Confession time: I’m having a frustrating day. But hey, it completely goes with the territory. This is a frustrating business. There are more books than slots at publishing houses, and that’s the case now more than ever. Frustration happens. It’s the nature of life in the book funnel.
It’s also just built into the business. When you hear about a publisher jumping from $2.5 million to $3 million in an auction for a celebrity book, it’s easy to think, “Uh… that publisher just nickle and dimed my client and refused to give them even $1,000 more when they really deserved it. And they passed on another project because they didn’t want to take a risk on a debut. But they won’t even blink at jumping $500,000 in an auction for a book about Paris Hilton’s chihuahua?” (Okay, it is kind of a cute dog. Also I’m kidding, that’s not an actual book. Yet. UPDATE: Oops! Yes, it is.)
And then of course, there’s the aforementioned rejections, bad reviews, negativity, and strange whims of fate.
Depressed? Don’t be!
Here’s the only way to deal with the frustrations of the publishing business: don’t become fixated on the publishing business.
You’ll. Go. Mad. if you place all of your eggs in the basket of publishing, following the ins and outs, letting it consume your entire being, and living and dying by your rejections, reviews, and what mean anonymous commenters are saying about you on any given day.
It’s soooo easy to let publishing become an all-consuming force in your life. It takes so much time to write, and then there are the blogs to follow, the agents to research, the publishers to keep track of, the industry news, the rejections to track… it takes a lot of time. Combine that with a day job and there aren’t many hours in the day left.
But it just can’t be everything.
The best way to deal with the frustrations: ignore it for a while. Take a walk! Spend time with your friends and family! (Remember them? It’s okay to ask them to remind you what their names are. They’ll just be glad to have you back.). Take up a second, less frustrating hobby, like sunflower photography. Better yet: start rooting for the Sacramento Kings to see what frustration really feels like. The publishing industry has nothing on being a Kings fan.
If you find yourself becoming down in the dumps about your prospects or the business or the state of things: It’s probably a sign you’re spending too much time focused on it. It’s perfectly okay to tune out for a while. When you clear your head and come back: all of a sudden the industry will magically seem like a place of hope and possibility.
Because the difference between seeing opportunity and frustration in this business is all in your head. It’s just a matter of how your brain is looking at it that day.
Please share your favorite method of distraction in the comments section!
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Art: Ludwig Knaus – Mein Napf ist leer
Melissa McInerney says
Beth Terrell, I have a Papillon, too! Best dogs EVER. But some of my methods of vegging out are not, um, legal. Housecleaning is, though. I notice a lot of us ladies use housecleaning to clear out frustration. What does that say about us? I also listen to funk and rap and dance around the house. Thank goodness I live in a very private place.
Teri says
Misery loves company.
I usually talk with fellow writers and we can relate to the same feelings.
Otherwise, I usually get in a really tough tennis match.
Lots of power serves!
Janny says
This is a totally timely entry, because I have been awash in total frustration, ennui, and all those other erudite words that describe “I just don’t care” sorts of frustration/burnout…
So yesterday, I plugged in college basketball streaming audio on my headphones at work, and watched B-Ball games when I got home. I LOVE March Madness (at all levels)…!
(oh, and…Go Blue!)
JB
Anonymous says
Mira,
It’s not just a talent for writing, you have an amazing imagination. I am impressed, also.
JO
Myra says
Dance breaks. Lots and lots of dance breaks. And trying to keep my two-year-old from going naked.
Wait, that adds to the frustration.
Actually, I check out your blog. Thanks for the positive attitude and encouragement. It is truly appreciated!
“Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize.” –
Elizabeth Harrison
MzMannerz says
Shopping. It inspires a lot. Procrastinating on cleaning out that garage? Buy some new bins. Etc.
I don’t go overboard, but even the tinest new thing gets me up and going.
Yesterday, I reorganized my work papers after finding some funky designer file folders. Four dollars well spent.
Marilyn Peake says
Mira,
I agree with Jo. Just my opinion: Rather than writing about real people like Nathan, I would recommend writing a completely fictional story and, while you’re working on a longer work, start submitting short pieces to reputable magazines and online sites.
Anonymous says
Mira,
Marilyn has an excellant point. You should put that imagination and writing talent into short pieces in a magazine.
It also seems you have a vivid character. If you found her too annoying for MC use her as a best friend or even a classmate that is forever in trouble and needs to be rescued, kind of like a sidekick.
JO
Anonymous says
I tell my students they really have only two options: improve your writing or stop sending your work out.
McMama says
Oddly (given my poor rejection-management skills), I deal with frustration fairly well. I was a software engineer for 17 years before I quit to be a stay-at-home mom to my afterthought baby. Software engineering is all frustration, all the time. Your assumption going in is that whatever you just spent the last 48 hours coding will not work, and if it does, you view it with a great deal of suspicion.
So. Frustration-wise, I’m a pro.
Here are my strategies, in the approximate order in which I employ them:
Swear creatively while kicking whatever durable furnishing is closest. (Watch out for metal filing cabinets – they hurt.)
Determine that you will never do this (write code, write novels, whatever) again. Drink a cold liquid, which may or may not be alcoholic, depending on where your frustration management activity is taking place.
