I
finally finished watching the Writers (and Illustrators) of the
Future Awards ceremony (you can watch it here if you'd like - just remember - it is 3 hours long.) (isn’t streaming wonderful – you can see almost anything
anytime you want, as often as you want, instead of only in the instant. Or is
this not such a good thing? Sounds like another blog post…)
As
I was saying, I watched the ceremony, and it was truly inspiring. The
most important takeaways from the ceremony come from the speeches of the two
dozen author and illustrator finalists. Keep trying. Thank you to everyone who
supported me or pushed me. Thank you to the contest for validating that I am a
writer.
I
am not on their level. There, I’ve said it; even in this day of indie
publishing, where you no longer have to cow-tow to the traditional publishing
houses and get down on your knees to beg an EDITOR to deign to allow other
people to see your work, I STILL find myself thinking “Bill, you’re not a real
writer until you are traditionally published.” I still look for that
validation.
I’ve
submitted stories to the contest off and on since 2008 or so. The closest I got
to becoming a finalist was when K.D. Wentworth gave my “Purr Mission” an Honorable Mention (that was her last round as
editor of the contest – she died without signing the certificates that
quarter.) That nod from her helps to keep me writing to this day, just as the
occasional personal comments that other editors added to a number of form
rejections show me that someone in the know has ACTUALLY READ what I wrote and
found it worthy of more than just a “NO.”
We
are social animals, and we rely a lot on validation from our tribe for a raison
d'être (our reason to exist.) There is a dark side to this need. The wolf who
is low-man on the totem pole, who’s the object of snaps, snarls, and
subjugation, still wants to be in that
place, rather than not being a member of the pack at all.
The
pack mentality can be a powerful inhibitor as well as a motivator. The threat
that you will no longer be considered acceptable if you don’t behave the right
way or say the proper things exerts a powerful control. It’s hard not to fall
into group-think. If you put people together in a room, chances are that a
dominant viewpoint will emerge that is parroted by everyone who wants to be in
with the “cool kids” (that’s right – no matter how old we get, we never truly
leave junior high school.) A consensus develops in part because people with an
opposing viewpoint are afraid to lose social acceptance by going against the
grain.
It
is possible to find truth in consensus, but CONSENSUS IS NOT TRUTH. Think for
yourself. Don’t just accept things at face value because EVERYONE KNOWS. So if
there’s something you really want to do, something that you’re passionate
about, keep striving for it. You don’t have to have someone else’s permission
or acknowledgement to pursue your dreams. Persevere.
Although
it helps, every once in a while, if someone gives you that nod. Pay it forward.
Just
saying…
<<<>>>
This week, “Bugging Out” is our couponed feature (there are so
many ways to really lose it – where does it all go?) Here’s the smashwords.com
link: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/337935?ref=NoTimeToThink
Use coupon
code LB32E to save 50% off the list
price at check out at smashwords. The coupon will be good through Monday, May
18th. Enjoy!
<<<>>>
William Mangieri’s writing (including his
latest ePublication: “#InWhoseReality?”) can be found in many places, such as:
- His Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B008O8CBDY
- Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/william-mangieri?store=book&keyword=william+mangieri
- Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/NoTimeToThink
- Createspace: https://www.createspace.com/pub/simplesitesearch.search.do?sitesearch_query=william+mangieri&sitesearch_type=STORE
Connect with him (and LIKE his Facebook
writing page) at: http://www.facebook.com/NoTimeToThink
Or on his Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6893616.William_Mangieri
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