The Writer Behind the Words by Dara Girard Page B

for how they expect things to move forward. I am not saying that you need to come up with a formal, written business plan. But remember that publishing is a business that has its ups and downs. Here are ways to deal with it.
     
Learn to respond rather than react. There are different ways to achieve a goal. The power of choice is our greatest gift as humans. How you chose to respond to a setback will dictate your future — choice is a big responsibility. You can choose to react instinctively or to take a step back and respond consciously.
     
     
    Consider these two scenarios.
    A book comes back rejected for the fifth time. A
reaction
to this would be: My agent is useless, the editors don’t understand. They are probably twenty-something MBAs who don’t know the first thing about writing. They wouldn’t know a good story if it bit them on the bum!
    A
response
would be: Damn. I guess X-publisher isn’t the right place for me. Perhaps I could shorten the novel to a novella or submit an excerpt to a magazine.
    When you react you are ruled by your subconscious and become a slave to your emotions. You will likely mirror habitual behaviors and have your future reflect your past — nothing will change. By responding to a situation, you use your conscious mind to help you achieve desired results. Learn to respond and not react, and take control of your destiny.
     
Ask the right questions. People want the world to make sense. They like equations, cause-and-effect. If you do this, then this happens. If something good happens, then most people readily take credit for it. If something bad happens, they try to find someone or something to blame. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for a bad event. Sometimes a well-written novel just doesn’t sell well, an agent says something abusive, or an editor kills a story with no explanation. Wondering and wallowing will not move you forward. Learn to ask the right questions. Not “Why is this happening to me?” But “What do I do next?” Don’t be life’s victim.
     
Model success. Find a writer with a career you admire in a field that you enjoy. Preferably someone who is still alive, because the publishing industry has changed so dramatically in the past years. Attempt to emulate the strategies used in your favorite writer’s career when they hit it big. If they wrote small unremarkable category romances for many years, then broke out with a sweeping saga, then emulate the sweeping saga. (Why suffer more than you need to?)
     
Gather industry news in small doses. Don’t gather so much information that it depresses you, but know what the atmosphere is like. Some writers will claim that ignorance is bliss and that, had they known all the trouble out there, they wouldn’t have become published. Good for them. But sometimes not knowing what is out there can harm you. There is an unhealthy myth that once you’re published it’s easy to get an agent, so many published authors despair when an agent turns them down. The truth is that it’s always difficult to get an agent. Some authors publish five books before catching the interest of one agent. Others do without agents and hire a literary attorney. Be careful of myths that make you feel as though you’re doing something wrong.
     
Learn to be flexible. It’s good to build up a brand name, but learn to do other things well just in case your chosen arena hits a down market.
     
Work towards your mission statement. Do something every day to make it real.
     
Brainstorm alternatives. If the current market isn’t ready for your voice, consider self-publishing (but do your homework, there are a lot of scam artists out there). Write a blog. Create your own newsletter or magazine. Develop a series of greeting cards or booklets. Offer your services to local companies or community centers. Think outside the box.
     
Always write the best that you can. If your book, poem, or article delivers, then you will be asked to do more work and