Dude, this isn't going to be like uber-religious or anything. I know some of you are quaking. Or hoping for something juicy. Sadly, there won't be either of those things. But don't stop reading!
1. I don't believe in signs. I believe in hard work.
2. I don't believe in wallowing. I believe in creating your own luck, and accepting luck you don't create. (See yesterday's post.)
3. I don't believe in hoarding knowledge. I believe in sharing and paying it forward.
4. I don't believe in waiting for something to happen. I believe in working hard. (Come back for tomorrow's post. And see #1.)
5. I don't believe in vampires. I believe in Edward. Ha! (Just checkin' to see if you were paying attention.)
6. I don't believe in isolation. I believe in whining, er, chatting with your writerly friends. And blogging. And tweeting. And then more chatting...
7. I don't believe in chocolate. I believe in bacon.
What do you believe? What don't you believe?
Oh, and bonus: I'm up on Badass Bookie's 2011 Debutante Event today! All about me today, all about POSSESSION tomorrow. There're chances to win...not only my book, but 11 others too! So make sure you go check it out from now until December 31!
I do believe you're awesome. Off to check out the Badass Bookie.
ReplyDeleteI believe in hard work too. But sorry, not in bacon. Not at all. I'm a vegetarian. Will check out the link.
ReplyDelete#7 = WIN
ReplyDeleteI believe in hard work, signs, luck, dark chocolate, & coffee. Coffee should really be higher up on my list.
ReplyDeleteHard work always pays off - just not always in ways we expect. Sometimes those unexpected payoffs are the best things ever!!
ReplyDeleteI believe in bacon AND chocolate.
ReplyDeleteI believe in love and...bacon and chocolate.
I believe we get by giving.
I like this post, Elana. =) Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDelete- I believe in love
- I believe in forgiveness
- I believe in paying it forward
- I believe in doing the right thing
- I believe it's easy to be nice
- I believe smiles are contagious
- I believe it's our actions, not the events in our life, that define us
- I believe in coffee. Especially right now
You know,...I believe you.
ReplyDeleteI think hard work, and learning and whining and DOING are what gets the job done...but sometimes a little lady luck doesn't hurt.
I do like bacon, but chocolate gets the job done for me.
ReplyDeleteI do believe in signs and luck, but in order for those to be in your favor, you must work your tail off and share the knowledge.
Of course, all of that will come with some whining.
Off to check out your link. :)
Oh and thanks for waking me up with the Edward comment. *big smiles*
ReplyDeleteYes, but do you believe in rainbows and Kermit the Frog?
ReplyDeleteBahaha - I believe in Edward. Hehe... too funny!!
ReplyDeleteI believe in Hardwork. I believe in Rewarding Others. I believe in Giving others a chance. I believe you ROCK.
Jen/Jules
I believe in your list here, especially the part about not isolating *oh thank you internet for saving me from that* and about giving back and being generous. And I believe in the timing of things, which I guess could be another way of saying luck. And bacon is the best!!
ReplyDeleteDo you believe in chocolate dipped bacon? :)
ReplyDeleteI believe Edward is Santa Clause and everything you said is awesome!
ReplyDeleteI believe that children are our future. Teach them well and let them lead the way.
ReplyDeleteA little Whitney Houston lyric to keep it going.
And I believe you are right. (though sometimes bacon hits the spot and sometimes chocolate.)
Elana, these are great. And you know I have a soft spot for bacon. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are a great inspiration--keep doing what you do, woman!
Angela @ The Bookshelf Muse
I believe that your posts are always good for a laugh or a smile first thing in the morning! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI do believe in hard work- lots of it and I believe in determination. I believe in never giving up. I also believe that we need to encourage each other.
you don't believe in chocolate??? i think i might seriously have to reconsider this relationship.
ReplyDeletejust kidding!
these are definately great things to believe in. if your belief system is right, then hopefully my hard work will pay off...soon!
Amen to all of the above :)
ReplyDeletep.s. How do you feel about chocolate covered bacon? :D
I believe I'm glad I read this because I needed to smile this morning. Thanks, Elana. Excellent post.
ReplyDeleteHaha, yep, totally believe in hard word. And Edward. And I will always believe in chocolate, sorry :)
ReplyDeleteI believe in writing down my feelings, especially when I find them overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteI believe in cheese & that everything happens for a reason. I also believe that if I were to change just one tiny event from my past, then I might not be where I am today, and that would be tragic. So, I don't regret anything that I've done.
ReplyDeleteI also believe in eternal scholarship.
hi miss elana! pretty cool post for sure. theres lots of stuff i believe in. mostly i believe you gotta believe in your self and you gotta love your self before you could love any body else. but the most important for me is i believe in peanutbutter cups!!! ha ha. and for sure i believe raccoons rock!
