This is an older blog from my Wordpress site geared toward writers.  As someone who wrote twenty-four or twenty-five novels before self-publishing, I figured this post might help others put things into perspective.


I don't think there is a writer who has ever escaped criticism.  It's part of the packaged deal that comes with wanting to have people read what you write.  Yes, some comments can be downright hurtful and hateful, and writers typically do one of three things after getting a negative review.  They stop writing, they freeze up with writer's block until they can get some distance and perspective on the review, or they keep writing.

First of all, quitting shouldn't be an option, not if this is something you want to do.  That said, it may take a lot of work to make the dream happen.  It doesn't mean it won't happen.  It all depends on how hard you are willing to push yourself to get there.  The longer I write, the more I realize that a writing career isn't built on talent so much as it is tenacity.   We all make mistakes.  The trick is to learn from those mistakes.  And even when you do learn, you have to remember that you won't make everyone happy.  If you look at the authors who have very successful careers, you will find that they didn't please everyone either.  The best you can do is write a book that is solid and worthy of praise and then choose to accept that it will not always measure up to other people's standards.  Accepting this ahead of time will save you lots of head-banging.

Some writers freeze when rejection hits.  I've had this happen.  You can call the aftermath writer's block or self-doubt, or whatever you want.  The simple fact of the matter is that you have to work through all the negative to find the positive.   It may not be easy, but I don't know of much that is worth a lot that is easy.  Besides, you can get criticized for just standing around if you happen to stand in the wrong place at the wrong time.  I agree with Mahatma Gandhi when he said "You may never know what results come of your action, but if you do nothing there will be no result." 

Some writers, usually the experienced ones,  just keep writing, knowing that both rejection and praise will come.  The trick is to keep both of them in perspective.  Rejection is one person's opinion.  So is praise.  Neither of them affect the opinion that should matter--the voice inside that tells you to always be true to the story and always write it the best you can.

When it comes right down to it, there is a choice in how you accept what people say about your craft.  No, the choice isn't about whether or not a person can say what he or she wants to about  your book.  It's not even a matter of if they should say it.    The only thing you control about criticism is how you handle it.  You can't stop it and you can't rationalize it away.  All you can do is accept your role in this is to write and to enjoy that writing.  Isn't that the whole purpose?

Writing is hard work sometimes, especially if the author has never written a book before and is in elementary school.  So what would possess someone with those obstacles to undertake such a challenge?  How about worrying about other people? 

Cameron Titus has done just that, and while I could say a whole lot more on the subject, I think it would be better if you heard about his book and his cause from him.

1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.
(Cameron) Well I am in fifth grade now. I play video games. I read a lot; books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Captain Underpants, The Lightning Theif, The Hardy Boys, The Grim Doyle Series (a friend of mine wrote that, he's a really great author, one of my favorites), and I read the Goosebumps series, Mark Twain books and all other sorts. I love to draw. I draw by hand and also on the computer. I take after my dad that way; he's an artist (but doesn't really do it anymore). I also love to write and make up stories. I take after my mom, she's an author. I like to discover stuff outside, and pretend I am a CIA guy. I believe in giving back, like when my sister and I found a woman's purse. My mom took us to the police and we brought it there. It made me feel really good knowing that that lady would get her money back. I have a heart condition and have to go to Boston Children's Hospital every other year for a echo and stress test. I like to save money, so I can go to college and have a good life. I would like to be a professional author or a police officer. I really would like to go into the army, but they probably won't accept me because of my heart condition and I'm a wimp. (heheheh) I tried to play football last year, but then I realized it was torture and not fun. I did it for 4 days. I like hip-hop, rap, a little bit of country, and rock music. I am a good singer. My mom always tells me I should be on tv because I make people laugh, and I act really good. She says I am an oscar contender. I think that would be cool if I could be on Nickelodeon. I like Drake and Josh, Spongebob, Jimmy Neutron, Invader Zim, I like to watch Chopped with my mom, Planet Sheen, Fairly Odd Parents, I-Carly, Victorious, and Cake Boss (oh, and a Thousand Ways to Die - my dad likes that show).

2. What inspired you to write the book?
(Cameron) A tornado hit Jolpin, Missouri and Massachusetts and I felt so sad and worried of what was going to happen to those people. So I thought of a few ideas to earn money for a charity that brings in money for people to have homes that have been destroyed. I thought of doing a stand, but I realized I needed a $500 permit from the city and that it wouldn't earn that much money. Then I thought of selling some of my stuff, but I realized it would only be about $300. Then I thought about my mom writing her book and getting money for it. So I figured if I write a book, and since there's a lot of children, I thought some people would buy a children's book.

