Are You Open to Failure?

Many writers (and people in general really) spend a good deal of time trying to find success. Everyone has a different idea of what success means--in fact, some aren't even sure what success means. And many writers have varying views on how to achieve success. The most successful writers seem to have one trait in common--a willingness to fail.

Are you open to failure?

Every writer finds rejection; not all find success.

Prevent Defense
In football, there's a type of defense that many teams employ near the end of the game if they're winning. It's called prevent defense, and the joke about prevent defense is that it prevents the team with the lead from winning.

How the defense works is that it sends a lot of defensive players downfield to prevent the big play. The problem that usually occurs is that an offense will then just throw shorter passes to get downfield in smaller plays. By trying to "play it safe," a defense actually puts itself in a dangerous position.

Are you open to failure? Or are you working so hard to PREVENT mistakes that you're also preventing success?

Poker
Finding success in writing can be a bit like playing poker. There is a certain level of luck that factors into finding success, but the most seasoned poker players seem to win more than they lose despite the fact that everyone gets the same 52 cards to play.

Then one day I heard one of those all-star poker players--I wish I could remember which one--say something profound. I'm paraphrasing, but it was something along the lines of, "You can't win if you're afraid to lose." His point was that you have to be willing to take risks to find success in poker. The same can be said of the writing life.

Are you open to failure? Or are you waiting for the perfect hand before you lay down your cards?

Pays to Play
While I don't often have a lot of time to follow specific updates from people on Facebook and Twitter, I do jump in and out of the stream daily. My favorite status updates are the ones in which people share their successes. It's easy to "like" someone else's success.

Recently, the poet/editor/teacher Jessie Carty shared this status update on Facebook: Sent all my pending poems out and one was accepted for publication! Pays to play ;)

Emoticons and exclammation points aside, this was a super status update. Not only did Jessie share her success, but she gave a little inspiration for other writers by reminding them an important lesson: It pays to play.

Are you open to failure? Are you willing to play?

Two Writers
Finally, I just want to tell the story of two writers. Both writers loved writing and were the same age, been writing the same amount of time and with the same dedication. One submitted her work everywhere and found a lot of rejection over the years but a few successes. The other spent his time perfecting his craft over the years and never submitted his work. He wanted it to be just perfect before it went out the door.

Eventually, the two writers meet at a grocery store or laundromat or something. Definitely not the post office, because the other writer never submits his work. Anyway, they get to talking and realize they're both writers.

The other writer asks the one writer what she's accomplished, and she says, "Well, I was published in X journal and Y magazine, and I have a book coming out next fall. How about you?"

The other writer looks down at his feet and answers, "Nothing."

It's impossible to find success if you aren't open to failure. Are you open to failure?

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Check out previous Not Bob posts:

• Why Do You Write?
• Don't Wait for X to Do Y: Platform-Building Traps for Writers to Avoid.
• 11 Tips for Writers to Find Success.

Do You Write Different on Paper Than on Screen?

In just a little more than a decade, digital has invaded nearly every aspect of our lives, including writing. This blog is, of course, proof of that, though there are also online publications, social media sites, and more. In fact, many writers now don't even write on paper; they type on a screen. Personally, I do both.

For my fiction and poetry, I tend to write almost exclusively on paper. I don't know if it's just out of habit or if I actually feel more focused (or liberated) that way. However, pen to paper is how I roll when I'm stumbling through a sestina or short story.

My nonfiction is totally opposite. From blogging to crafting newsletters and articles, I tend to write and edit my nonfiction completely on the screen. I might jot an idea or two down on paper--or make an outline for longer works--but most of it is done without ever picking up a pen.

I don't know if this can be explained as a left brain/right brain activity. I have to use the same creative thought process for nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. Of course, there's a difference between making line breaks and sharing 11 Tips for Writers to Find Success. So maybe there's something about the brain function. Or maybe it's just some kind of psychological kink I have. What do you think?

Do you write different on paper than on screen?

If you do (or even if you don't), share your thoughts below in the comments. Who knows? Maybe I'm the only one who thinks this way.

