by Ane Mulligan  @AneMulligan

Home, home in this gig

Where the writers and publishers play

Where seldom is heard

An encouraging word

And the skies are so cloudy all day

Thanks, Linda Rondeau for letting me borrow/tweak the lyric. Yes, I’ve experienced discouragement in my writing journey. Maybe it was a rejection, or comments from a contest judge, or a less-than-stellar review, but they threw ice cubes on my dreams.

But I soon realized discouragement was not getting me anywhere and definitely not published. So, after I kicked a cabinet or two, I pulled up my big girl britches, toned my rhino skin and got over it. In this industry, a tough skin is imperative, and it’s to work on not letting those things discourage you.

The thing is, I’ve never want to be told my work is wonderful if it isn’t. How mortifying would that be? And how untruthful by the teller. That is not beneficial to anyone, however an encouraging word goes a long way to helping a writer keep trying.

Iron sharpens iron

I am blessed to have critique partners who love me enough to push me hard. We can’t allow our feelings to be hurt if we’re told something doesn’t work—not if we’re serious about publishing.

If you’re serious, then you refuse discouragement. Turn your back on it, because it doesn’t come from God. I read once that Satan lives in our feelings. It’s true and his favorite tool is to tell you that you aren’t good enough and never will be. He pushes you to wallow in self-pity—put your focus on how you feel.

The fact remains you were called to this gig by God. So, tell that ole devil to take a hike. Then ask some buddies to pray for you. Every writer needs prayer partners if we’re to move forward as literary missionaries.

Now, before y’all string me up, I realize new writers are more sensitive than the veterans. But if you really want to publish, you’ve got to get over it. This industry is subjective and it’s competitive. To get ahead, you have to be one of the best.

So, here’s my advice. When you get discouraged, follow these steps:

1. Pray and ask others to pray for you.
2. Set the critiques or judge’s comments aside for 3 days.
3. On the 4th day, take what profits your work and learn from it.
4. Make Mardi Gras confetti out of the rest.

On the other side, if you’re a critique partner or a contest judge, use care with your words. Be sure you are critiquing the work not the writer. You can be tough and still deliver it with a gentle, encouraging hand.

I did paid critiques one year while on faculty at the BRMCWC. One was obviously from a brand new writer. Everything needed work. I called a friend and asked her how she would handle it. She told me to pick 2 or 3 areas and concentrate on those.

So I did. Then, when I reached the end of her story, it came so far out in left field, I was stunned. She gave no hint whatsoever. I sent her an immediate email telling her how she surprised me. I told her, “Yes, you have a lot of work to do on the mechanics of writing, but girl, you are a born storyteller!”

Because I was able to find one thing on which to compliment her, she was able to accept all the comments on what was wrong and where she needed to grow. When she left our session, she floated on air and as excited to get to work. She also told me I was the first person to see her work. I thanked God I was able to encourage her.

Proverbs 12:25 says “…an encouraging word cheers a person up.” And that great theologian Mary Poppins said, “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.” It’s all in the manner the critique is delivered. Don’t soften wise counsel but deliver it with a loving heart.

Finally, if you’re struggling with a sensitive spirit, read Proverbs through once with your writing career as the focus. Substitute the words “father” or “mother” with “critique partner” and “judge.” Wow! What an eye-opener.

Ane Mulligan lives life from a director’s chair, both in theatre and at her desk, creating novels. Entranced with story by age three, at five, she saw PETER PAN onstage and was struck with a fever from which she never recovered—stage fever. One day, her passions collided, and an award-winning, bestselling novelist emerged. She believes chocolate and coffee are two of the four major food groups and lives in Sugar Hill, GA, with her artist husband and a rascally Rottweiler. Find Ane on her website, Amazon Author page, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, The Write Conversation, and Blue Ridge Conference Blog.