3. I hear the profits from sales are going to a charity? Who is going to benefit from all your hard work?
(Cameron) Yes, all of my royalties will be going to Habitat for Humanity. They build houses for people who can't afford to have one, and they also help rebuild houses that were destroyed, like in hurricanes and tornadoes.

4. What was the hardest part of creating the book?
(Cameron) The hardest part was the writing. Because I had to think of something really good, something that people would want to see or read.

5. What did you like best?
(Cameron) Having a real author help me with the pictures. He listened to me and took my ideas, and put them all into pictures.

6. What do you hope comes out of this experience?
(Cameron) Happiness for the people who will now have a home.

7. What advice can you offer for other people who want to make a difference?
(Cameron) Don't give up. Keep on making a difference even if it's something small like giving your change to a donation box or a homeless person on the street. Don't judge, just do!

Okay, so it was just a character based on Noah.  Still.  Bummer!  Of course I have to admit, I never thought I'd write a zombie-anything, let alone co-write a script about them by the name of Absolution.  Yeah, you can puzzle that title out and try to figure out how it ties in.

Speaking of zombies, Erica, my writing partner, suggested I needed to watch some zombie action on the big screen.  She mentioned The Walking Dead.  I should have taken that suggestion instead of going with my husband's choice of Return of The Living Dead.  Sorry, but that's two hours of my life I'll never get back.  Of course there were two pretty scary elements in that movie--goth girl and the midget.  I'm not even going to mention why goth girl scares me.  If you've seen the movie, I'm pretty sure she scares you, too.

I have to admit, ever since I wrote the script Skunks, Trunks, and Pedro, midgets have scared me.  It's not the midgets per se, but when I used Google images to try to get a model to use for the midget in Skunks, I saw things I was not meant to see.  Never, never, never Google the word midgets or little people and think you will escape unscathed.  It won't happen.

Okay, time to set new goals for the coming year.  Here's what I've come up with.

1.  Write six new novels.

2.  Co-write five new screenplays.

3. Finish twenty-five new poems.

4.  Publish seven new novels.

5.  Market, market, market like crazy.

6.  Have more fun this year than last.

1.  Elephant Skin
Remember when you a kid and skinned your knee?  You the first thing you did was go looking for Mom or Dad to make you feel better.  Guess what?  There is no one who can make you feel better when it comes to rejection or bad reviews.  Your best bet against those is just a solid appreciation for the craft of writing.  Just like no one else can make you a writer, no one else can keep you from quitting.  It's your choice.  Just remember that you're not going to make a difference with your words if nobody reads them.

2.  A Rose in December
J.M. Barrie once said, "God gave us our memories so we might have roses in December."  That's still one of my favorite quotes.  The reason it applies to writing is that if you think that just because you are doing what you love that it's always going to be easy, you are mistaken.  Writing is a job, too, and some days it's a really tough one.  It helps to remember why you started the madness in the first place and what makes you happy about it.

3.  A Talented Techie
Let's face it:  nobody is around technology as much as a writer without things going wrong.  Your best bet is a spouse to understands computers far better than you do.  My husband actually tells me I have the kiss of death for technology.  I used to glare at him, but I've begun to think he may be right....

4.  Muse Fodder
You expect your muse to give you quality stuff.  In response, you might want to stock up on whatever makes him/her happy, be it music or movies.  Seriously, whatever inspires you is the only thing that will probably keep you writing.   Surround yourself with it in the hopes that one day you will create something that will inspire someone else.

5.  A Cat Who Refuses to Grow up
I love to watch kittens play.  There is nothing else like that, and it reminds me of all the right reasons that words matter.  Take the time to watch things that make you laugh.  It will come out in your writing.

6.  A Willingness to Both Give and Receive Help
If you think you're going to do the whole indie thing alone, you might, but here's the kicker: it'll take you so much longer, and you won't have anyone to share it with.  There are so many online forums out there like kindleboards.com filled with wonderful indie authors who want to help and encourage.  There are also many writers who could use your advice and skills just like you could definitely benefit from theirs.

7.  Persistence
Like the word no?  Good.  Oh, I thought you said that you did.  Well, you might want to start getting used to it at least.  You're going to hear it a lot as a writer.  The trick is to wait for a yes.  It will come.  It just doesn't usually happen when you want it to.

8.  A Definition for Normal
Now you are smiling.  You definitely have one of those.  Good.  Now get a dartboard and put it up on the target.  That's all it's good for.  You'll want to know a million times if what's happening in your career is 'normal' or if you're anger is 'normal' over a bad review.  You'll want to know if so many things are 'normal,' but really,  it doesn't matter.  You can't compare your road to anyone else's.  Besides, what's so much fun about 'normal' anyway?