Thursday 14 March 2013

The Elusive Success.

I've read a lot of stuff about success lately. Like, seek after it, or don't think about it just write, and so on.  As writers it's something most of us chase after. But I am beginning to realise, success is an illusion, fostered by what we see others achieving, or think we see.
Recently I read a piece advocating find your happy place and write for the love of it. [I thought it was great advice.]
My happy place is a corner of our spare room. Where I have my desk and my laptop. In this quiet place I can escape into my fantasy world. I have three books published, and am working on the fourth, which is the sequel to book three.
Do I sell well? I would have to say, not really. But am I happy? You bet!
It's natural for human beings to seek after success, but success is for ever moving; and we're only ever as good as the last thing we accomplished, so it's a struggle to keep up. Better to relax and enjoy the process of writing.
And if one person loves what we write, then it has been worth it.

22 comments:

  1. I write two different types of fiction now. One is Christian Historical Suspense fiction called The Story of God's Creation, a biblical novel, and then I am also working on a Historical Paranormal Romance Novel called The Outlaws. I am more comfortable writing secular fiction compared to bible fiction. What do you do when you get writer's block. I haven't written anything on my blogs for two and a half weeks because I am blocked. Please, give me some advice on how to break writer's block

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  2. Gosh, Pam, Not sure how to advise you as I'm not very good with my blog either. However, I notice you say you're more comfortable writing secular rather than Bible fiction. Why not go deeper and explain your feelings about it on your blog. Also you may have noticed when I review a book it goes on my blog,and sometimes I take snippets from my books and put those on. Other than that put down your thoughts, ie about writing and stuff like that.
    I hope that's helpful.

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  3. Three books published!!! I'm amazed, I'm struggling to get my debut novel out there, so congrats on getting yours, I'm proud of you. :)
    I agree with you though, the best place in the world to be is a corner with a desk and a computer. This is my happy place as well, where all the emotions are allowed to come out and I basically kill my keyboard on the days where life is a little harder than I appreciate it being.
    Writing is probably the best career ever. :)
    Wishing you luck with your fourth novel,
    Tayla Durham :)

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  4. You will get your book out there. Just keep those fingers tapping those keys.
    Thank you for your kind words...so encouraging.
    I so agree with you, writing is the best career. I look forward to hearing you've finished your book, and wish you every success with it.
    Yvonne.

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    1. Thank you!
      I can't wait to hear that it's out there as well! Writing a book is rewarding as well as painful all in one go, but finishing the book is the best reward, although chocolate is sometimes nice as well :)

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  5. You are so right, Tayla. Writing is both a joy and sometimes full of struggles and pain. But it is worth it, especially when you see your hard work published and out in the big wide world, hopefully being enjoyed by readers.
    I hope you get your own book published soon. My one crumb of advice is to edit well, and make sure it's as good as it can be.
    And then treat yourself to a lot of yummie chocolate. LOL

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    1. My precious baby...I mean book is getting sent to the editor tomorrow. Hopefully that means with her advice I can get Twisted (my book) as ready as possible. Editing is a pain, I don't really enjoy it, but if it will make for a good book, then I'm all for it.
      Thanks for the advice, now I shall dine upon chocolate :)

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  6. I like the title of your book, Tayla. And I hope the editing goes well, it's not my favourite thing either. :(
    Plenty of chocolate needed, I think. :)

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    1. Thanks! The book kind of named itself, so I went with it. You can check out more about it on my blog if you like, I'm a total nerd for my book and can blab for hours about it after everyone else in the room has passed out from a Twisted overload. :)
      And yes, chocolate is a need for authors, along with a good treadmill for those days when writer's block is a killer. ;)

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  7. I like your expression total nerd for my book. :) I think we who write are all a bit like that. If someone will stay still long enough I'll give them chapter and verse about mine. LOL
    I like your blog and am following you.
    I'm impressed you play the violin...lovely instrument.

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    1. I'd do the chapter and verse thing about my book too, I love talking about it! Thanks for following my blog, made my day to see that you were :D
      What are your books called? I'd like to learn more about them. :)

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  8. You'll have to let me know when you are published, and if it's not too expensive I'll get a copy.
    Below is the link to my latest book. The other two are The Shadowed Valley and A Rat and A Ransom. All fantasy.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Through-Glass-Y-I-Lee/dp/1480295388/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1367593786&sr=1-1&keywords=through+a+glass+by+y+i+lee

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  9. The link doesn't appear to work. But they're all on Amazon if you want to look. My author name is Y.I.Lee

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    1. I am looking now, the Shadowed Valley looks good, I read the first few pages and you get a horse lover's stamp of approval ;)
      This is awesome, I'm talking to an author, or...writing to? Whichever, this is cool. :D!

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  10. And Through the Glass! I want to read it! I already like Irene and Stagman from the pages Amazon lets you read, your descriptions are already painting images in my mind!
    How did you get your covers?

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  11. And A Rat a Ransom.
    I need $30 to buy all three. They all look promising and a nice filling feast after I've been starving for a good book for quite a while.
    Good job! :D

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  12. Hi Tayla,
    You're such an encourager. I'm glad you liked what you were able to read.
    The covers are my own design, taken from my oil paintings. So far I've been fortunate and had the right painting for each book. Apart from a Rat and A Ransom, I commissioned another artist for that one. The picture at the top of the page, with Shadowed Valley across it is one of mine. :)

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    1. No way! You painted that? It's amazing! That takes such talent to do! I tried...and failed to paint :) you have that talent, don't give it up! :D

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  13. Thank you, Tayla. {{{hugs}}}

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    1. :D
      Have you painted anything else? You should post pictures if you have, I'd love to see it. I love gazing at amazing art, it's easy to get lost inside the world the artist creates.
      If your books are as amazing as your art...well, I won't be sleeping until I finish them. ;)

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  14. Who's a little fibber, then! You said you can't paint. But I've been to You Tube, and seen your art work...beautiful horses! Well done. You're a talented girl, and obviously very good at the technical stuff.
    I too like, Kevin Mcleod and use his music. I've only done one trailer for 'The Shadowed Valley,' and used a piece of his music as backing, he does some good stuff. You Tube, is great and I'm hoping to do more trailers soon.

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  15. If you would like to see another of my paintings. It's under the Shadowed Valley pic. It's called 'Mirage.'

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