I’m a survivor!

Martin Luther King,Jr
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy"-
Writing is a war. I recently just watched the superb Tarantino film…Inglorious Basterds and realized that my road to becoming a successful novelist has no Nazi political party or Jewish-Americans on it (at least not yet) but it's basically the same battle. Becoming an author definitely has its ups and downs. And lemme tell you the early part of last week I was on cloud nine! I mean if someone would have yelled 'up up and away' I would have been so far up already I wouldn't have heard them. I was reaching my daily goal of writing 1,000 words. I had great blog post ideas. Friends were saying they loved my work. Other writers were saying they loved my work. Even some publishers were giving me rave reviews on some writing I had shown them. Like I said, your girl was on a high. This writing and blogging and being a social network butterfly mixed with my day job was EASY…piece of cake. I was winning!... and then….
BAM! A missile got launched at me. Right from the mouth of someone whom I considered a new, but dear friend.
"You got pipe dreams little girl. You ain't nothing and you ain't never gonna be anything. Writing a book? Huh, get a REAL job! You're a fool! A stupid byt*ch!"
Yep. That's what he said.
It was the first time that someone actually wasn't cheering me on over the fact that I said I was writing a book, especially one of my friends. We had gotten into a small spat over plans for New Year's and the argument got personal. Too personal.
He had stepped on my dreams harder than Beyonce stepping on stage in stilettos. I mean it was a fierce set of words he swung my way.
And they hurt.
At first, I tried to ignore it. Then, I was sad for a while. And then I started to wonder if there was any truth to what he was saying.
I had tried my pursuit to being a writer through reporting. And I discovered that I wanted more control over my writing career. But was writing my book an excuse, a denial of the fact that I was no longer reporting for the news?
Deep down I wondered. Was I really ready to be a novelist? Could I perform under the pressure of all this writing? Would I fail? Was I truly prepared for this test? I had studied mass communications, specifically broadcast-journalism, for four years at USC and one valuable lesson had stuck with me….have tough skin…and fight for your dreams. But what good was all that training if I wasn't able to execute it when it really counted?
I was losing my focus. My head hurt. My heart hurt. I even think I panicked myself into getting pink eye.
Despite that loser's lame words and my insecurity eating me up inside, I nearly hit the bottom but discovered something while I was down there.
Bottom line…I WAS ready.
When I reflected on all of my training and journalism preparation, my garden of confidence started to grow again. I started to read again. I started to write again. I even started to twitter about my experience as a way of encouraging others who may have been going through what I was going through. Everything I had learned up to this point, everything that made me
ME was what would allow me to win in this writing World War. I didn't need to be afraid.
I discovered that winners work hard and they plant seeds of success long before the enemy strikes. To be a winner you have to W.I.N. That means you have to walk, you have to imagine, and you have to do it now. Winners walk with faith, they imagine their acts of success, and they don't wait to do it. That is what separates the good from the great.
How we deal with the missiles of life will ultimately decide if we can block those trying to block on us…trying to defeat us…make us defeat ourselves. You see, Dr. King was right, it's not the easy times that make us great, but the down right nitty gritty bloody, sweaty, all teary-eyed times that make the true character of winners. When your character is getting tested, business won't be popping, sales may be down, the competition may be doing better, and people may laugh at you, mock you, and tell you to grow up and give up.    
But I'm not going to do that. And you won't either (my pretty little self won't let you).
Here's a few hidden jewels(or grenades, whatever you prefer) that you can put in your treasure box of success:

Polish your plan everyday.
Get up earlier, schedule your writing time, reduce or eliminate your TV time, sign up for a writing retreat, submit your manuscript. Get focused on the preparation fundamentals that lead to writing success.

Surround yourself with positive, successful soldiers.
I think that it's best to eliminate the player haters and attract those running the game. The leaders of your field will have the confidence to help you shine too and will lend you their diamonds of knowledge, but who will also hold you accountable for your actions.

Be a Jacob the Jeweler. Help others. Remember, there are folks like you who are struggling (personally and financially) in battles of their own. Find a way to help ease their suffering with your skill, connections, and compassion.

Be thankful! Appreciate all your blessings and take literal and mental notes where your life is going well, and don't focus on the negative. This one was especially important to me because my 'naysayer' tried to diss the fact that I don't have a luxury vehicle and he even called a pair of my shoes cheap and ugly. (My ultra FAB Charlotte Russe black suede, peep toes that sorta look like these ....(which I'm so going to order)










Anyhoo..remember, the road to success ain't easy. It's a war. They shoot so many soldiers. They shot down Dr. King. And people will try to shoot you down too. And they'll do it when you least expect it, right when you think you have it under control.
BAM!BAM!BAM! Just like that more missiles get launched at you.
Don't resist it. Rather, accept it as a challenge to upgrade yourself and become strong. I thank God for what that boy said to me because it made me a stronger writer. I'm going to be the best d.amn writer this world has ever seen. And I'm going to work hard and build great relationships so that I'm ready before all this hater ish is thrown my way again.


Because people who have great character are people you can count on.


And the writing world can definitely count on me.
So c'mon lets get our WARFACEs ON! GAME ON HATERZ...we're Ready!