tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post6697275319640933670..comments2024-03-28T07:00:43.256-06:00Comments on Author Elana Johnson: Don't Give UpElana Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05877856005992028912noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-63819164795779639212009-11-18T08:41:13.018-07:002009-11-18T08:41:13.018-07:00Can't say I'm ready to give up yet. That&#...Can't say I'm ready to give up yet. That's not who I am. I didn't get this far in life by giving up. Okay, I've hit my head against the wall a few times, but that's about it.Stinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415189347501942340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-85211840152620572282009-11-18T06:47:11.896-07:002009-11-18T06:47:11.896-07:00Holy vampires? Hee. I'm still chuckling at tha...Holy vampires? Hee. I'm still chuckling at that, so I have nothing useful to say.Carrie Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14893023777471521703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-17626006242947215912009-11-17T21:25:48.045-07:002009-11-17T21:25:48.045-07:00I usually send my sister an email "Pep Talk P...I usually send my sister an email "Pep Talk Please" and then whine for four or five paragraphs. Without fail I get something back with everything I need to hear and I take a breath and get back to work. This was a great post, chicklet. I needed to see this today.Little Ms Jhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00034349274576201531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-8019384265042514392009-11-17T21:14:50.297-07:002009-11-17T21:14:50.297-07:00Thank goodness for great friends - cause these day...Thank goodness for great friends - cause these days, I want to quit every hour at times!Christine Fonsecahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16986034666903054819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-31428187218664852512009-11-17T18:52:53.586-07:002009-11-17T18:52:53.586-07:00I feel like giving up at least once a minute :) Es...I feel like giving up at least once a minute :) Especially as I'm editing and finding more and more things I'm unsure of. When I hit those moments, I plow through. When they threaten to overwhelm me, I stop, take a deep breath, and go do something else. Something crafty with my hands that does not involve writing. Like sewing or playing with clay! Or if I'm at work (which is where I usually am), I'll go research food blogs :)<br /><br />Happy Wednesday!<br />JenJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06683486631901017529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-31574763874972086922009-11-17T18:26:19.465-07:002009-11-17T18:26:19.465-07:00But....that's the hardest part!!!
(no, real...But....that's the hardest part!!! <br /><br /><br />(no, really, it is!)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11431700962951592287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-61297438125739661272009-11-17T17:58:24.945-07:002009-11-17T17:58:24.945-07:00I think persistance does play a large part in this...I think persistance does play a large part in this writing/publishing world. And yes, not giving up is key, as are taking breaks when you need them, putting a project on the back shelf when it's not productive to work on it. I resigned from my job to write full-time so I sort-of treat it as my job. I'm not sure where it's gonna take me. No guarantees but I'm enjoying the journey.Paul Grecihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11340974339238587138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-47329566690967760802009-11-17T17:11:27.753-07:002009-11-17T17:11:27.753-07:00Absofreakinlutely.
I grew up being a quiter. My M...Absofreakinlutely.<br /><br />I grew up being a quiter. My MOM's mantra was "I don't care--it's your life." Thanks Mom.<br /><br />Taught me to be a really good quitter. When the going gets tough. I quit.<br /><br />At least, I used to.<br /><br />I had to learn how NOT to be a quitter when I grew up and there were things I wanted but that were dang hard. No room for quitters there.<br /><br />So now I pretty much motivate myself. I only have to think about my Mom and how she quit everything too, how when she died she regreted every single thing she'd given up.<br /><br />I keep going because well, of MY mantra, lol. "Go big, or go home."<br /><br />I'd much rather have tried and failed than never have tried at all. For reals. Oh sure, I like to self-medicate with a good book and lots of chocolate. Who doesn't? (Pirates rock) But in the end ... it's my own need to not have any regrets when I leave this world that keeps me going even when I think I'm stinkier than a bucket full of week-old fish.ali crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13023009704454279645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-1926713263844844162009-11-17T16:49:14.805-07:002009-11-17T16:49:14.805-07:00I read. Sometimes a book I've been waiting eag...I read. Sometimes a book I've been waiting eagerly for, sometimes an old fave. I take a few days off of writing and try to relaxJemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-74138130997221245272009-11-17T15:46:41.278-07:002009-11-17T15:46:41.278-07:00I have a few writerly peeps I mention it to. They ...I have a few writerly peeps I mention it to. They "get" it. Then we have a vent session and then I'm off the ledge.<br /><br />Or I tell my husband. He listens (neutrally) then always says that if I quit he'd go crazy. He says I NEED my writing to vent into or I'd go crazy too.Windyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07684298115679477705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-55182650872578970462009-11-17T15:40:23.876-07:002009-11-17T15:40:23.876-07:00When I feel like that I pull out a good book - one...When I feel like that I pull out a good book - one of those ones that I will neglect my children for - and read it. Not to critique it or dissect it or see how the author did this or that, but just to enjoy it and get lost in the story. I have to fall in love with books again.<br /><br />And then sometimes I just have to go run around a lot or dance. You know, let it. out.Jaime Thelerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12442679809704484650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-15157796835697128892009-11-17T14:33:15.667-07:002009-11-17T14:33:15.667-07:00Encouragement like this is roast beef at the dinne...Encouragement like this is roast beef at the dinner table. Good.<br /><br />I eat ice cream or play my music really, REALLY loud. Then I call my mom.