LESSONS FROM WASPS
Hi ho, MMMLogerinos!
I just watched the shuttle launch. What an incredible thrill! I don't recall having felt so enthralled by one of these launches previously. What added to my excitement was watching the images from the camera mounted on the fuel tanks. WOWOWOW! When they separated and fell back toward Earth, I was stunned and amazed at the flawless functioning. I wish the mission all best and a happy, safe homecoming.
I'm prepping for the RWA conference, which occurs each July, and I'm thinking how this time of year has come to mean a general sort of spiffing up for me--in thought, production and appearance, even. Back in the day, a couple of weeks before conference I used to be able to drop about ten pounds easily. No more. They're not leaving; it's too good in MMMMMland.
LESSONS FROM WASPS
Like all writers, published and unpublished as well as other creatives submitting to a market, you win some, you lose some. It can seem the world would rather you just quit and move along, move along. And you can sure feel like that, too. But take a lesson from the wasps that build their nests under the eaves of your house. Hang in there.
Last evening we were sitting on the terrace, enjoying a glass of wine apres dog walking while the halibut grilled on the barbeque. I looked up at the sky, where my vision seems to always go, and saw that the wasps were zooming back and forth to two golf ball size "paper" nests at the peak of the eave that the DH had sprayed and knocked down only a week earlier. He'd used a minty fresh wasp shot that is nonpoisonous but the wasps don't like so much and knocked the nests down with a very long pole. Then stomped the hell out of them.
And now they're baaaack.
Talk about tenacious and single-minded. Those wasps have a job to do, a home to build, and young to tend. No catastrophic knock down is going to stop them for long. They regroup, find direction and a new snaggy bit of wood to attach to near their old home and rebuild.
Okay, say you get a wretched rejection letter. You're knocked back on your heels that someone you wanted very much to like your stuff doesn't. You might fall into a dark, disorienting slump and actually begin to think maybe they're right. You should just fly away while you still can. But after a good bit of chocolate, commiserating with your fellow creatives, and whatever else you need to do to feel better, you begin to think about going on. Should you fly far a field and find something totally different to do? Or should you stretch out a bit where you are, find a new orientation within familiar territory and start rebuilding? Whatever you decide, the important thing to remember is, the wasp shot may smell minty fresh but it still carries a powerful punch that may persuade you to drop out of the nest so someone can stomp on you. Or you can get out of range, rethink and regroup, then come back with a new determination and rebuild as many times as it takes to reach your goals.
Just remember, there's always gonna be that guy with the can of wasp shot and a long pole. So, maybe it's all about resiliency and what you learn along the way.
I'll MMMMMlog again July 31 when I return from Reno and fill you in on all the conference stuff.
Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMMmelinda
I just watched the shuttle launch. What an incredible thrill! I don't recall having felt so enthralled by one of these launches previously. What added to my excitement was watching the images from the camera mounted on the fuel tanks. WOWOWOW! When they separated and fell back toward Earth, I was stunned and amazed at the flawless functioning. I wish the mission all best and a happy, safe homecoming.
I'm prepping for the RWA conference, which occurs each July, and I'm thinking how this time of year has come to mean a general sort of spiffing up for me--in thought, production and appearance, even. Back in the day, a couple of weeks before conference I used to be able to drop about ten pounds easily. No more. They're not leaving; it's too good in MMMMMland.
LESSONS FROM WASPS
Like all writers, published and unpublished as well as other creatives submitting to a market, you win some, you lose some. It can seem the world would rather you just quit and move along, move along. And you can sure feel like that, too. But take a lesson from the wasps that build their nests under the eaves of your house. Hang in there.
Last evening we were sitting on the terrace, enjoying a glass of wine apres dog walking while the halibut grilled on the barbeque. I looked up at the sky, where my vision seems to always go, and saw that the wasps were zooming back and forth to two golf ball size "paper" nests at the peak of the eave that the DH had sprayed and knocked down only a week earlier. He'd used a minty fresh wasp shot that is nonpoisonous but the wasps don't like so much and knocked the nests down with a very long pole. Then stomped the hell out of them.
And now they're baaaack.
Talk about tenacious and single-minded. Those wasps have a job to do, a home to build, and young to tend. No catastrophic knock down is going to stop them for long. They regroup, find direction and a new snaggy bit of wood to attach to near their old home and rebuild.
Okay, say you get a wretched rejection letter. You're knocked back on your heels that someone you wanted very much to like your stuff doesn't. You might fall into a dark, disorienting slump and actually begin to think maybe they're right. You should just fly away while you still can. But after a good bit of chocolate, commiserating with your fellow creatives, and whatever else you need to do to feel better, you begin to think about going on. Should you fly far a field and find something totally different to do? Or should you stretch out a bit where you are, find a new orientation within familiar territory and start rebuilding? Whatever you decide, the important thing to remember is, the wasp shot may smell minty fresh but it still carries a powerful punch that may persuade you to drop out of the nest so someone can stomp on you. Or you can get out of range, rethink and regroup, then come back with a new determination and rebuild as many times as it takes to reach your goals.
Just remember, there's always gonna be that guy with the can of wasp shot and a long pole. So, maybe it's all about resiliency and what you learn along the way.
I'll MMMMMlog again July 31 when I return from Reno and fill you in on all the conference stuff.
Ciao, ciao, MMMMMMMMMMMMMmelinda
posted by MMMelinda at 7:33 AM
