The conference that I went to this past week was business related, not writing. The speakers were about money management and business related success, but one thing that I've found is that the basic concept of "success" in one area can almost always carry over into other aspects of life. So I sought to apply and adapt the info into how it can relate to writing.
So, when I heard Dave Ramsey Speak on money management, there was one application that stood out to me. He showed a movie clip of a gazelle outrunning a cheetah. He likened "debt" to the cheetah. And said that to stay out of debt, you have to live gazelle intense. The cheetah is the fastest land animal, so gazelle intensity means that they have learned to outwit the cheetah by swift and cunning movements. To stay out of debt you have to run from it like a gazelle runs from a cheetah. A statistic that I heard was that a cheetah will catch a gazelle only 1 out of 19 times despite their speed and strength.
Doubt is the writers cheetah. That's how I figure it anyway. Between rejection letters, self esteem issues, negative comments from others, years of working and perfecting the craft . . . doubt is always crouching in the brush, waiting to pounce.
Great application. Right? The only problem is . . . how do you become the kind of Gazelle that can outsmart the cheetah? How do you get to the point after years of rejection, negative comments and hard work with no results, that you can still outsmart the cheetah. Either you're going to tire out, or the cheetah is.
Here's some things that I think may help stand the test of time. But these are all guesses, seeing that I'm still pretty new to the writing game. I can't boast that I've been a smart gazelle. I'm just a young one. Is my perseverance because of my immaturity in the game or will I be able to outlast the hunter? Will I pass the test of time? Who will win in the end. Me or the cheetah?
Anyway I'm guessing:
1) support. Either a writing buddy or a writing group of some sort. blog buddies :0)
2) a realistic attitude.
3) a love for the craft of writing.
4) dedication to becoming better.
5) finding an agent or editor or someone int he 'biz' that believes in you.
I'd love to hear from you guys. How do you stay gazelle intense? What's the secret?
The clip below is of a gazelle outrunning not just 1 cheetah, but two! Get a visual. One is self doubt, the other is a pile of rejection letters . . . hunting you, wanting to tear you apart and devour you. But do you fall prey? No! You run, dive, out smart them, you brilliant gazelle you! We ARE gazelle intense.
17 comments:
You always have such interesting comparisons!
awwww . . . thnx Beth! :0)
I love that goals, success, time management...all that personal development stuff is pertinent to all parts of our lives. It's great!
I find keeping in mind that good news can be just one email away helps keep me positive!
Great post!
Awesome post, Christy. I'm a newer writer, too so I am hoping to keep on keeping on to outrun those rejections and doubt. Sometimes the extreme competition makes me all the more determined to succeed, but unfortunately the reality also is this business is extremely competitive. I'm just going to run like the gazelle, keep honing my craft, and keep sending in my manuscripts !
Hey PJ! I really like that thought about "just one e-mail away"
Kelly, You go girl! :0)
That is a great visual. I've had a really hard time convincing myself that any of my work is good enough to submit anywhere. Right now, I'm the gazelle that won't even peek out of the bushes.
I'm not getting eaten by the cheetahs, but on the other hand, no one knows I'm even there!
I'm working on it.
Blogging is helping me peek out of my shell.
Wait! That's turtles!! :P
Great post! And here's a little something to remember...Cheetahs, for all their speed, can only do it in short bursts. They are not long distance runners.
So let us leap, dodge and zig-zag. (It looks so graceful)
I think for me is that I write because I love to write. So, even if I'm never published, I enjoyed the process. I'm not dependent on my writing at this point to make a living, which makes it less stressful. It's all a learning process. I love learning about how to write as well as the writing itself. My goal is to write stories that others enjoy, so even if only a few read them, if they like the stories, I'm half-way there.
Great post...If we keep running like the wind, one day we will blow those rejections away and the only thing left are the good things...grin..
Great post! I would add persistence to the list.
Keep running...
This is such a great analogy! Love it. I think you are so right. We as writers are fighting against a horde of difficulties. We need to encourage each other to keep at it.
So you go girl! Don't give up.
I've heard David Ramsey speak. He's a lone voice in today's debt infested world. I do recall his cheetah video, which was good, but I love your writing analogy.
No doubt!
I like your analogy and your tips are great! I think I heard once that the other reason the gazelle outruns the cheetah is because of stamina. The gazelle has it and the cheetah doesn't.
Great interview with PJ Hoover too!
Thnx guys! :0)
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