<br />~ WendyWendy Paine Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136235074351188350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-69978367447200123312009-11-17T13:43:16.921-07:002009-11-17T13:43:16.921-07:00such good, good, good advice, my friend!such good, good, good advice, my friend!Katie Gansherthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09150375338556869812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-81349082686449895442009-11-17T12:42:48.856-07:002009-11-17T12:42:48.856-07:00Persistence is the name of the game, isn't it....Persistence is the name of the game, isn't it.<br />Great post, Elana!PJ Hooverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602205868934777662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-57904266280085449092009-11-17T12:27:58.432-07:002009-11-17T12:27:58.432-07:00An excellent post, Elana. It's so hard not to ...An excellent post, Elana. It's so hard not to give up. Part of me really, really wants to.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-20367655719940285592009-11-17T12:27:34.872-07:002009-11-17T12:27:34.872-07:00I give up. And swear off writing. I know, not th...I give up. And swear off writing. I know, not the answer you were hoping for. And then after a few days of wallowing I'll decide to just give it one more week, whatever it is I gave up on (new novel, querying, whatever) and that's when I call my sister and say, "Do you really think it's worth it? And she always says yes. And I've gotten farther than I ever thought possible.Bethany Wigginshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07345327120999157124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-38155034450405998132009-11-17T12:21:22.914-07:002009-11-17T12:21:22.914-07:00I have two people I call. Both are adament that I ...I have two people I call. Both are adament that I should pursue my goal of publishing my novel. Sometimes I watch Harry Potter or Twilight. And some days, I have a good cry. It all helps.Tara McClendonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246124060126729229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-65875758547779731472009-11-17T11:59:35.246-07:002009-11-17T11:59:35.246-07:00The urge to give up is so compelling sometimes.
...The urge to give up is so compelling sometimes. <br /><br />This is a great post. <br /><br />Just by writing this, Elana, you are letting people know they aren't alone in their doubts, and that in itself is a HUGE amount of encouragement.Kathryn Hupp-Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03776391661543060879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-64173335881455968282009-11-17T10:26:00.428-07:002009-11-17T10:26:00.428-07:00You're right, I think we all get to the point ...You're right, I think we all get to the point where we want to give up. I read blogs from my awesome writing friends. Then I feel like I can keep going on.Carolyn V.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15456210036213016603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-14042010086712815192009-11-17T10:10:38.458-07:002009-11-17T10:10:38.458-07:00I've abandoned this baby once before. I gave ...I've abandoned this baby once before. I gave up on it. I won't do that again. At this point it feels like I'm so close to finishing that I can almost taste it. And that's a good feeling since I've technically been working on this project since I was in high school.<br /><br />That promise of finally being done with such a long-standing project is what is keeping me going at the moment.Stephanie McGeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16507025637411479409noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-38604550852118662822009-11-17T10:07:40.948-07:002009-11-17T10:07:40.948-07:00I haven't felt like giving up yet but I also h...I haven't felt like giving up yet but I also haven't started the query process for my YA - so maybe that'll change in a few months. I'm in the endless revising loop right now. My hubby, siblings, and critique groups are so supportive and encouraging which helps as well. The success stories such as yours give me hope :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05255908019822363456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-65090593360576255692009-11-17T09:31:31.026-07:002009-11-17T09:31:31.026-07:00Perseverance comes easier when you love what you&#...Perseverance comes easier when you love what you're doing. It's hard to remember what you love about writing during the editing, querying and revision stages, though. <br /><br />My blogger friends help remind me, though. Thanks, y'all!Tere Kirklandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13562750950130316280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-37175583680100127972009-11-17T08:54:36.159-07:002009-11-17T08:54:36.159-07:00You mean like right now? LOL! I have to walk away ...You mean like right now? LOL! I have to walk away for a couple of days-- and absolutely NOT read any books whose beautiful prose blow me away and make me feel like I suck :):)Christina Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01799776834213400246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-14426603780312638302009-11-17T08:41:34.613-07:002009-11-17T08:41:34.613-07:00I take my doubts to my sister. She is my greatest ...I take my doubts to my sister. She is my greatest and loudest cheerleader (literally... she's loud and I love her for it). She listens to my concerns and then she reminds me that I'm the bomb-diggity and everything goes back to normal. :) Also... if the voices in my head are getting to be too loud I have to stop reading other people's blogs (well except yours of course!)... I start thinking "when's it going to be my turn? blah blah blah". So counterproductive. I could be spending that time writing!Valerie Gearyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17165554338889917253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9058478111996476699.post-62731200221115411762009-11-17T08:07:48.977-07:002009-11-17T08:07:48.977-07:00I turn to my friend Suzi - Miss Tell it Like it Is...I turn to my friend Suzi - Miss Tell it Like it Is - whenever I feel like giving up. Why? Well, she tells it like it is. Trust me, we only see each other once a year, or once every two years and she can be brutal. "OMG, you look like crap, you need to gain weight." Yes, she told me that once. I listened. "OMG, what the heck did you do to your hair. Don't ever do that again." Yeah, that experiment wasn't pretty, not at all. "You are so talented." Yeah, she said that too. So, when I'm down . . . I turn to her because I know she'll be brutally honest with me, won't hold back, and will put me right back on the writing track.<br /><br />SScotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06905515473737579937noreply@blogger.com