Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Tell the Truth

Let’s be honest, no one is going to tell the whole truth on the internet for the world to see, and if you do then be prepared for it to haunt you later.

Knowing this, I have to ask anyway…How do you feel as an aspiring writer when someone else lands a HUGE book deal?

Don’t just spout off the first thing that comes to mind. Think about it. How do you really feel? Sure we’re all happy for the person but come on…isn’t there a small part of you that wants to stomp your feet and scream???

For those small, suppressed feelings…I give you this.



It has nothing to do with the blog post but it was either this or Eye of The Tiger.

And don’t you feel better?

To those people who have landed book deals, Congratulations. I am sure you worked your ass off for it. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

7 comments:

  1. Oh, Marsha. You are my kindred spirit. This just happened to me the other day! I feel like such a whiny brat sometimes. But, um, yeah. I get jealous, okay? I feel like I've been working toward this for so long and it's just not happening! Ugh! Whine! Boo! Okay, I feel better now. LOL.

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  2. I don't know so much... I guess I might feel a bit of jealousy, but I don't think so. Mainly I feel inspired. When I've watched the journey of other people to getting agents and book deals, I know it's not easy. If it were just a game of chance, I'd probably feel that way... but I can't honestly look at someone who I know has worked as hard as they can and resent them for reaping the success - even if my success hasn't exactly appeared. Yet.
    Although sometimes I'm just delighted. :)
    I do know this feeling from other activities though, like acting! Oh, I can get SO jealous and be so excited for my friend at the same time!!! :)

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  3. When another writer lands a HUGE book deal (and okay, yeah, I got a book deal, but there is always somebody with a way bigger book deal than you), my first instinct is to applaud. My second instinct is to do the ugly cry. So on the outside, I'm thrilled, and saying all the right things, but on the inside I'm whining, "Whyyyyy nooooot meeeee????"

    But you know what? I think it's okay to feel that way. It just means I want it bad. And you have to want it bad if you want it to happen.

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  4. Of course you feel jealousy, haha. It's human nature.

    I will say one thing though: the community of writers I have found since I began my blog at the start of the year would have to be the most accommodating and supportive group of people I've ever belonged to. Jealousy, sure there is; but it passes and then we move on to help said person sell as many books as we can with the knowledge that when it is us who land the big deal there will be an amazing group of people waiting to help us as much as possible.

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  5. Have I said lately how much I love and appreciate you guys? You're awesome.

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  6. How can someone so young have such an old voice?

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  7. I posted Adele on my blog today too, although it wasn't this one, but "Someone Like You". It's been haunting me since I watched her perform it at the Brits. Which has nothing to do with your post. As for reading about other authors' huge book deals...I'm thrilled, envious, curious. I mostly want to know how they did it and what the process is like, since I'm not even to the publishing stage, let alone the possibility of a huge deal!

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It helps to know I'm not just talking to myself.