Monday, January 16, 2012

300 Pairs of Shoes

Really, I'm not sure how many shoes are in this picture, but I do know that my blog has 300 pairs of shoes on it. Well... maybe not exactly 300 because there are a few pre-shoe posts, some of the pictures are of bare feet, and I have been known to use the same picture more than once. But still, it's close to 300. You know how I know that? Well, because this is my 300th post. That's a lot of posts. It's hard to believe I've actually come up with 300 posts of things to talk about. Granted, they weren't always intriguing, inspiring, motivating, humorous, heartwarming, etc., etc., etc. Nevertheless, I have written 300 posts.

To celebrate, I've decided to look back at what things were like for me 300 posts ago compared to what they are like now. So here we go...

300 posts ago, I was stupid excited about my future as a New York Times Bestselling author and all of the fan mail I would be receiving about how incredibly awesome my book is. 300 posts later, I'm stupid excited about receiving feedback from my amazing critique partners about how incredibly NOT ready my book is.

300 posts ago, I was casting the leads for the movie Hollywood would no doubt make based on my bestselling book. 300 posts later, I'm recasting the same movie because the actors I chose before are all way too old now. I'm looking at toddler actors because there's a good chance that by the time my book sells (and it will) and the movie is made, those toddlers will be teenagers.

300 posts ago, I was certain millions and millions of dollars would be rolling my way soon. 300 posts later, I've taken a day job because I've learned that even when my book sells (and it will), there's no million dollar guarantee.

300 posts ago, I was happy spending hour after hour with my characters without ever needing real human interaction. I guess some things never change. This is still true. But 300 posts later, I do realize that real human interaction is imperative. Not only for my own well being, but also for my muse. Without real human interaction, I become cranky. And my muse doesn't like it when I'm cranky, so she leaves me. And then all those characters I love to hang out with, well, they just sit around doing nothing, and I get bored.

Okay, I'm exaggerating a little bit here, but to a certain extent, it's all true. The bottom line is that 300 posts ago, I was naive about the publishing industry and my talent as a writer. I don't mean this post to be negative because it isn't. Quite the opposite actually. I'm thankful I've learned so much and come this far. I see growth, not only in my knowledge of the industry, but also in my talent as writer. For me, this is satisfaction in and of itself. Not to mention all the fun I've had blogging in the process.

So, what about you? Does this little exaggeration sound familiar? No worries. I'm confident we'll get where we want to be. We just have to lean on each other and keep on working hard. Here's to what we've learned and to what lessons still lie ahead!






27 comments:

J.B. Chicoine said...

There's a lot of truth in this post, Susan! And I can relate to it on so many levels, though I'm nowhere near the 300 mark. I can tell you this--You have indeed grown as a writer! Significantly so! I'm impressed with all your progress :)

strugglingwriter said...

Here's to 300 more posts!

"receiving feedback from my amazing critique partners about how incredibly NOT ready my book is" - I love my critique group too. They ask the questions about my writing family and close friends cannot.

Wendy Paine Miller said...

It's wild for me to go back and read posts I've written years ago--to think where I was vs. where I am now. Thankful for growth and upon reading some posts, good for a laugh.
~ Wendy

Lynette Eklund said...

Human interaction or your characters start turning into slugs... Absolutely! I learned that same thing somewhere along the line.

Why is it when we have plenty of time to write, we are usually apt write the least? It's just not fair!

Nancy said...

Congratulations on your 300 posts. That truly is a lot. Since I have been a reader of yours, I have enjoyed all of the shoes immensely and I find your blog friendly and always fresh. You have learned a lot. Here's to more great blogs and a fine future for your book.

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Oh yeah, I know what you mean! I love that, as strange as it is, something like blogging has improved my writing, my love for the written word, and weirdly made me a more well-rounded person. Cool stuff. Congrats on 300 posts!

Patti said...

All of the above. I especially liked your casting toddler actors because they'll most likely be the lead in your book if it ever gets to be a movie.

Congratulations on 300 posts.

Colene Murphy said...

Congrats on 300!! Whoo! That's great! And it seems like you've learned a lot too. Not all bad things, just gotten more realistic I suppose. Which, we all have to find out unfortunately. I did too. Damn near the same exact things! *sigh* stupid child actors growing up to be all not childy anymore...who said!?

Janet, said...

