Isaac Asimov, a notable science fiction author, once said, “You must keep sending work out; you must never let a manuscript do nothing but eat its head off in a drawer. You send that work out again and again, while you’re working on another one. If you have talent, you will receive some measure of success - but only if you persist.”
It’s a sentiment I really like on the whole, but I’m not going to lie: that last line sort of eats away at me. It is my greatest fear with this dream I have with writing and now video making, that ‘if you have talent’ part.
Because the first part, I have got down. I keep on posting on my various blogs, even when my view count has inexplicably plummeted in recent months. I keep making videos and trying new things which is a lot of fun, but still I don’t have a very large audience or reaction. I keep working on fiction, lately trying my hand at short stories and again, having a lot of fun trying, but who do I share them with when I have no agent or ‘readership’? Could it be Mr. Asimov was right and that maybe I just don’t have the talent?
It’s a question I can’t answer, and I’m not sure if anybody can. The rejection letters seem to imply I do not have talent, but I’m not ready to admit defeat just yet. So I’ll keep blogging and filming and writing. Even if for no one else, even if it’s just for me, I think that counts as some measure of succes in that I’m taking on my fear of failure by simply, simply trying. By doing it anyway, I succeed.
Though if you want to comment and subscribe and all those other fantastic things, I’d be really appreciative of that, too. =)
Keep at it! One day our books will be on the shelves and we will be going on so many tours that we will forget what it feels like to do nothing.
ReplyDeleteI know, Sarah! I've been having such struggles with writing lately, though, and haven't been querying because I've been hit with this all-consuming fear that my manuscript isn't interesting enough. Gotta keep on trying, though, and thanks so much for your support =)
DeleteYou're so brave, Mon. I gave up fear for Lent this year. We'll see how it goes.—Jess M.
ReplyDeletehaha I'd hardly call it bravery, but it's very kind of you to say. All I want to do is hide under a rock because why do I keep putting myself through this, but hopefully someday I'll have an 'audience' and it will rock. Thanks for your unwavering support these many years =)
DeleteYou've just got to keep doing what you're doing! Good luck! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the support! =)
Delete