Chip MacGregor

January 11, 2012

More of "The Best Advice on Writing"

by

Today's guest blogger is Russ Masterson, author of 40 Days Without Food. Russ never cared much about writing until one day, as a 20-year-old college student, he found himself stuck in a hotel room in Ghana, Africa, with a nasty rash and an urge to pick up the pen. After the birth of his writing dream, Russ went on to earn a degree from the University of Georgia. His first book released last year. 


What's the best advice I've received about writing? Two tips which I've found helpful:
1.      Keep writing. The only way to discover your voice and strengthen your skill is to write more. There’s no shortcut. You can talk and dream about writing, but at some point you have to get work done. Sit down and write. So you’ve received sixty-three rejection emails – feel like a failure for a few minutes, then sit down and write some more. This idea of rejection brings me to the second bit of advice…

2.      Glean your self-worth from somewhere more stable than that which you produceWhen my first book was published, and the reader reviews began to appear on the Amazon sale page, the third review contained several negative comments about my writing. Initially I wanted to search for the lady’s home address, drive to her house, and jam her cat in the microwave. I decided that may not be prudent, so I lay in bed wondering if any of this is worth it—putting yourself out there for such a beating.

I knew my value, or even giftedness, shouldn’t be judged by one person’s opinion, and even while remembering all the compliments from my agent and publisher and friends, I couldn’t shake that review. It sounds ridiculous, even shallow to write those words now, but it’s so easy to glean from approval, or even comparison, building an inner case for value.

I wrote this in an online interview shortly after becoming published:

“You think becoming published will give you some feeling of completion; that reaching this achievement will do something inside of you, and for a few weeks you do feel some gratitude for the opportunity and the work you've been able to do. Then you see the books ahead of you on lists and form reasons why your book should be selling more copies than those books. So, yes becoming published was exciting and rewarding, but then you, in some way, recalibrate to the new position and end up feeling the same as you did when you were unpublished. The entire process has helped me see that trying to squeeze value out of achievement is tiring and pointless.”

 We all justify our existence with something—cars, jobs, relationships, book sales. Grace brings rest because our existence is validated before we produce. We can detach from the shortcomings in ourselves and our lives. The differential between where we think we should be and where we are can wash away. Becoming comfortable in your own skin sounds cliché, but I see no other way to liberty.  

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11 Comments

  • air max 2011 says:

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    need, in case you needed to accomplish doctor’s transcribing attending house?
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  • Kate-dolan says:

    Great point about achievement – it seems to dissolve very quickly and it will never be satisfying. Thanks for sharing your wisdom@!

  • Tanya Dennis says:

    Started reading his book last week. The second point here is great, a truth we all need to employ.

  • Ruth Douthitt says:

    This is so true! When I handed my manuscript to my editor, it was the hardest thing! I was concerned, but yet I knew I had a good story. I knew my writing wasn’t the greatest, but I had full confidence in my story. It takes a thick skin to make it in this business. As an artist who has had my artwork critiqued by Master artists, I had to develop a thick skin early on. It does help to stay focused and KEEP WRITING no matter what!!

  • Janelle Woodyard says:

    Russ, Well said.  (Glean your self-worth from somewhere more stable than that which you produce.)  I believe this coincides with having a strong foundation in which to stand when the wind blows.  

  • Mercey Valley says:

    This is so true! Fantastic, level-headed words (especially about the cat).

  • Laurel Decher says:

    This is brilliantly observed and beautifully expressed. Thanks very much. “So, yes becoming published was
    exciting and rewarding, but then you, in some way, recalibrate to the
    new position and end up feeling the same as you did when you were
    unpublished. The entire process has helped me see that trying to squeeze
    value out of achievement is tiring and pointless.”
     

  • rachelhauck says:

    Thanks for bring this truth to us! Sooo valuable. 

  • Raj Paulus says:

     “Grace brings rest because our existence is validated before we produce.” Well said truth that fueled my sweet dreams last night! Thanks so much for the reminder!

  • elizabeth byler younts says:

    Russ, I love what you wrote about finding self-worth in something stable. That has been so important for me as just a PERSON let alone a writer. I hope your message gets out there on this very issue…it is such a problem in today’s society in general. What a great post. Thank you for sharing.

  • Pam Hillman says:

    Russ, your quote about validation rings just as true as the first time I read it in Seekerville. Thanks for sharing it again.

    It’s a keeper!

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