Thursday, December 29, 2011

Day 363, December 29

"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody."--Pulitizer Prize-winner Herbert Bayard Swope
Writers frequently have discussions about whether we should write to the market. Christian romances are hot one year; erotic romances are hot the next. Paranormal and historical work their way in as well. Should we, we ask ourselves, write vampires and zombies because vampires and zombies are "in?"
To be honest, I tried to write a zombie story. I didn't have a zombie in me to be found--anywhere. I admitted that I couldn't do it, no matter how hot zombies are. Writing to the market has never worked for me, and I should have realized that.
Admitting that I couldn't please "the market" in writing was freeing. Just as is admitting that I can't please everybody. In fact some days I can't even please one person, including myself. So why do I beat myself up when I learn that I have yet again failed to please someone? Please don't misunderstand--I'm not saying we shouldn't try to help others, only that we shouldn't try to live our lives according to the "market."
Who should we try to please? That's easy. Heavenly Father and Jesus. If we manage to please Them, then we are probably on the right track.
So, for today, I am grateful that I finally understand whom I should try to please.

2 comments:

  1. You're spot on with this one, Mom. I hope to please others but if I've failed in pleasing those 2, I am lost.

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  2. Likewise, rejection by everyone else hurts, but is not crushing when you have acceptance from Heavenly Father and Jesus.

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