A Writer Must...

It’s time for another addition to J.P. Linde’s popular series: A Writer Must…
 
This is a total fabrication. There is no such series. Never has. But there sure as hell should be.
 
Today’s blog: A writer must be resilient. 
 
“Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult situations.”
 
Gee, I don’t know. Would this include unrealistic editors? Why, yes. Yes, it would. How about broken promises and downright lies? Sure does. Okay, here’s a tough one. How about rejection, countered with a stunning creative blow? Yep. It covers all of these and many, many more.
 
I understand that some of these blows can be devastating, but I can assure you that all writers, good and bad, have all suffered from one or more. Hell, I have probably suffered more than anybody.  But I can also tell you that you will survive if you never stop believing in yourself, never stop attempting to get better, and never let harmful and toxic people sway your creative life. And, if you do this, particularly paying attention to the “never stop attempting to get better,” you will eventually arrive at some opportunity. Not promising a big one necessarily, but something will happen. I guarantee it! And if it is only proofing a sign for the neighborhood pharmacy (do they even still have these?), it is a writing job. 
 
For the past few years, I had a possible writing job that I was sure would happen. It was like a lousy marriage; the more I put into it, the less I got out. And it was my own damn fault. I kept believing in it…over and over and over again. I was finally faced with more unreturned emails. No, I don’t think an email once a month is a big deal. For whatever reason, I had enough and divorced the creative relationship. Am I sad about it? Yes. Do I feel it is the end of the world? Hell no!  Once the legal separation was complete, I solicited the interest of another person. Guaranteed outcome? Nada. But it is called being resilient. Something we must all learn to do.
 
On another note, I signed a book contract which I will work on over the next several months. Contract signed, and I have already started. Mother Superior from The Sound of Music was right. “When God closes a door, he locks it and throws the key through the nearest window.” Or something like that.