Comments on: Don’t be afraid to fail

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 21:43:12 +0000

Mary Anne, if it’s important enough to you, you’ll make it happen! Keep at it!

Sandy

By: Mary Anne Shew

Mary Anne Shew — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 12:19:31 +0000

Thanks for sharing that you still have fears even with such a successful career. In the past year I’ve overhauled my business to finally focus on writing. The same fears you listed are the background “music” I hear as I type. But I keep going. i haven’t been this excited in a while, and that’s helping me power through the doubts and fears. Glad to know I’m in such good company! And the bungee cord idea is fantastic.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 01:14:46 +0000

In reply to Phyllis M. Washburn. Congratulations on making it happen, Phyllis! Sandy

By: Phyllis M. Washburn

Phyllis M. Washburn — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 22:26:29 +0000

I feel that the worst failure is failing to try because of the fear of failing without ever trying. I did write ‘Good Morning Sam’; the development of a close relationship with a mute swan named Sam. This was not a story about an injured swan that adapted to living with humans. It is the story of an injured mute swan living in his natural habitat that developed a close relationship with a husband and wife. It was a twenty-four year adventure that encouraged the husband-photographer to take photos of the developing relationship and the wife to write about the unique relationship between them and wild mute swans.

By: W. M. Raebeck

W. M. Raebeck — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 03:40:29 +0000

And your words mean a lot to me! Thank you!

Wendy

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 01:43:00 +0000

In reply to W. M. Raebeck.

Wendy, I can’t like this comment enough, for so many reasons! (Where’s the “like” button for blog comments when you need it?)

I love this aha: [“Wait a minute, I’m exactly what they want. I don’t have to be uncomfortable about calling.” ] You are 100% right, of course, and I wish more authors had this attitude. Working to get the word out about your book — the collective “your” — is a public service. Your book can’t help, enlighten, or entertain the people you wrote it for if they don’t know it exists. It’s up to the author to let them know. I hope your book signing is a huge success!

And thank you SO MUCH for that encouragement. I stopped at BJ’s tonight after I walked at the mall for an hour (too cold and wet to walk outside!) and got a big pack of extra strong bungee cords in preparation for my next adventure! ; – )

Your words mean a lot to me, and I soooo appreciate them. Thank you!

Sandy

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 01:36:11 +0000

In reply to Randi Minetor. I totally get it, Randi. It's hard to turn down or set aside paying assignments to make time for something more speculative. Is this an essay or a book? Sandy

By: W. M. Raebeck

W. M. Raebeck — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 21:00:15 +0000

I like this—bungee cord, fear, hesitation. I think not rushing is key. It’s funny how creative obstacles are hurdled sometimes by a week or two away from the project. I’m huge on letting writing breathe.

I’ll also share an insight I had just yesterday. I had to make a follow-up call to a Barnes & Noble store manager about a book-signing we’d talked about for this summer. And it’s so NORMAL to feel like a noodge (?) when you have to call anyone in order to keep something brewing. But I remembered recently reading somewhere that you ALWAYS have to keep pitching. FOREVER. It’s part of the deal. Also, as I picked up my phone, I thought, “Wait a minute, I’m exactly what they want. I don’t have to be uncomfortable about calling.” When I got the manager on the phone, I just said, “Hi, how are you?” And she said, “I’m fine, how are you?” And it went from there.

It’s part of my JOB to reach out and to follow up. We can spend our lives feeling less than OR acknowledge how hard we’ve worked to get where we are and stop doubting ourselves and our work. Sandra, you have so much to give, so much heartfelt passion, so much experience with writing and writers. You can’t possibly fail. Double up on your bungee cords and go big!

By: W. M. Raebeck

W. M. Raebeck — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 20:28:07 +0000

In reply to Randi Minetor. Scary is GOOD!!

By: Randi Minetor

Randi Minetor — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 18:43:00 +0000

Wow, this is timely for me. I made the decision this year to write a very personal story to me, something I generally don’t do—so many of my books have been editors’ ideas assigned to me. Since I decided to give it a go, I have managed to keep myself so busy with other projects that I can’t possibly start this one. “Failing to try” is exactly where I’m headed with this. Thanks for the wake-up call to make some time to start this scary new project.