See, it's only by falling that we learn how to get back up. Everything we've done in our lives, from learning to walk, to holding a fork the right way, to driving a stick shift comes from failing first.
Why should we assume that writing will be any different? And not only writing, but the publishing process?
I think this is a mistake we make. We assume that because we're adults now, it's embarrassing to fail. Rejection is too hard to face. Revising, editing, submitting becomes too much to endure. Because we might fail--and then everyone will know.
I think that's the wrong way to look at it, because it is only through our mistakes, our trials, our failures that we learn.
When we attempt to write a story and then sell that story:
- We learn how we write best.
- We learn what conditions we need around us to be able to write.
- We learn what kind of books we like.
- We learn our strengths in crafting a story.
- We learn our weaknesses.
- We learn how to stop crying and start again.
- We learn who's on our side, and who isn't.
- We learn what's truly important in life.
And we do it all through writing, trying, failing.
So don't be afraid to fail! As for me, I'm going to embrace the failure. Turn it into fuel for my fire. Use it to learn, grow, change, improve.
It's a writing--and a life--lesson.
*sounds the battlecry* Who's with me? Are you ready to fail?