Clean out something, throwing away any articles which seem offensive (like earlier drafts of the same program or novel) with as much force as possible. You’ll want a very large and sturdy trash container for this activity.
Do yoga for about ten minutes, and then revert to loud swearing.
Take a walk. Swear quietly so no one is tempted to dial 911 when they hear you coming. (If cops do arrive, stop swearing. I mean it. Stop right now.)
Read a book. A bad book. A book you know would have been better if you had written it yourself. (Software-wise, you crank up some Microsoft software. Because one monkey with one keyboard can write better software than what Microsoft makes you pay for.)
Return to your workstation refreshed and ready to try again.
Wanda B. Ontheshelves says
Hi Mira,
I have more I want to say about “annoying” characters, and you did ask what I was working on myself…just too swamped at this exact moment to reply. In another post, somewhere, totally off topic, I will respond!
Wanda B.
Kate H says
I go to church, where I am reminded that the whole publishing industry and my part in it are nothing more than a flea on the back of the cosmic dog, and God is that dog’s master.
Verification word: flebeck. That’s how God calls the fleas when He wants them.
Dutch says
I ride my horse.
But that’s totally not fair, really to this post, Nathan. Because I ride when I’m sad. I ride when I’m happy. Heck I ride when I don’t know what I am! – I have a wonderful horse.
Dutch
Lisa says
Why would you want to distract from the frustration?
After all, it’s frustration that often pushes past our comfort zone to try new and challenging experiences to help resolve the frustration.
Now if you’re talking anger management, may I suggest the Godiva Plan. It works wonders for me.
Jean says
You. Are. Hilarious.
Now taking up sunflower photography.
Mira says
Marilyn, Wanda and Jo – you guys are so great. I hope you read this. I was at a training all day, so I didn’t check in this morning. So, I couldn’t thank you for the encouragement. But now, I can’t thank you enough. It means alot to me.
I hope to return the favor someday!
Thank you.
Based on our conversaton, Wanda, I started re-working something today during lunch. I delegated the annoying main character to side-kick status. It might work…..
But don’t worry. It won’t interfere with my trying to get Nathan to represent me. Writing something is an awful lot of work. I’d like to avoid all that and just get the contract.
Marilyn Peake says
Hi, Mira,
I wish you all the best with your writing! Have fun! Glad you saw our posts about your writing talent.
Mira says
I’m glad I saw them, too, Marilyn. Thanks.
And I want to say congratulations to you on your writing breakthrough today. That’s an amazing feeling when it starts flowing. I’m really happy for you!
That reminds me – I was going to get one of your books. I just got paid. I’m going to order one this weekend.
Then I can tell you what a great writer you are! 🙂
Marilyn Peake says
Mira,
You just made my day! Hope you enjoy the book. Thank you!
debtink says
Depends on the frustration!
If there’s no graphic design work to do, I write. If I’m frustrated with what to write I read.
When I dont’ know what to do with myself, I explore what’s on demand tv or watch series DVDs. I’m on series 3 of HOUSE.
Mira says
Okay Marilyn, I ordered Fisherman’s Son. Wow, it got good reviews on Amazon. I am really looking forward to reading it. I love YA fantasy.
It’s so quiet here this weekend. Wanda, if you’re reading this, and you feel like sharing your idea, I’ll check the thread. You, too, Jo. Are you working on something?
Marilyn Peake says
Hi, Mira,
Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy the book. It’s my first published novel, a story I truly enjoyed writing. I’ve been delighted with the reviews.
It has definitely been very quiet here this weekend.
Gwenda, says
Witty… Funny… Sexy… Tells it like it is… I think I’m in love… Eh, supposed to be commenting on the post. Oh yeah…
When I’m not promoting and obsessing about my newly released, ‘Keeper of the Enchanted Pool’ by Lucy Fox, on the Amazon charts or writing the sequel, I love to gyrate and lose myself to the sounds of Gary Moore. What do you mean, ‘Never heard of him.’ Don’t tell me your as uninformed as Canadians in music! Ex Thin Lizzy, Irish rock/blues God. Look up, ‘Still Got the Blues’ and ‘Parisian Walkways,’ on YouTube. Out of this world guitar and with all that sexy base…
Then there’s whiling away precious time on Facebook, playing Mafia Wars and catching up with long lost friends… Uh hum… and yes, family.
Steven Till says
My favorite methods of distraction are sports/outdoor recreation type things: hiking, going to the lake, basketball, football, golf, etc.
Sarah says
You could also start rooting for the Giants. It has the same effect. 🙂
OPINION ALERT:
I dislike that writing has really become big business (though I accept it wholly for what it is.) I suppose old souls like me long for days when a writer’s words were pined over, dissected, and appreciated. I read the words of Sylvia Plath, and Whitman, and Frost, and fall in love with the words and pages all over again from the very moment I crack open the binding. Books now are mass produced, pressured by deadlines and contracts, and sometimes come across as cookie cutter. I am not envious of agents like you that need to determine who ‘makes the grade.’ More power to you, my friend.
I appreciate, by the way, that every time I read your blog posts, I can, to some degree, feel exactly what you’re feeling. Kudos!
All the best,
Sarah
Reuben Garza says
I usually hit the gym and let all of my frustrations out on the equipment.