We writers have a reputation for taking everything personally. Many of us would describe ourselves as introverted artists who are highly sensitive. We tend to absorb other people’s emotions and have a hard time letting things go. Am I right? Or, am I right? This can make it hard to build an audience over the … Read more
When it comes to the creative arts, there have always been two roles in society: those who create, and those who are critics. The creators are the ones who make things. They make buildings, cars, computers, books, plays, speeches, movies, rockets, and so much more. The creators are the ones who move society forward. They invent. They design. … Read more
Water can be a metaphor for life or death. Ask anyone who has gotten sick from contaminated water or tried to avoid falling out of a canoe while going down the Amazon River teeming with deadly piranhas. They will tell you that water can be deadly. But what about a person dying of thirst in … Read more
There’s an old saying that goes something like this: “People who are too busy rowing the boat don’t have time to rock it.” The meaning is pretty straightforward: when you are occupied with doing the work, you don’t have much time to criticize others. William Faulkner said something similar: “The artist doesn’t have time to … Read more
We writers have a reputation for taking everything personally. Many of us would describe ourselves as introverted artists who are highly sensitive. As such, we tend to absorb other people’s emotions and have a hard time letting things go. Am I right? Or am I right? This can make it hard when trying to build … Read more
This is the seventh and final entry in our mini-series on dealing with rejection. Rejection is not fun, but it still has an important place in our business and creative lives. When you’re rejected or criticized, it forces you to ask tough questions like these: Is this something I should have been doing in the … Read more
Today’s episode is the first in a seven-part series on dealing with rejection. As writers, we deal with rejection in many forms. You can be rejected by a reader, a publisher, a literary agent, a podcaster, a beta reader, a book reviewer, a peer, and so much more. This rejection can be formal or informal, … Read more
I’ve talked about this a few times here on the podcast before. But, just in case you haven’t heard, I left my teaching job at St. Louis Christian College this past summer in order to focus full-time on ghostwriting and running my Daily Writer membership community. Now that SLCC has announced it will be merging … Read more
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Stitcher | Spotify | Google Play Do you remember what it feels like to be criticized for your writing? Different memories come flooding back for different people. Maybe it was in junior high, when a teacher pointed out all your mistakes. Maybe it was in college when you submitted an essay to a contest, and you didn’t even … Read more