Have questions about submitting to Pitch Wars or just want to know what it is? Start here!

Blog

Holiday Guest Post by Fiona McLaren

Wednesday, 10 December 2014  |  Posted by Brenda Drake

Christmas card with hot cup of cappuccino,  cinnamon sticks and christmas tree branch isolated,

It’s approaching Christmas and, for many people, this is a wonderful time of year. However, for others it can be difficult time. Sometimes, it can be hard to remember that not everyone is blessed with the same happy circumstances, and that the holidays can bring about memories of people lost, achievements failed, or another year gone badly. If you find yourself in bad circumstances or situations, please know that there is a way out. It’s for this reason I decided to join Brenda’s December season of sharing what my toughest writing moment has been and how I got out of it.

Sad2

Writers are susceptible to depression, and none of us are immune to it. My biggest writing pain came a few years ago. I had been submitting my writing on and off for almost sixteen years. Yes, you heard me right – sixteen years. I had taken every workshop going. I had revised until my fingers bled. I had built my platform. I had spoken to agents and editors. I had read and read and read. Yet, still I couldn’t get to where I wanted to be.

I remember one day I was in my bedroom, computer on, and an email pinged. It was yet another rejection. It was only a form. I’d had R&Rs, fulls and partials rejected before. And yet it was this one little form that broke the camel’s back for me. I don’t think I had sobbed that hard for a long time. It totally decimated me. It wasn’t a huge moment in terms of what had happened. But it was huge in its effect.

crying

So huge, in fact, I gave up writing for two years. Two years I did not write a word. I shunned books. I felt depressed when I read one and remembered how I wasn’t good enough. I began to hate the thing I had loved so much. It got to the point where a deep sadness and sense of failure lay over me, even when I wasn’t thinking about writing.

It came to the point where I picked up a book by my favorite author and I didn’t enjoy it. I couldn’t understand why. It took me quite a while to figure it out. I was jealous. Ugly, horrid, unflattering jealousy. It made me realize something important. I measured myself off everyone else’s standards…but the thing was, they weren’t really everyone else’s standards. They were mine. My own self-imposed rigid rules. I had been so busy trying to be perfect. So busy following all the writing rules. So busy editing until my manuscript became just row after row of mechanically correct prose. So busy doing all of that, I’d taken all the passion and spark out of my books.

Sad-Natalie-Portman-Wants-To-Be-Perfect-Movie-Gif

It was a huge eye-opener for me. In a bid to be flawless, I had become robotic. In an insane act of trying to be perfect, I had become a Stepford wife writer. I had put all of my soul into the action of being perfect, and not into the action of showing me on the page. So, I decided to write something and edit it to where I wanted it to be. Was it perfect? No. Was everything following every rule? No. Did it parallel J.K Rowling or John Grisham or Phillip Pullman? No. Was it me? Damn straight it was.

sherlock-frozen-mashup-2

That book got me my agent three months later. But more importantly, that book made me love writing again. Whenever I am down, I throw the rulebook out of the window. So stop worrying about being perfect. Stop worrying about following every rule. Love your words. Don’t CARE if no one else does. In the act of letting go, you will find yourself…and others will find you too. I wish you all release and peace for the holidays. <3

sprig

Fiona

Fiona McLaren

Website | Twitter

Fiona writes YA. She is crazy-mad about horses and dogs, and has had extensive collections of both. She will fight you for the last can of Coca Cola in a room. Find out more about her here: Twitter – @BookOmnivore

Filed: Misc

6 Comments
  • Erika David says:

    Thanks for such an honest and inspiring post, Fiona. I’m so glad you got back up on that horse and gave writing another go! “Stop worrying and love your words”–such great advice.

  • katz says:

    Thanks Fiona, this is a very encouraging post!

  • Fiona McLaren says:

    I’m so glad this post encourages others. Always keep in mind – we’ve all been there, and it does come through in the end! 🙂 Happy Holidays, everyone!!!

  • Brenda Drake says:

    Wonderful post, Fiona! I wished I had all this holiday’s guest post last year when I was going through all my troubles. They really help to show that everyone struggles and we can make it through. The sun will shine tomorrow, just keep working until it does. Hugs!

  • Matt Mesnard says:

    It always seems better to be yourself rather than be perfect. When I see people chase trends for the sake of capitalizing, it can be very difficult for a change of a glimpse into the heart of the writer.

    I never set out to write what has already been done or adopt an easy style of writing. Why would I want to do that? It is always better to write something different one can stand beside. Why write something you don’t want to fight for? 🙂

    Great post. I like the change you made from the holidays to yourself. Very nice.

IMPORTANT!
We're thrilled at the different ways those in our Pitch Wars community are giving back—and we encourage them to do so. However, please keep in mind that Pitch Wars is not affiliated with any of these various contests, promotions, etc., including those of our mentors and mentees. Promoting any such opportunities via our social media channels doesn't imply endorsement or affiliation. We encourage you to do your research before participating.

Pitch Wars takes a stand. ANTI-BULLYING. Click here to review our policy

Pitch Wars 2021

Blog Archives

Blog Categories

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.