ReplyDelete...laughs and hugs from lenny
Awesome list! Although I am totally a chocolate believer. Sorry. :)
ReplyDeleteCan't a girl believe in both chocolate AND bacon?
ReplyDeleteYou don't believe in chocolate?!?! *gasp* I don't know if we can be friends anymore.
ReplyDeleteJust kidding. You already don't know me from Eve. *grin* Though I'll never mess up your name again. It's burned onto my brain.
I'd like to add: I believe things happen as (and when) they should. While I think you're right about hard work, timing does play a role and not to sweat it if it's not your time. Keep working/writing/editing and it will come when the time is right.
I believe, first and foremost, in cheese.
ReplyDeleteAfter that, I believe in bacon.
But then I had an epiphany...
What about chocolate covered bacon???
I believe in chocolate and bacon, and I'm really feeling the chocolate covered bacon thing.
ReplyDeleteI love what you said about connecting, giving back, and sharing. I heartily agree.
I believe we reap what we sow! I believe in giving back something of what I've been so abundantly given.
ReplyDeleteI love this blogger community where I can read such wonderful posts as this!
Ann Best, Long Journey Home
I believe that patience is a virtue: one I don't have yet.
ReplyDeleteI believe in being happy for other's success: and not being jealous of it.
And I have to say I believe in chocolate! ;)
I believe I need a blog name like Badass Bookie - that rocks!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I believe in every item on your list except for Edward (he's a wuss), and while I like bacon, i prefer sausage - I am Polish after all.
And I would add to the list that I believe in respect.
Mmmm...bacon. And Edward.
ReplyDeleteI believe having a good attitude is ninety percent of the battle. Because whiners don't usually win.
ReplyDeleteI believe a person can do whatever they set out to do, as long as they're willing to take the right steps and work hard to get it done.
I believe any circumstance can be overcome with the right amount of determination.
I believe in Karma. How you act, how you treat others, comes back to you in one form or another. Eventually. Never fails.
I believe in the power of friendship and chocolate. With both, a writer can withstand a million rejections and still keep going. (Or you can substitute bacon I guess.)
I believe in hard work, and strength in numbers. And paying it forward. And I believe that you totally rock.
ReplyDeleteWhat you are describing here is just a good work ethic for writers. Except for the chocolate.
ReplyDeleteHow can bacon fuel writing? Unless you meant "Bring Home the Bacon!" ??
Let's see a post on that!
I believe in chocolate AND bacon, but not together.
ReplyDeleteI also believe in community, and you do a great job of supporting it. <3
I believe in chocolate. I lurves me some bacon, but chocolate is my go to comfort food when the writerly things aren't going so well. Oh, and I believe in Dr. Pepper. It is essential for staying awake:)
ReplyDeleteHow about deep fried chocolate covered bacon, re-wrapped in cripsy slab bacon, sprinkled with confectioner's sugar. Hmmmmmmm.....
ReplyDeleteI believe in your list, except for the bacon one. I totally believe in chocolate.
ReplyDeleteAmen to all of those~in a totally non-religious way! ;) I loved and believe in every one of those, except for Edward. Sorry Edward. Vampires don't sparkle.
ReplyDeleteYou don't believe in chocolate? Oh. My. Word. . . I'm not sure I can still come to this blog anymore.
ReplyDelete:)
Chocolate is way up on my list of things I believe in. It can cure almost any mental ailment as far as I'm concerned.
I love your #3 there. It's so true. You demonstrate that often with all your hard word on this blog and writeoncon. Nice job! You're a great example.
I believe you always have the best posts! Love it! And bacon. Oh, a friend of mine made bacon cupcakes a little while ago. She said they were good. Didn't know if you had ever tried such a thing.
ReplyDeleteOh ha ha -- this was a great post. (Especially the vampire part.) I agree with pretty much everything you said, aside from the bacon part. Oh, and I believe in coffee. Like, all the time.;)
ReplyDeleteJessica
Haha, baconmeister. I don't care about chocolate all that much either. I like #1 and #4--it takes hard work, diligent work. Even if luck plays into things, you have to have done the work first. Meanwhile, #6 makes the journey more enjoyable and bearable: other writerly friends!
ReplyDeleteI believe in sweet tea, coffee with hazelnut creamer, love, strength in numbers, chocolate, and writing amongst so many other things, and God. I don't think any of us could do what we do without the power of so many comforts, faith, and friends. Oh, and I too believe in you:)
ReplyDeleteI believe in You.
ReplyDeleteI believe in all day coffee.
I believe in long naps on the weekend.
I believe faith can move mountains!
Bacon all the way, baby!
ReplyDelete#2 and #4 are AWESOME!
ReplyDeleteI don't believe complaining about things I have no control over: the state of publishing, the submission process, etc. I DO believe in working hard to become a better writer.