Congratulations on 300 posts! I think a lot of us were naive in the beginning. We never imagined how hard it would be to get published. But we keep trying and that is what will get us published some day.

Catherine Denton said...

What a fun look back. I think I'd say learning to enjoy the journey rather than rushing to the ending would be what I've learned. Congratulations, by the way!
Catherine Denton

Diane said...

We're all in this together. Your day is coming soon. I feel it!!! :O)

Stina said...

The first one cracked me up. That is so true.

It's amazing how much smarter we are about publishing than when we first started writing. I thought I know a lot. Man, I was wrong. But you don't know that until your friends go through it.

Lydia Kang said...

Brilliant post. And as for this:
"...I've learned that even when my book sells (and it will)..."

THAT'S THE SPIRIT!

Karen M. Peterson said...

It's funny how that mindset changes over time. But one of the things that makes a good writer is when they can learn to tell that their work isn't ready.

Anonymous said...

I believe this, because I daydreamed about all of this, too. I'm more realistic and practical as I've learned things along the way, but my love for writing has stayed the same.

Congrats on the 300.

Jackee said...

Oh, man. This is my story as well! When I first started out blogging, I had no idea it would take so long to get published much less a best seller. :o) Oh, to be naive and persistent!

WTG on 300 posts!!! A huge accomplishment!!!

Susan Fields said...

Congrats on 300 posts! I agree - I've learned so much and come so far since I started blogging. I'm not there yet, but I'm getting closer all the time!

Robyn Campbell said...

The big 300! I have learned lots. Especially from you. Remember the posts you did on The Fire in Fiction? I had that book and had just thumbed through. So I read it and Writing The Breakout Novel too.

This is our year. I just feel it. (Did I say that last year)? Well, this year it's true! I heart you.

Cathy said...

Congrats on staying with blogging (300 posts, yay!)and writing. I think it's too bad that the publishing industry is going through such contortions right now, which makes publishing traditionally seem even less unlikely for us (me) than ever before. But the bottom line is that I love to sit at my computer and live in my story world. It wouldn't be worth it to me to self-publish; I don't need to be published that badly. But if there's even a glimmer of hope that I can be published traditionally, I'm chasing after that glimmer. I'm not sure why. It's not about fame or fortune. It's just a huge challenge, and I thrive on challenges.

Mark said...

Alright, power to you on your 300th post! Gosh, I've never bothered to check how many I've done, but probably not as many as you:)

Jen said...

Super congratulations on the 300th post! That's an awesome accomplishment!

I understand. I'm just at 100 posts and I can already see a difference in my blog of "THEN" and my blog of "NOW". Blogging helps us grow up in a sense and the continued writing helps us blossom in ways that we never would have had we only written for ourselves.

Also the friendships that come along with blogging are the most amazing of all!

Happy 300th!
Jen

Ara Burklund said...

Great post, Susan! I laughed aloud so many times because I've thought the same things. Looking forward to the next 300! : )

Kathi Oram Peterson said...

I know I had high hopes when I started out writing. Then reality set in and I found it was a lot of work. But that was okay. I was more than willing to pay my dues. It took me years and years to see my dream come true, but it finally did. If I can make it, so can anyone else. Believe me.

Keep having those dreams. Dreams do come true. You just need to give them time.

Jennifer Shirk said...

I think that's one of the great things about blogging. It's like a diary you can look back on and see how you've grown. :)
But yeah, I look back on my posts and think I sound a lot more happier and full of hope. LOL

Danyelle L. said...

Congratulations on your 300th post!

So much of truth here. :D Before, way back when I first started writing, I was happy to get my social interaction from my characters. (Shy introvert here.) Then, when I started blogging, I *loved* interacting with others, and hanging with my characters was nice, but not as fulfilling as it used to be.

It's interesting to look back at our happy, starry-eyed selves every now and again. :)

#167 Dad said...

You have 500 followers and 25 comments on this particular post. Looks to me like you're going to sell some books when you're ready...

Name: Holly Bowne said...

You crack me up!

"I'm looking at toddler actors because there's a good chance that by the time my book sells (and it will) and the movie is made, those toddlers will be teenagers."

Ha, ha, ha!

Well, I can totally relate to that, as well as much of what you wrote. I really thought once I finished my story (and immediately sold it, of course) I would be able to stop trying to earn money any other way. Oh well. S'all good, right? Every day we learn something new!