Failure & Falling with Style

Do you remember that scene in Toy Story when Buzz Lightyear swears he can fly and he demonstrates it for the other toys. Woody gets angry and says, "That wasn't flying! That was falling with style."

Falling with style is something I aspire to do. Look, I fail. All. The. Time. I'm sure I fail at something every day whether it's hitting my word count, cleaning, or being a good mother and/or wife.

Yesterday was a particularly difficult day for me. There's some stuff going on in real life (boring, you don't even want to know), but I find my heart and my mind pulling me in two different directions. I know my mind has the facts right, but heart just won't listen.

The same thing happened to me with writing recently. Two completely different books. Two directions. But I can only move forward with writing one at a time. (I could probably work on both, but I'm sure that would impede my creative mind since I'm tend to immerse myself in writing projects.) I made a decision. Then second-guessed it. Then made it again. Then second-guessed it. Then, yesterday, made it again. Each time I made the same exact decision, too!

I guess this is why people have affairs. Why people switch jobs for no real reason. Why people do all the crazy things they do. Their heads know the truth; their hearts see the dream. Somehow we have to find a way to reconcile all of these things and move forward.

So while I know I'll continue to trip and fall, I also have to remind myself that getting up is the best thing I can do. Because if we can't fall with style, then we just become pathetic heaps on the ground.

I don't want that. Do you? So, I'm only going to allow myself one viewing of one of my favorite depressing songs (I'm a redhead, so this one is close to my heart).

XoXo,

Megg

Choices: The New Frontier

Everyone wants a concrete answer in publishing.

Should I pursue traditional publishers?
Should I pursue an agent?
Should I e-publish?
...and then should I pursue an agent?

Which is the RIGHT way to go?

 Now, lean in close. I'm going to whisper the answer to you.

Closer...a little closer.






THERE IS NO RIGHT ANSWER!

(sorry for yelling in your ear, but I want to make sure you hear me)

It's like those Kia hamsters rap, "You can go with this, or you can go that."

In today's publishing world we have choices. Amazing, wonderful, crazy, risky choices! Make the choice that is best for YOU! I did.

Am I making mistakes along the way? Of course. But I'd bet there's a few traditionally published authors out there who've made poor choices too.

What I'm really getting tired of is seeing a writer attacked for the choices she or he has made. Amanda Hocking signed a traditional publishing contract! So what? Just because she started out indie doesn't mean she has to stay there forever. This past week, Joe Konrath announced that he was working with his agent - the agent he's had all along - on his epublishing. Suddenly the people who'd worshiped him were frothing at the mouth! Really? Get over it. He's allowed to make his own choices.

If I ever announce I have an agent, I hope people will be happy for me. If I ever announce I'm traditionally publishing a book, I hope people will be happy for me. Neither of these is something I'm actively pursuing (though I am talking to an agent, I have nothing interesting to say about it yet). But if I decide to, then I decide to.

Why? Well, my mom told me the perfect answer to give: Because it makes me happy.

I want you to do what makes you happy too!!!! Remember, one hamster's toaster is another hamster's Kia.

Peace out peeps!!!!