And I don't believe in birthday cake. I believe in PIE. :)
I don't believe in/do believe in:
ReplyDelete- perfection / learning from mistakes
- failing / fixing
- fate / reaching beyond your grasp
- manipulating people / karma for those who do
- envy / celebrating others' successes as well as your own
There's a huge list of other things I WANT to believe. I'm still working on those.
So...frighteningly enough, this entire list can also apply to dating (particularly when you're over 20).
ReplyDeleteEspecially the bacon part. Do they make bacon-scented perfume?
I don't believe in chocolate, or bacon, unfortunately . . . but I do believe in hard work.
ReplyDeleteI believe you are one of the smartest people I know. And this is why I'm honored to be your friend! :)
ReplyDeleteSneaky! I was paying attention!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you don't believe in chocolate. Not even a little? Bacon is very delicious though...
I believe in Hot Tamales!
ReplyDeleteAnd NetFlix.
I believe in Edward, I believe in the Edwardian Era, I also believe in sparkly book covers
ReplyDeleteHmm...
ReplyDeleteI believe that timing is important.
I believe that it's okay to wallow once in a while.
I believe that if you are talented and persistent, you WILL succeed.
Those are awesome ... except I believe in chocolate, not bacon. But on everything else, YES! :)
ReplyDeleteHa ha, great list! Except that bacon part... I'll take a hot fudge brownie sundae any day over bacon. ;)
ReplyDeleteOMG - I am so with you on the believing in bacon thing!
ReplyDeleteGreat list! I needed that today. :)
LOL! I believe I haven't found luck in my writing journey (as far as getting an agent, etc). I also believe I've learned a LOT and that sometimes you have to make your own luck. I hope the past two years and six novels is part of that.
ReplyDeleteI believe you are a genius.
ReplyDeleteI believe there is still magic in the world just harder to see.
I believe I will be published in the future, it's not a matter of if, only when.
I believe the only thing better than chocolate or bacon is...chocolate bacon.
I believe in bacon dipped in cocoa, and deep-fried mozzarella cheese.
ReplyDeleteAnd I believe life is one big messy backside of a tapestry and when we're done we get to see the finished side and say, "Ohhh,of course. That's quite beautiful isn't it?"
I believe in reading Elana Johnson's blog for awesome inspiration! Oh, and macadamia nuts with caramel, dipped in chocolate.
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
ReplyDeleteI believe in hard work, writer friends being amazing, blogging, chocolate, being creative rocks, enjoying the moment, cookies, cuddles from my goddaughter being the best thing ever. And bacon. :)
I agree that bacon > chocolate.
ReplyDeleteI believe the writer-blogger community is awesome and you are a big part of that.
ReplyDeleteI believe life is what you make it and if you don't like the way yours is going, it's up to you to change it.
And as other have stated, I believe in chocolate covered bacon. Don't knock it before you try it.
I believe you're right! That's all I have to say about that. :)
ReplyDeleteLisa ~ YA Literature Lover
Wonderful credo. I believe that good luck comes after a lot of preparation.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe moodiness is a good reason to be rude. I believe kindness reaps all kinds of good.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't tell Captain Hook but...
I DO believe in fairies, I do, I do.
Sorry, gotta believe in chocolate.
ReplyDeleteI not normally one for wallowing but just for today, I will. Tomorrow I'll snap out of it, I promise.
So, I saw something yesterday that I'm TOTALLY tempted to get for you. But it's a secret. (gwa ha ha)
ReplyDeleteHmm. I wonder what tomorrow's post have to do with...bacon-wrapped vampires? ;P
I believe in coffee, my beta readers and critique partners, working hard, coffee, my laptop, my desktop, coffee, spellcheck, my family, coffee...oh and coffee.
ReplyDeleteMaybe bacon flavoured coffee? Okay, never mind.
I believe in great crit partners!! Without them, I probably wouldn't see half the things that need to be changed in my novel! And yes...yummy Edward...but I think I believe in Buffy more...
ReplyDeleteHells yeah about the bacon!! Great list of beliefs.
ReplyDeleteI do believe in me, I do believe in me, I do, I do, I DO!
ReplyDeleteI was loving the list until the last one!
ReplyDeleteHow could you prefer bacon over chocolate?!
Haha, btw, I love #5, nice way of getting our attention!
I was loving the list until the last one!
ReplyDeleteHow could you prefer bacon over chocolate?!
Haha, btw, I love #5, nice way of getting our attention!
And another one--something like, Opportunity comes knocking, but many people don't recognize it because it is dressed in overalls and workboots.
ReplyDeleteI agree that you're awesome : )
ReplyDeleteI can vouch for your #3 belief--I have learned so much from your blog! Thank you!
ReplyDelete