Writers--Step Off the Worry Wagon

 

A lot of writers are also worriers. Hmm, is 'worriers' an actual word? Yes, it is. A worrier is someone who spends a great deal of time thinking about problems, what has already occurred, and what might happen later. Worry causes anxiety and apprehension. It gives us all kinds of physical symptoms and emotional upheaval. It should be avoided!

It should be avoided. Sounds so easy, doesn't it? Our poster today tells us that worry is a waste of time, doesn't change a thing, and steals your joy. It also keeps you busy doing nothing. Good points. It's easy to read those words, but putting them into practice is another thing altogether. 

When you make a submission to a publication, do you spend the days waiting for word from the editor concerned about your chances? Do you race to the computer every morning to see if you have an email from the editor? Do you fret that maybe you should have made one more editing before you sent it in? Stop that kind of worry. Your story or essay or poem has been sent. The other end is completely out of your hands. Worrying is useless. All it does is upset you. The fact is that you are either going to get a rejection or an acceptance. Nothing you do now will change that.

Writers worry that they don't have what it takes to get published. Worrying isn't going to make one twit of difference. What it takes to become a published writer is a great deal of effort on your part. And time. And learning as you go. 

Are you in a writing group and worry that you don't measure up to the status of the other writers? Stop worrying and start learning from them. Make an assessment of those who are successful. Figure out what it is that makes them a published writer, then work towards the same for yourself. If the group critiques each other's submissions, read all the critiques, not just the ones for your own writing. Reading those critiques is worth a great deal. It's a perfect gift to you to be able to learn from other writers. I'm a seasoned writer, but I still read the critiques of the writers in my online group, and I still find something worth noting and continue to learn. Quit worrying and start learning.

It's easy for me to tell you to stop worrying, but not a sure thing for you to throw off the mantle of concern like flicking a fly from your arm. You're going to have to do a lot of self-chastisement. When you start the worry process, take a step back and think about the situation. Ask yourself if your worry is worthwhile. Will it change the situation? In most cases, it probably won't make a difference. 

Step off the worry wagon and spend your time in becoming a better and stronger writer. 

Becoming a Fine Storyteller

 I mentioned Charles Dickens in yesterday's post. Later, I got to thinking about him. He was a true storyteller. I looked him up and was astonished at the number of novels he'd written--20. His books reflected his concern with the society he lived in, its many flaws and uncertainties, especially for the poor ion Great Britain in the mid-1830s. He began his writing career by publishing his novels in serial form in magazines of the day. He became very popular as people looked forward to each new installment. What books brought him the most fame? That is hard to say as there were so many that are still considered classics today--A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, and many more. His opinions on politics and the social defects he saw are reflected in his stories. If you would like to read a biographical sketch of Charles Dickens, go here. I found it of great interest. 

While Dickens was the ultimate storyteller, he used his books to vent his own opinions, and many of his stories were based on difficult experiences he had in his growing-up years. 

Fiction writers, and those who write personal essays, are storytellers. Do we, like Dickens, write from the base of our life experiences? Very often, we do. But we also dream up stories that have nothing to do with what we ourselves have done. We use our imagination and become creative in our storytelling. 

Those who write for children have the great joy of creating magnificent characters and situations that entertain children. Writers who write for adults can do the same but have narrower parameters in most cases.

Writers who are good storytellers have other qualities, as well. They have a mastery of words and can write prose that readers are drawn to. When I read A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles, I was drawn in as much by his prose as the story itself. If you have not read this novel, put it on your Want to Read list. 

These writers also know the mechanics of their craft well. No matter how good the 'story,' is, if the writer has not learned the basics of writing, he/she will have a hard time getting published. A letter from an editor could start with "We like your story, but..." 

One of a writer's goals might be to become a fine storyteller. It can be done with a lot of work.

Veterans--More Than A Number

 

Today, I am posting an essay I wrote several years ago in honor of our veterans. Perhaps you might like to share with others today, if it says something to you. 

More Than A Number

   

On this Veteran’s Day, let us think about all who have served in our nation’s military and those who do so today, along with the many who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

 

The men and women in our armed forces are not numbers in a newspaper article. Each one that deploys leaves behind parents, sisters and brothers, spouses and children, as well as myriad friends. They are not numbers; they are people. They laugh, they cry, they love, they endure hardships, they work hard. They are human beings with all the emotions you and I experience. They sweat, they like to eat three times a day or more, they enjoy fellowship with others, they pray, they shake with fear more often than we’ll ever know. They are warm, living beings—not numbers in a newspaper account. 

How often do we read that another brigade has deployed? Numbers? No, not numbers, that brigade is made up of people who smile, cry, tell jokes, treasure the photos they carry of loved ones. They have headaches and stomachaches like you and me. They get slivers in their fingers and bruises on arms and legs. They’re no less vulnerable to physical ailments than you or I, but they face dangers we have never dreamed of. 

I live near an army post, so I see uniformed soldiers everywhere I go. They stop at the grocery store on their way home from work just like teachers and attorneys and librarians do. They pick up their children at soccer fields as a civilian mom or dad does. We are all very much alike, except for one thing. These soldiers, male and female, have volunteered to serve, to protect our country at home and in foreign lands, to perhaps put their life in danger while doing so. 

Have you ever thanked a soldier or marine or sailor? Maybe you’d feel uncomfortable walking up to a total stranger and saying, “Thanks for all you do for me and the rest of America every day.” What a great gift it would be if you could say that or something like it to a member of the armed forces. Think about it the next time you see an American in uniform.

 

Several years ago, my husband and I were returning from a European trip. We were tired and anxious to get through customs when we landed in the USA. As we approached the passport checkpoint, a door opened and an entire unit of uniformed soldiers filed through. They were returning from Iraq, an even longer flight than we’d had. We stopped and watched these fatigued young men and women as they walked by us. Some nodded and smiled, others stared straight ahead. Some I could barely see for the tears that had filled my eyes. I wanted so badly to say Welcome Home to them, but the lump in my throat didn’t allow it. The pride that encompassed me at that moment cannot be described. I was every soldier’s mother for just an instant. 

And what about the ones who didn’t return to walk through that airport door? The ones who came home in a body bag or a wooden coffin. My pride in them is every bit as strong along with a deep and abiding gratitude in what they gave for the rest of us. They sacrificed so that we can keep living in a free country. Yes, we Americans have many disagreements, but, even so, we are blessed in numerous ways. The military cemeteries where the grave markers are lined up serve as a reminder of those who gave their lives so that you and I can enjoy the life we have today. 

Don’t wait for Veterans Day or Memorial Day, take time to say thank you to a military person. Say it in person or say it in your heart, but please say it. 

(c)