On Being Realistic
I have two words for those who tell me, “Be realistic!” or “Don’t get your hopes up”.
Screw you! I refuse!
I refuse to be what some would call “realistic”. I know only 3% of published writers make a living at it, and that published writers are the lucky ones. I know that even if 90% of the email agents get is inappropriate (outside their guidelines, bad grammar, full of mistakes, or just full of bizarre jackassery), that still means I’m competing with hundreds or even thousands of people who get it right… all for one or two slots on their list.
I know that thousands of people every year write books. Some of them are great books. Some of them are celebrities and no matter how craptastic their books are, they’ll get published, and millions will buy them.
I know I’m competing in a highly competitive field.
But you know what, my hopes are UP. My work is good and getting better every day. I’m tenacious. I’m determined, open to change, creative, intelligent, and more importantly, I work hard.
“Realistic” is for suckers. Often when people say “be realistic”, it’s code for “it’s too hard”. Sure, it’s hard. But it isn’t TOO hard.
On the other hand, sometimes when agents and editors say “be realistic”, they’re saying “don’t be a jackass”. And that’s good advice any time of year. ♥
To all you unpublished authors who are trying to break through and published authors who are trying to find agents, get promotion, get noticed and find success… don’t be “realistic”. Go ahead and dream. The disappointments may come, but the dream will push you past them, and that is the key to conquering “reality”.
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Nice post, but it’s “tenacious.”
Yay for optimism!
And besides, who cares about the statistics…you’ll never know if you don’t try. Worse than failing is not trying.
Thanks for that, Nixy! It’s exactly what I needed to read on a dreary Monday morning.
Thanks. Love your attitude! I’ve heard several agents lecture about their publishing “realities.” What they described often sounded like plot lines for a comedy about a tyrant and a psychotherapist. I cannot and will not conform to such “reality.” If we writers worry too much about the things you described, we’ll all have to hire psychics to mind read the publishers and the agents and book reviewers so we could please them all…
Rick, how industrious of you to take the time to spell-check other people’s blogs. Fixed. =)
Thanks Beth, Kathy, and Mickey for the kind words!
Excellent post! And I agree completely. “Realistic” is for losers.
Nixy, I’ve been in the business for 20-some years (clears throat) and I can tell you that the biggest key to succeeding in publishing is tenacity. I know many, many writers out there who have the dream and are extremely talented, but will never go anywhere because they simply are not focused, nor tenacious. You go, Nixy…
I can fully vouch for the fact that statistics are nothing but numbers and have nothing to do with the reality of an individual. I say this not from being an experienced writer, but from being an experienced cancer patient. If I had given in to statistics, I’d have been dead a long time ago. Statistics are aggregates (not to mention aggravating) and don’t reflect an individual’s possibilities. One thing’s for certain: If you give up, you definitely fail.
Lovely post as always.
Thats the attitude! In my family we say “Just keep pushing through” meaning once we’ve decided what path we are going down, we don’t let other’s doubts detour our progress. My kids were raised on this theory and alternately bless me or curse me because of it. Dogged determinism usually wins out – if for no other reason than you are the last one standing.
Great post!