tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post1437299972518962196..comments2024-03-28T02:00:11.260-05:00Comments on A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Happiness and the WriterJA Konrathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08778324558755151986noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-76762118194414560242007-04-22T14:27:00.000-05:002007-04-22T14:27:00.000-05:00Thank You! I've been thinking about all this stuf...Thank You! I've been thinking about all this stuff for a while now, and this puts a lot of my thoughts into a coherent place. Now I can get back to work. *grin*Sasha Whitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11466835168725022995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-26556436827040703382007-04-22T10:58:00.000-05:002007-04-22T10:58:00.000-05:00I have a card on the bulletin board above my desk ...I have a card on the bulletin board above my desk that says: Anxiety is the handmaiden of creativity.<BR/><BR/>A certain amount of angst does seem to push the process. :)<BR/><BR/>Great post.billiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-25589025693475275642007-04-21T23:16:00.000-05:002007-04-21T23:16:00.000-05:00words of wisdom. See you when you make it out to ...words of wisdom. See you when you make it out to SoCal.Douglas V. Gibbshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09388639848567082980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-68215227453711425462007-04-20T10:26:00.000-05:002007-04-20T10:26:00.000-05:00JoeBe happy and celebrate. Celebrate good news. Ce...Joe<BR/>Be happy and celebrate. Celebrate good news. Celebrate sunshine. celebrate rain. Celebrate that you are earning a living doing what you love. (I know it's work.) Being happy is a good thing and doesn't have to be mutually exclusive with worry. Being CONTENT can mess with your brain. I have enough (fill in the blank-- books in print, money in the bank, adoring fans.) Now that kind of thinking is counter-productive. but happiness is an aura, a feeling that makes everything easier and theat includes writing.<BR/><BR/>Went off on a tangent there, but I really wanted to thank you for the Sleuthfest handouts. I got 'em, read 'em and loved 'em. I'm sure your presentations yesterday were a huge success. <BR/><BR/>TerrieTerrie Farley Moranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04980849018232866773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-45529826308200581162007-04-20T08:25:00.000-05:002007-04-20T08:25:00.000-05:00Damn, this could be the best post you've ever writ...Damn, this could be the best post you've ever written.<BR/><BR/>Thank you for this.<BR/><BR/>And congrats! Celebrate.s.w. vaughnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09102544611773720262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-55959986727473427492007-04-19T18:15:00.000-05:002007-04-19T18:15:00.000-05:00Nice post, Joe. Very nice.Nice post, Joe. Very nice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-38592905471085841022007-04-19T17:58:00.000-05:002007-04-19T17:58:00.000-05:00That's absolutely adorable, Adrienne! I meant to d...That's absolutely adorable, Adrienne! I meant to do that with my day job, but I didn't. You've inspired me to do it with writing!Spy Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299551957327543491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-36031495998151902062007-04-18T20:24:00.000-05:002007-04-18T20:24:00.000-05:00So wise man, so wise.Fortunately I'm one of those ...So wise man, so wise.<BR/><BR/>Fortunately I'm one of those baby authors for whom everything is noted in my diary (or in this case blog). Baby's first contract. Baby's first edits. Baby's first cover. Baby's first proofs. Baby's first mental breakdown.<BR/><BR/>I had one comment on my blog when I shared a photo of my proofs that wondered how neglected my next novels will feel, it all being old hat by then and all. He made a good point. <BR/><BR/>So I will save your list for when things get mundane, and then remind myself to enjoy and be happy! Right now though, feeling pretty darn good about the whole thing!Adriennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01607530400279311428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-11207580698143935572007-04-18T11:45:00.000-05:002007-04-18T11:45:00.000-05:00Well, I'm very happy and I still worry constantly....Well, I'm very happy and I still worry constantly. I love what I do, every step of the process, and I stress over every step of the process. I don't know if it's me or the business. I do believe in celebrating our successes and achievements, even the small achievements. And I'm not so jaded that I don't jump up and down the first time I hold each of my books. The first book will always be doubly special, but to be honest, I was just as excited to hold book #2, 3, 4, 5, 6 . . . and every time I type THE END, I reward myself. Why? Because even though I have completed 10 books and one novella (the first four books will never be published), I know that FINISHING the book will always be the hardest part of the process for me.<BR/><BR/>Be happy, celebrate, worry, stress, but most of all we have to love what we do or the worry will be for nothing.Allison Brennanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02872860080644987843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-15771109587015489192007-04-18T11:28:00.000-05:002007-04-18T11:28:00.000-05:00Joe,You should check out this blog post:http://pkw...Joe,<BR/><BR/>You should check out this blog post:<BR/><BR/>http://pkwood.blogspot.com/2007/04/theeeeeyyyyyrrreeee-heeeerrrreeee.html<BR/><BR/>I'm actually glad I read Pat Wood's blog before yours, because she is a first time author who is excited every step of the way.