Sunday, July 12, 2015

When all the odds seem stacked against you - PitchWars

Wait, why am I writing about odds being stacked against you and #PitchWars in the same title?

Trust me, they do.

You hear so many things on your writing journey.

  • How to develop the writing routine you must have to be successful.
  • How to do your research.
  • Who to query.
  • How to query.
  • How to handle all the rejection that comes your way.
  • Which contests to take part in.
  • Not to take part in contests.
  • Writing alone.
  • Writing with camaraderie...

The list goes on and on.

The advice is endless, and leafing through it all to find out what really applies to you is so difficult. Then we add the cold hard fact that everyone is different and therefore everyone will have a different method that works.

But it all has one thing in common.

Don't give up.

Hear that. No matter how many rejections you get. No matter how many contests you luck out of. No matter how many books you write.

If you truly want to be a writer, if you have these stories to tell that won't let you stop, then don't give up.

As long as you never give up, you will never fail. The only person who can make you fail is you. Just you. Only you.

What does this have to do with PitchWars?

PitchWars isn't just a contest. Like a lot of others, there's a community surrounding it. People participate in the hashtag and interact. It's a place where you can meet other writers, because they are the people who understand where you're going and where you've been.

It's not just about gaining a mentor and a potential agent request, it's about the connections you make to other people who are in the same place as you.

In making friends who also write, you gain a support group. They no longer have to be in person (although someone to share coffee and actual hugs with is always nice), online support is just as valid. These people understand you, They can cheer you on, or commiserate with you. They'll hear your frustrations, and share your good news. There for the tears of frustration and those of joy.

And do you know what they help you do, what they make so much easier than trying to go it alone?

They help you never give up.



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