At the WisRWA conference on Saturday, Sherrilyn Kenyon gave a great talk about rejection and never giving up. She showed us a thick folder of rejections she’d gotten in just from one year. I don’t remember the number, but it was way over 100. She had us repeat several times: “YOU ARE THE GREATEST WRITER IN THE WORLD!”
That night, I was having a hard time sleeping. My mind was too noisy and I tried to quiet it by focusing on one thought, a kind of meditation. Though it was fun to enthusiastically say along with Sherrilyn and the others “You are the greatest writer in the world,” it didn’t work for me alone at night. I know a little about self-hypnosis, and my mind automatically disbelieves these sweeping statements.
I don’t think ANYONE is the greatest writer in the the world. Writing is too subjective. Instead, I think there are many great writers. Can I believe I’m one of them? Hell yeah!
So that’s what I used to lull myself to sleep: “I am a great writer. I am a GREAT WRITER. I AM A FREAKING GREAT WRITER!”
By coincidence, one of the emails waiting for me when I got home was from Spy Scribbler. (Subliminal message to Spy: I miss your blogs!) She asked about affirmations for writers. I googled some links, and thought I’d share them today:
These are a few from Leanne Banks (she has more here):
Deb Gallardo has affirmations, too. Here are two from her site:
More from Robyn Amos. I love this one:
Do you have any favorite writing affirmations? Something that motivates and inspires you?
And remember, YOU ARE A GREAT WRITER!
Edie, we are in sync today! (And I’m Justin…)
Seriously, today in my morning pages I wrote several affirmations about my greatness, having felt unworthy lately. My years in Catholic grammar school came to mind – the nuns would make us write repeatedly things such as, “I will not talk out of turn.” Could those nuns have been onto something (as opposed to “on-something”)?
The point is, writing it and SEEING IT pumped me up for the day. Here are my morning affirmations (please excuse their banality):
I am a FABULOUS writer
My writing is the best
I am a best selling author
Chasing Sunset will be a best seller; it will be picked up by super-agent; there will be a bidding war; it will make me noticed; I CAN DO THIS!
The first four I wrote five times each, and the last were my usual ramblings. But still, I felt pumped after doing it.
P.S. Chasing Sunset is the title of my Epic in Progress.
I do believe in miracles.
Chasing Sunset will be a best seller; it will be picked up by super-agent; there will be a bidding war; it will make me noticed; I CAN DO THIS!
Kath, you bet you can do this! You are a FABULOUS writer. I love the title Chasing Sunset! And selling won’t be a miracle, it will be what your book deserves. Go, Kath, go!
I am blessed with flying fingers when I write.
I can write anything.
I write with full focus.
I’m not sure about the last two. If I say them enough, will they start to come true? Can one program oneself, LOL?
Well, there are the affirmations I’d actually tell anybody about, and then there are the others I should probably keep to myself.
One thing I remind myself about periodically is this: Small decisions made every day become big decisions, over time. That’s an affirmation as well as an admonition. A decision to write for just half an hour on a day when I’m really not feeling like it, multiplied times a hundred for other similar days, adds up to FIFTY hours of writing that I otherwise probably wouldn’t have done.
A small step is sometimes all you’re able to do at the time, and it DOES count.
Great blog, Edie!
I believe in myself, so I always work from there. No one can do the work for me, and that fact is a good one to remember. The gold for me is creating what works in my life. It’s not a one-size fits all, it never is, but a personalized fit in the affirmations I look for like you.
Best of luck to all on their path!
Great post Edie! I always love to know I’m not the only one who has had many rejections. It makes it much easier. Can’t think of an affirmation, but one author I interviewed said that she always remembers to be proud of her work and then the bad crits don’t matter. I’m always so worried about what other people think that I forget I should be proud. I’ve written a book, and just for that I should be proud. So be proud of what you’ve accomplished no matter how little it seems.
Lynne, that’s especially beautiful for days when we’re slogging through our pages. I have more days like that than days where I can’t wait to write. Darn it! But the point is, we write anyway until we hit those days where everything flows and all our words seem golden.
Spy, I think sometimes I can write with full focus — it just doesn’t last! (Barking dog, needy cat, swearing husband renovating the bathroom across the hall.)
I love your other two. And I believe you can write anything!
LaDonna, you are a walking, talking positive thinker. If you have negative thoughts, I haven’t heard them. It’s wonderful to have that total belief in yourself. Even more than belief, you have faith.
Lori, I don’t usually need affirmations either. Like you and LaD, I try to think positively. But once in a while I do get those bad days. I keep going anyway. In my heart, I have faith that I’m good and I feel that pride.
Thanks for sharing the affirmations, Edie!
Years ago, when I was first trying to train myself to meet my daily page goals, my husband made up a sign for me–a sign that sat by my computer for a long time: Write, write now. A simple order, but one that kept me on track for a long time.
Edie,
With my life I NEED to stay positive or I’ll sink.
Wouldn’t be a pretty sight at all…
With writing: my affirmation is: Finish the damn book! Then make it great.
But see I love to do the revision step. It’s like creating a lovely diamond.
Edie, “Just do it” seems to be my mantra for most things.
and ps, i had a great time with you and Liz. I miss you both.
Cindy, I have a desktop background that Liz Lincoln created. It says:
GET YOUR ASS IN THE CHAIR
YOU SHOULD BE WRITING
YOU DO NOT SUCK
YOU ARE A GREAT WRITER
IT WON’T WRITE ITSELF
AN AGENT WANTS THIS BOOK
I don’t know if I need them, but it makes me smile every time I turn on my computer.
Finish the damn book! Then make it great.
Mary Jo, I love this! Revisions are my favorite part, too. Polishing the pages until they shine.
And I get what you say about needing to stay positive. We can either whine and feel sorry for ourselves, or be happy and positive. Even if not great stuff is going on in our lives we can still choose to be happy.
Karin, I’m a “Just do it” person from way back. And I miss you back!
Terrific post, Edie. Its always good to remind ourselves that we do not suck at this. That there’s a reason we torture ourselves with this craft.
Let’s see … words of wisdom.
“Just Do It!”
“My writing doesn’t stink.”
“I WILL finish this manuscript.”
Liz, you don’t suck! I like your last one. You WILL finish your ms. And I hope it’s soon!
Edie, great post! I sometimes give myself a pep talk. Affirmations are there for when we really need a little boost.
Michelle, exactly. Usually I’m like Karin and just do it.