 Sometimes a little word of encouragement helps take the final leap into risk territory. So, here are some quotes to help you break through your barrier of timidity:
Now, put the chalk across your cheeks and get ready to battle through your risks!  Some risks are on the writing side, while other types of risks may be on the publishing side – finding out how best to invest money for your book or who would be best to send your book to stores. Either way, when writing a book for profit, there will be risks. You’re not Alone. Believe it or not, you’re not the only one taking a risk when you are getting a book published. The literary agent, if you get one, is taking a risk on whether he or she can get publishers to like your book – and they don’t get paid until it’s sold, either. The publisher is taking a risk on whether the book will sell or not and whether it’ll really hit off with readers. But don’t let it scare you. They are aware of the risks and are willing to take it or they would be in a different profession. You never know it’ll make a hit unless you try! Look on Both Sides of Risk. Sometimes you must look beyond the simple act of taking the risk. If you land on the other side, you could get bruised, and that must be a factor of thought. Ask yourself, Is this risk worth the possible failure or the success? However, to get anywhere in your writing, you must take at least some risks. Take risks in writing a page a day. Take risks in writing in the character that makes you cringe. People who made it in this life had to take risks, and some of them paid off. As the famous quote goes: “nothing ventured, nothing gained!” Look at Others Who Took Risks: So many people because completely successful after some time, effort and risk. Here are just a few of those you may know quite well:
Taking a risk does mean putting your emotions, and possibly your life’s work, on the line, maybe many times. But others before have been in the risk-taking business, and it helped them pursue their dreams. They either learned a valuable lesson, which helped them in risk-taking down the road or succeeded in what they set out to do. Bottom line: research your investments before you make them and go with your gut feeling. Sit in a quiet place. Think about each decision you have before you to help your writing further its course. Which one gives you the most peace? Pick it! Sources: Scearce, Jane. "Famous People Who Found Success Despite Failures." Lifehack. Pinterest, n.d. Web. 08 July 2017. Perez, Rodrigo. "Peter Jackson Explains How ‘The Lord Of The Rings’ Was Almost One Film Directed By John Madden & How Some Careful Lies Saved The Project In Four Weeks." IndieWire. WordPress, 09 Dec. 2012. Web. 08 July 2017. Blank, Dan. "On Risk in Writing." Compose Journal. N.p., Fall 2014. Web. 08 July 2017.  Sometimes taking risks for you may be taking us to a place we didn’t really want to go, like talking about cancer, birth, painful divorce or break up – things others can’t bear to talk about themselves. Your story will always be unique, but it will have threads of life lessons or experiences that will be generic to most people.
Recognize the risk involved: Sometimes you’ve got to start at the basic level of just admitting to yourself, “Hey, writing this novel is going to take lots of time and effort, without a guarantee it’ll be a success.” That’s a risk every writer takes. Some truly amazing writers go years without ever realizing they are wonderful at their choice career in writing. The risks got them to their writing status. Writing and publishing a book is a risk you’ll have to take if you ever hope to be an author. Writing risk into a story is up to the writer: Risks on the creative side of writing is not often a make-it-or-break-it act. You can take the risk in writing the story and take criticism of why it should be taken out. But it’s always your choice as a writer. It all begins with your outlook on the idea you're wanting to get out there. Word choice and images play a big role, as they always will. But, if it is a cause dear to your heart, the risk you take to include it in your writing may make one casual story into a phenomenal one. Images involving risk stick with the readers: In a creative writing class I took in college, there was a student who made a risk in her writing. She added an image that still makes my teeth grind at the thought. In her story, she was stuck in a hole in the ground, trying to escape. In her moment of desperation, she clawed at the dirt wall until her fingernails bent backwards and began to bleed. Taste of earth caused her mouth to be parched. The fear struck me as plainly as if it were really happening to me. The vivid images were unpleasant to readers, which is where it became a risk. But the risk was successful. I still vividly remember the story 5 years later. Sir Winston Churchill once said, “Don’t give up on something you can’t go a day without thinking about.” Anyone can make an act or thought sound risky if they let loose their passion about it. Get excited about writing and don’t be afraid to make some risky moves in it. That’s what your readers are counting on – to tell the story that they can’t. Sources: Tepper, Susan. "The Risk-Taking Writer Is the Successful Writer." The Risk-Taking Writer Is the Successful Writer. The Review Review, Web. 07 July 2017. Dionne, Karen. "Taking Risks: The Marsh King’s Daughter by Karen Dionne." Writing.ie. The Arts Council and Foras Na Gaeilge, 19 June 2017. Web. 07 July 2017.  Yes – we are discussing it. The “R” word. The word people are too frightened to utter because of the responsibility and care that goes into it. A person’s stomach may flutter at the thought of them, but it’s a necessary part of growth and next-level thinking. Yep, we are talking about risks!
A financial expert, Suze Orman, took such risks – some for the better, others not so well. As a waitress at 30, many of her esteemed customers pooled together $50,000 to help her get her own restaurant afloat. However, she placed it all in the hands of a shoddy investor who lost it all in bad investments. So, she went to work as a stock broker, which led her into the financial field. Trying to get a good standing to her name with her clients, she started her own financial company and wrote a book, both great successes in her new career. Now, she is a widespread example of what taking risks can do. Her wise advice is encouraging to anyone facing financial threat. She made it clear, “my job is to be the financial truth crusader. It’s time to get honest. Hope for the best. But plan for the worst.” Her story is a prime example of how risks can affect you for better or worse. Her unsuccessful risk brought her around to another successful one. Just because bad breaks happen to you for taking risks doesn’t mean good ones won’t come from the lessons you learned. “Risk” is not always a bad word – it can catapult you into the right direction if you pay attention. Therefore, you always win! Source: "Suze's Story." Suze Orman: Financial Solutions for You. Suze Orman Media Inc., 2014. Web. 7 July 2017.
7/3/2017
Happy 4th to You!Due to Independence Day, we will be celebrating our gratitude this week for those who sacrificed for our freedom! Happy 4th!  |
FROM THE WRITER
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