WORD FOR THE WEEK

PERSEVERANCE: steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

QUOTES:

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Thomas Edison

“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” Babe Ruth

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.” A. A. Milne

“Ninety-nine percent of all failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses.” George Washington Carver

PEOPLE:

Thomas Edison was told in his early years that he was “too stupid to learn anything.” He made over 1000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. 

Jack London received six hundred rejection slips in his early years.

Dr. Seuss’s first book, To Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street, was rejected 27 times.

The next time you think about quitting, in your writing or some other endeavor, think of my word for the week: PERSEVERANCE

Another little tidbit of information about perseverance:  It took 40 attempts to get the water displacing formula for WD40 worked out. Hence the name, WD40. And just like duct tape, what would we do without WD40?

Maybe some day someone will say, "What would we do without the writings of (fill in your name)?"

 In the eyes of some, even rejects are beautiful!

Posted by Janet Smart  on Creative Writing in the Blackberry Patch.

 

Getting Organized

"Hoo-boy," as my favorite character in A Year Down Yonder says, I am getting organized!

I moved my computer desk from the kitchen to the room next door that used to be our laundry room.

My so-called computer desk is actually a 24" x 40" enamel top table from the old days. It has a small drawer with a crystal  knob where I can store this and that.

I have two pictures hanging on the wall in front of me to inspire my imagination . . .

a fold-out display board that I can attach picture book pages to and use as a picture book dummy board . . .

now empty, but I have sectioned off 32 grids

 to place pages of my PB manuscripts on.

and a place where I can file my folders.

I am making a folder for each of my main manuscripts, an ideas folder, a writing tips folder (which is way too crowded and needs to be sub-divided), contest folder, publishers folder, etc.

I am hoping this will help me be more productive. While moving out here to my new room, I discovered so much forgotten stuff in my piles of paper, books and notebooks.
 
I also hope to start blogging on a regular schedule.


Do you have any organizational tips to share with us?

I leave you today with a favorite quote:

"Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." Anton Chekhov

Happy Writing!

Posted by Janet F Smart   on Creative Writing in the Blackberry Patch.

Writing and Quotes

Hi everyone. I can't believe it's been so long since I posted here.

I have been busy, though.
I have been working on my newest middle grade novel. It feels good to be working on something new.

And, I sent in a submission to Chicken Soup! The call out I sent my manuscript to was Angels Among Us.
My story is about something that happened when my dad passed away. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they will want it.

Here are some writing quotes I like:

"Sure, it's simple, writing for kids . . . . Just as simple as bringing them up." Ursula K. LeGuin

"The secret of good writing is to say an old thing in a new way or to say a new thing in an old way."  Richard Harding Davis

"If you tell me, it's an essay.  If you show me, it's a story."  Barbara Greene

"The title to a work of writing is like a house's front porch.... It should invite you to come on in."  Angela Giles Klocke

Do you want to share with us the name of a book that has a great title?

 

I love writing for children. When we were leaving the library on Tuesday, after my writing meeting, a small child was walking in with his mother. He was carrying a book under his arm almost as big as he was.  It was so inspiring. Some day I hope to see a child carrying a book I have written under his arm. 

 Posted by Janet F. Smart on Creative Writing in the Blackberry Patch

©Janet F. Smart