5 Ways to Fail at Writing

Plus, discover key productivity tips. [Web Version »]( &p1=%40ex63dJ5pKegmLYMtz15IzF%2Bb%2FtArjQgpYc30pnkQntI%3D) [header]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [Name]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [5 Ways to Fail at Writing: How to Use Rejection to Become a Better Writer and Get Published]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [Story 1]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) This happened a few weeks ago. I just finished a short story. Months of work. I can't tell you how many drafts I've been through. Finally sent it to one of my favorite publishers. And they rejected me. Again. But... you know what? I'm counting this as a major victory for my writing career. Let me tell you why: How to Never Become a Failed Writer Do you know the difference between a great writer and a "true failure?" Great writers know this: Failure is not an option. It is a necessity. Most new writers (and a surprising amount of professional writers) give up when they hit that critical mass of "one failure too many." It comes in many forms: - Not finding the time to write - Always starting “the next new thing” (and not finishing anything) - Spending hundreds of hours on a manuscript, only to get it rejected seventeen times in a row. I invite you to walk through the fabled halls of Great Writerdom. See how the floors are littered with their old rejections. For some of the world's bestselling authors, these rejections were a point of pride -- Stephen King even pins them to his walls. Failure is Not Permanent... ... Unless you choose to give up permanently. What does a true writing failure look like? Someone who has given up on writing their dream novel. Or someone who quit writing because they decided it wasn't worth the long, winding path, potholed with failures. Great writers understand that failures are the fires in which they forge their craft. Failure is the fastest -- and in many cases, the only -- way to grow. 5 WAYS TO FAIL SMARTER AT YOUR WRITING 1. Which Failure Hurts You the Most? This is the failure I want you to think about right now. The rest of these strategies will help you get more out of your failures. So... what is crushing your writing muse right now: - Can't [find the time]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) to write? - Can't focus when you sit down to write? - Can't get over the latest impersonal rejection for your short story? 2. Bask in Your Failures. Don't hide it. Don't swallow it whole and try to pretend you don't feel pain over your failures. Emotions are the writer's most powerful tools. Feel them. Use them. At best, you will remember this feeling, and your drive to succeed will improve. At worst, you'll have something new to write about. [Read More...]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) &p1={EMAIL}&p2=129880857 &p1={EMAIL}&p2=129880857 &p1={EMAIL}&p2=129880857 [Language Arts: VOX Author/Linguist Christina Dalcher Discusses the Power of Words]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [Story 2]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) "I think it's always, always good advice to think about what you can do, and what you know a lot about, and go from there -- rather than trying to write something that is like that one book on the bestseller list last year, or that got turned into a movie, or that your friend wrote." Following the release of her hit book, VOX, linguist-turned-author Christina Dalcher shares insight into the power of words spoken, written and suppressed. [Read More...]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [Tobias S. Buckell Discusses Successful Writing Collaborations and the Elements of Powerful Sci-Fi]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [Story 3]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) We had the pleasure of talking with Tobias S. Buckell ahead of his keynote at [indieLAB (September 29-30 in Cincinnati)]( ). Read on to discover his thoughts on what it takes to write powerful sci-fi, the process of writing with a co-author, and what's next for his career. [Read More...]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) &p1={EMAIL}&p2=129880857 &p1={EMAIL}&p2=129880857 &p1={EMAIL}&p2=129880857 [5 Things to Consider When Structuring Your Memoir]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [Story 4]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) Memoir structure is as crucial as structure in fiction and no good memoir will be able to stand tall without it. Several ingredients can be used to create a structure that works for your book. [Read More...]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [Story 5]( ) [6 Ways to Improve Writing Productivity -- and Quality]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [Story 5]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) From time to time, Robert Lee Brewer features guest posts on his Poetic Asides blog, and this post shares six ways to improve writing productivity from Crystal Stone. Robert's personal favorite tip is to take notes everywhere, which is why he's always got pen and paper on hand (just in case). [Read More...]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [The Writer's Digest Podcast, Episode 8: Interview with NaNoWriMo Executive Director Grant Faulkner]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [Story 2]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) In this episode of the Writer's Digest Podcast, we talk with author and Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month Grant Faulkner, who shares an inside look at the NaNoWriMo writing challenge and discusses how to overcome some of the main obstacles to creativity, techniques to help you prepare to write your novel, and how to keep your creative momentum up every month of the year. [Read More...]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [Feature ]( ) [Your Weekly Writing Prompt]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [prompt]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) A Roll of the Dice: Roll two six-sided die. Whatever number comes up, write down the first word you can think of with that many letters. Repeat six times. Incorporate these six words into a story or scene and see where it takes you. [Post your response (500 words or fewer) in the comments here ...]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) [Jess Zafarris]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) Jess Zafarris Follow [@jfarrisknight]( ) Jess Zafarris is an energetic multimedia journalist with more than 8 years of experience writing and editing, and the content director of Writer's Digest. Please do not reply to this email. We are happy to help you with any questions or concerns you may have. Please [click here to contact us]( ). This email was sent by: F+W, 10151 Carver Road, Suite 300, Blue Ash, OH, 45242 USA [Unsubscribe or Manage Subscriptions]( &cid=DM72444&bid=737551889) | [Web Version »]( &p1=%40ex63dJ5pKegmLYMtz15IzF%2Bb%2FtArjQgpYc30pnkQntI%3D) We respect your right to privacy. [View our policy.]( )