacular. Time for fireworks, champagne, and another pound of Godiva.
• Commencement – “The End” of a book should not be the end. Instead, once you’ve finished celebrating, it’s time to begin a new story. You’re a writer. You’ve proven that by reaching “The End.”

(c) 2019 Amanda Cabot

Amanda Cabot is no stranger to getting to “The End.” She juggled a sixty-hour a week job with nonnegotiable deadlines and building a house long-distance at the same time that she wrote two books a year. Whether or not she kept her sanity during that time is debatable. Amanda is the best-selling author of over thirty novels, eight novellas, four non-fiction books, and what she describes as enough technical articles to cure insomnia in a medium-sized city.

Her most recent release is A Tender Hope, the third in the Cimarron Creek trilogy.

You can find Amanda at:

www.amandacabot.com
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