The beat goes on!
So cool. Somehow -- I can't remember now how -- I discovered that I was mentioned in a Canadian newspaper the other day. And in the best way.
A "Smith Falls local man" (Hugh Long) won the Global eBook Awards in his category and he quoted my comments about his winning book (loyal readers of this lofty blog may recall that I was a Judge for those awards).
No, I'm not that egomaniacal that simply seeing my name in print in Canada when somebody else wins an award makes my day; my actual point was that this writer was so incredibly happy. And his town was impressed enough to write a whole article about him. (I guarantee you that my town doesn't do that for me; my town does something akin to the exact opposite, but you know? Who has time for sour grapes. I have work to do!!)
Okay, I digress. It just made me feel so happy to find myself popping up in the middle of all this unknown happiness up in Canada, you know? My life seems to be more about that these days, as I find myself teaching and mentoring and preparing to launch the Black Marks Annual Literary Award with M. Christian. (Don't get excited about that link -- there's absolutely nothing there yet!! That's something else I promised I would take care of before leaving for Europe!!!!! I think it's kind of cool that at least there is "a link." Yes, it's regrettable that there's nothing there beyond the link., but, well, okay. Digressing again.)
It just makes me really excited these days to work with people who are really talented and just starting out; who can benefit from everything I had to learn the hardest possible way in New York. I can remember so well what it felt like to struggle with a piece of writing that I knew was good but had no clue how to go about getting it out into the world. It's interesting to be in my position now -- I know how it feels to be them, as if they're in some dark tunnel trying to get to the outside where the sun is shining. Whereas I'm here on the outside in the sunshine and I can see everything now, including the tunnel but it's not dark anymore. I love the process of helping people find their own light.
Even with all the social media that writers have to contend with & get bogged down in these days (and what an insane thing! Writers are so notoriously anti-social.) But with or without social media, there is one thing that never, ever changes throughout all time: Believing in yourself and in your work. That is the absolute bottom line. It doesn't take "social media"; it takes the power of belief and all the doors eventually start opening.
You can "social media" yourself 'til the cows come home if you want to -- interact with everyone imaginable and create business relationships that lead to publishing success; that's 100% true. But you can also sit alone in your room and work and believe in your work, and the path that leads to your destiny finds you just as easily.
Personally, I prefer the sit alone/work/believe method b/c it keeps my mind clear and keeps the white noise to a minimum. That way when opportunity knocks, I can usually hear it loud & clear. For me, social media -- even while I participate in it to a degree -- creates a whole heck of a lot of noise. It's super, super crowded out there in the ether; have you noticed that, gang? It's like how an old-fashioned midtown Manhattan bar at happy hour used to be; a great big noisy crowd, drinking and jabbering about their careers or lack thereof. You gotta watch out for that. It's fun but it starts to replace "doing the work" if you aren't careful, you know?
So, on that happy note, I gotta get back to doing the work!! Have a great Wednesday, however it finds you, gang. And whatever you do, keep that noise down!!! See ya!
["Can't you hear me knocking???"]
A "Smith Falls local man" (Hugh Long) won the Global eBook Awards in his category and he quoted my comments about his winning book (loyal readers of this lofty blog may recall that I was a Judge for those awards).
No, I'm not that egomaniacal that simply seeing my name in print in Canada when somebody else wins an award makes my day; my actual point was that this writer was so incredibly happy. And his town was impressed enough to write a whole article about him. (I guarantee you that my town doesn't do that for me; my town does something akin to the exact opposite, but you know? Who has time for sour grapes. I have work to do!!)
Okay, I digress. It just made me feel so happy to find myself popping up in the middle of all this unknown happiness up in Canada, you know? My life seems to be more about that these days, as I find myself teaching and mentoring and preparing to launch the Black Marks Annual Literary Award with M. Christian. (Don't get excited about that link -- there's absolutely nothing there yet!! That's something else I promised I would take care of before leaving for Europe!!!!! I think it's kind of cool that at least there is "a link." Yes, it's regrettable that there's nothing there beyond the link., but, well, okay. Digressing again.)
It just makes me really excited these days to work with people who are really talented and just starting out; who can benefit from everything I had to learn the hardest possible way in New York. I can remember so well what it felt like to struggle with a piece of writing that I knew was good but had no clue how to go about getting it out into the world. It's interesting to be in my position now -- I know how it feels to be them, as if they're in some dark tunnel trying to get to the outside where the sun is shining. Whereas I'm here on the outside in the sunshine and I can see everything now, including the tunnel but it's not dark anymore. I love the process of helping people find their own light.
Even with all the social media that writers have to contend with & get bogged down in these days (and what an insane thing! Writers are so notoriously anti-social.) But with or without social media, there is one thing that never, ever changes throughout all time: Believing in yourself and in your work. That is the absolute bottom line. It doesn't take "social media"; it takes the power of belief and all the doors eventually start opening.
You can "social media" yourself 'til the cows come home if you want to -- interact with everyone imaginable and create business relationships that lead to publishing success; that's 100% true. But you can also sit alone in your room and work and believe in your work, and the path that leads to your destiny finds you just as easily.
Personally, I prefer the sit alone/work/believe method b/c it keeps my mind clear and keeps the white noise to a minimum. That way when opportunity knocks, I can usually hear it loud & clear. For me, social media -- even while I participate in it to a degree -- creates a whole heck of a lot of noise. It's super, super crowded out there in the ether; have you noticed that, gang? It's like how an old-fashioned midtown Manhattan bar at happy hour used to be; a great big noisy crowd, drinking and jabbering about their careers or lack thereof. You gotta watch out for that. It's fun but it starts to replace "doing the work" if you aren't careful, you know?
So, on that happy note, I gotta get back to doing the work!! Have a great Wednesday, however it finds you, gang. And whatever you do, keep that noise down!!! See ya!
["Can't you hear me knocking???"]
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