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Check out previous Not Bob questions:

• Do You Treat Writing as a Chore?
• Are You a Specialist or a Generalist?
• Why Do You Write?

Do You Treat Writing as a Chore?

Since I get out to a lot of events and happenings throughout the year and receive a lot of e-mail messages from writers as an editor for the Writer's Digest Writing Community, I'm able to hear a lot more about writer goals and needs than the average person. It can be really inspirational at times. Other times, I'm left scratching my head.

For instance, one thing I often hear from writers is that writing almost isn't worth it. When I listen to them, they make writing sound like something on par with washing the dishes, doing laundry, or cleaning the house. I don't know what to tell writers like these.

For me, writing is an excuse to avoid washing the dishes, doing laundry, or cleaning the house. Writing is something that I don't only consider not a chore, it's a privilege that I'm thankful to do every single day.

Do you treat writing as a chore?

If you do, maybe one of these is happening:

• You've fallen into a rut with your writing. Maybe the act of writing has become too routine. You always do it in the same place or same time of day. If this is the case, shake things up by writing somewhere unique or in the evening instead of the morning.
• You expect too much from your writing. Sometimes I think a lot of writers find themselves in this situation. You fell for writing, got married to the idea of writing, and then, started putting all  manner of demands on the writing: that it get published, that it make you lots of money, that it be read and respected by everyone. Listen: There's still time for that, but don't heap that kind of pressure on your writing. It's bad for the relationship.
• You want your writing to be something it's not. Maybe your writing isn't Harry Potter or the Twilight series of books. Maybe your writing is technical or investigative journalism. Maybe it's not funny, but thought provoking instead. Don't try to force your writing to be something it's not. Ask your writing (or writing group) what its strengths are and then let your voice shine through by letting your writing be itself.

So again, do you treat writing as a chore? Or is it something that you absolutely adore? Is the relationship broken? Or can it be fixed? Let me know.

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Connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Sign up for free e-mail updates from this blog in the top right-hand corner of the page.

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Check out previous Not Bob posts:

• 11 Tips for Writers Trying to Find Success.
• Are You a Specialist or a Generalist?
• Why Do You Write?

What Should I Do With My Multiple Identities?

While bouncing around some of my older posts the other day, I saw a question in the comments that went something like this: "I have several different identities online. How should I handle those while building my online platform?"

That is an excellent question, but my first answer would be: Don't create several identities in the first place.

A lot of writers are so ready to be someone else that they feel the need to create pen names like crazy. I'd advise against doing this unless you are in a situation in which it is completely necessary.

For instance, I met a poet in Austin earlier this year who created a pen name because his job as a professor prevented him from publishing anything (including poetry) under his name unless it was approved by the university. I can understand changing your name under such circumstances. I can also understand creating a pen name at the suggestion of an agent or editor to help with sales.

However, I don't understand creating several identities without a good reason. It can get really confusing really fast.

That said, the best way to handle separate "brands"--because that's what you're essentially creating--is to have separate platforms. This means each persona should have a separate website, blog, social media accounts, etc. It's a lot of work, but there are ways to make it easier.

One way is to manage your social media accounts with a tool like Hootsuite, Seesmic, or Tweetdeck. Here are a couple reviews comparing these tools:

• From Kol Tregaskes' blog
• From NateBal.com

Also, it's smart to study how someone who's successfully pulling off multiple identities does it. The first contemporary person who comes to mind for me is Julianna Baggott, who actually has at least three identities: Julianna Baggott, N.E. Bode, and Bridget Asher. (Click here to check out her website.)

But like I said, I think life is a whole lot simpler when we can just be ourselves 24/7.

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If you're here about how to handle actual multiple personalities, then here are some resources you might find useful:

• The Flock: The Autobiography of a Multiple Personality, by Joan Frances Casey, Lynn Wilson and Frances Howland
• Multiple Personality Disorder from the Inside Out, by W. Giller, Barry M. Cohen, Esther Giller and Lynn W.
• Becoming One: A Story of Triumph Over Multiple Personality Disorder, by Sarah E. Olson
• A Beautiful Mind, by Sylvia Nasar
• The Dissociative Identity Sourcebook, by Deborah Bray Haddock