Guest blog post by Jennifer R.
Hubbard
Last year, I gave a talk for
the South Jersey Writers’ Group called, “It Was Sunny Just a Minute Ago:
Weathering the Storms of Writing and Publishing.” It focused on an aspect of
this business where I’ve needed a great deal of support myself, and have found
myself encouraging others: the mental and emotional aspects.
Writers spend a fair amount of time and energy coping with rejection, writer’s block, sudden changes in fortune, ups and downs. We try to quantify the qualitative, predict the unpredictable and control the uncontrollable. Even when we recognize how much of this is out of our power, that our power lies in our ability to tell our own stories, it’s easy to say, “Just sit down and write.” Doing it is another matter.
Writers spend a fair amount of time and energy coping with rejection, writer’s block, sudden changes in fortune, ups and downs. We try to quantify the qualitative, predict the unpredictable and control the uncontrollable. Even when we recognize how much of this is out of our power, that our power lies in our ability to tell our own stories, it’s easy to say, “Just sit down and write.” Doing it is another matter.
Out of all this came my latest
book, Loner in the Garret: A Writer’s
Companion (edited by SJWG’s own Amy Holiday!). There are so many good books
on the craft and business of writing already. I wanted to focus on this particular
side of it, on cutting through the emotional obstacles and mind games. I wanted
to produce a book that would provide short bursts of inspiration, suitable for
pre-writing-session reading. I wanted to provide the kind of reassurance to
others that has helped me along the way: the simple knowledge that the path is
unpredictable and rarely smooth, and it’s okay to keep going anyway.
We’re not alone.
Synopsis: Sometimes the most
difficult part of writing is not coming up with a plot or the perfect turn of
phrase. It’s getting motivated to sit down and start, or having the confidence
to go forward, or finding the courage to move past the sting of rejection. Loner in the Garret: A Writer’s Companion
provides inspiration and encouragement for that mental and emotional journey.
Covering topics as varied as procrastination, the inner critic, fear,
distractions, envy, rejection, joy, and playfulness, it charts the ups and
downs of the writing life with honesty, gentle suggestions, and a dash of
humor.
Bio: Jennifer
R. Hubbard (www.jenniferhubbard.com)
is the author of three novels for young adults, several short stories, and a
nonfiction book about writing. She lives near Philadelphia with a very
understanding husband, a pile of books and chocolate, and a tyrannical cat.
Congratulations. I remember your presentation at our meeting. I enjoyed it and the helpful information. Thanks again.
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