<BR/><BR/>Granted, it's been a while since your first book was publihsed, but you are correct in that you should try to enjoy the journey more than you have been.<BR/><BR/>My advice to you is the same that I gave her. Savor the moments when something positive happens, because it doesn't happen every day.<BR/><BR/>Use it as an excuse to celebrate and enjoy your life.<BR/><BR/>Why not? You can go back to worrying the next morning.<BR/><BR/>Congratulations on your recent burst of creativity. May your muse continue to bless you for years to come.<BR/><BR/>Linda McCabeLinda C. McCabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11554730334838454885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-20569063561518199932007-04-18T08:23:00.000-05:002007-04-18T08:23:00.000-05:00Or embrace your awards and fondle your fans. Which...Or embrace your awards and fondle your fans. Whichever works.<BR/><BR/>Otherwise, great post, Joe.Mark Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09410424046477699059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-54816256604699056142007-04-18T04:54:00.000-05:002007-04-18T04:54:00.000-05:00Great post, Joe.You're absolutely right. We should...Great post, Joe.<BR/><BR/>You're absolutely right. We should all enjoy the journey and take time to celebrate our triumphs.<BR/><BR/>Congrats on finishing the book! That's always a huge accomplishment, and cause to do the Snoopy dance. Best of luck with it!Jude Hardinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994813046526310594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-6078203568893821312007-04-18T00:06:00.000-05:002007-04-18T00:06:00.000-05:00Okay, here's what's fucked up. I'm currently worki...Okay, here's what's fucked up. I'm currently working on my tenth novel. I've done nothing but write fiction for twelve years. I've never gotten published, and have just come off of a winter that yielded 440 rejection letters.<BR/><BR/>And yet I'm a relatively happy guy. My life is probably about as balanced, normal, and happy as you could possibly imagine.<BR/><BR/>But people don't want to read novels by people who are happy and balanced.<BR/><BR/>People want to read novels by people who live in fear and anxiety, people who suffer.<BR/><BR/>For whatever reason, abberant psychology fascinates us.<BR/><BR/>Normal psychology bores.<BR/><BR/>I guess. Hell, I don't know.Stacey Cochranhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128613653591282474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-4038558104410455842007-04-17T20:11:00.000-05:002007-04-17T20:11:00.000-05:00Such a good point, Joe! Celebrating is SO importan...Such a good point, Joe! Celebrating is SO important! My husband (bless him!) is so amazingly supportive, and he celebrates every little writing achievement. I don't know how I got so lucky, but without him, I'd have trouble with that bit.<BR/><BR/>But we are the managers of our "company." Just because we are also the "employee," doesn't mean we can skimp on the positive reinforcement and the employee motivation and the leadership skills. It's important to learn how to handle ourselves, so our mind and ten fingers can be happy, productive employees.Spy Scribblerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14299551957327543491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-37192032631930407422007-04-17T19:59:00.000-05:002007-04-17T19:59:00.000-05:00great post, joe.great post, joe.anne frasierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13044828332429421657noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-31783680556698302232007-04-17T18:06:00.000-05:002007-04-17T18:06:00.000-05:00You're more or less describing the great rat race ...You're more or less describing the great rat race we all deal with. We set goals. We attain them. We set higher goals. We attain those. And so on and so forth.<BR/><BR/>Sometimes you just gotta stop and enjoy what you have right now, not what you might have someday.Scott Marlowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06024984238491365925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-52324327251502178372007-04-17T16:33:00.000-05:002007-04-17T16:33:00.000-05:00Joe,I think the key is to be happy, but don't be s...Joe,<BR/><BR/>I think the key is to be happy, but don't be satisfied. It's a fine line.<BR/><BR/>Victor GischlerVictor Gischlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04503919715676328059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-12831271867949675852007-04-17T14:36:00.000-05:002007-04-17T14:36:00.000-05:00Stop and smell the roses. My wife keeps telling m...Stop and smell the roses. My wife keeps telling me to live in the moment, not in the next one. She's right, and so are you. See you in Miami Beach!Joe Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00028401465567502250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11291165.post-5468243830459206112007-04-17T14:12:00.000-05:002007-04-17T14:12:00.000-05:00Joe, CELEBRATE!I did--champagne and Thai food. Thi...Joe, CELEBRATE!<BR/><BR/>I did--champagne and Thai food. Think it doesn't go together? You're probably right. But I didn't care, because I was celebrating and I wanted it.<BR/><BR/>And it was good. Really, really good.....Tasha Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01850540427161315450noreply@blogger.com