Comments on: Calm the $%* Down – Tips for the Over-Optimistic Writer

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 21:16:29 +0000

Caroline – secretly I do too! 🙂

By: Caroline

Caroline — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:40:06 +0000

I *like* the “write a rejection letter to the editor that rejected your ms”!!!

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 06:25:48 +0000

Lacey – I’m all for number 5. I could do with a rest. 🙂

By: Lacey Devlin

Lacey Devlin — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 05:26:20 +0000

LOL Number 6 is my favorite!!

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 02:18:55 +0000

Kristina – that is the BEST captcha ever! And maybe I should just give into it eh? Prepare myself for that 3am wakeup call and the million dollar instant contract. 🙂

Madeline – that sounds incredibly sensible. You see, I do let myself listen to that voice and yes, when the R comes it is horrible, horrible, horrible. And I think ‘stupid, stupid woman!’. 🙂 But you know, you’re right, perhaps the excitement of hope is worth it.
And thanks. I know you will too!

By: Madeline Ash

Madeline Ash — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:52:08 +0000

I have those voices. I used to try to block out the positive one, because listening would make me excited, and then make the rejection all the more crushing because I'd allowed myself to think the eds might like it. But with a dozen rejections up my sleeve, I decided that if I'm going to get rejected anyway, the waiting time is a very precious. The time of possibilities, of allowing myself to be excited, because I don't even allow myself to get excited at a What If, then why on earth am I still writing? So I listen to the positive every time I sub, allow myself to dream, then acknowledge the negative voice with a Damn You Were Right once I get the rejection . I'm hoping one of these days I can stick my tongue out at the negative, and go Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah, you were WRONG!

And I hope you will too, Jackie. In fact, I know you will.

By: Kristina Knight

Kristina Knight — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:39:15 +0000

I have those exact same thoughts, too. Have tried to re-train my brain, but it doesn’t work. So I just go with it – even the most exciting, extreme scenarios pop into my head – and give myself a stern ‘keep working’ lecture once my brain can focus again.

PS: my captcha below reads ‘aresolds’…The Evil Optimism is already building scenarios.

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:22:54 +0000

Amalie – Lol, good point! I should give my little optimist a few more chances. But honestly, as good as Tolstoy?? Me? No. 🙂

Rach – Hehe. Is that why you keep saying you’ll never sell again?? Tell the optimist that she’s totally right, NYT bestseller lists here you come!

By: Rachael Johns

Rachael Johns — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:59:19 +0000

LOL – I am a total optimist too and suffer from everything you’ve said. LOVE the list!!!!

By: Amalie

Amalie — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 23:02:53 +0000

I have these voices, but I think I come at it from the other direction. I always think something stinks, but then the little voice tells me it’s great so I WILL send it anywhere and then I can write some more. It’s like the lollipop after the shot: better give me something good or I ain’t doing it again!