Battling discouragement never is easy or pretty. Discouragement can do a number on a person. The people who emerge from a battle with discouragement never escape unscathed. They have to repair their armor. They have to dress their wounds. They have to heal. They then have to prepare for the next round of discouragement. They may be free from discouragement for a time, but, if they don’t prepare themselves, they will be caught unaware when discouragement next catches them. They may not be able to respond as they should if they aren’t prepared for the eventuality of battle.
encouragement
Five Reasons You Need a Band of Merry Men
I tend to be a lone ranger. Part of it’s my preferred work method; I work best when left to my own devices. Tell me where I’m supposed to go, then let me find my own way there. The other part is that I’m an introvert, and, as an introvert, I protect my space, be it mental, spiritual, emotional, or physical.
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How to Critique a Creative Person
As a creative person, I’ve received both good and bad criticism. At its worst, it kills the creative spirit. I know. I quit playing piano when I was fourteen because of negative criticism. At its best, it fosters creativity. It pushes the creative person to try something new, to explore different facets, to embrace the terror of the unknown. That criticism may be harsh at times, but it’s given in a spirit of good will. It isn’t given simply to be given.
What is the Point of Write Right?
The point of Write Right is not to club people with grammar rules. It is not to discourage writers who either are new to the writing life or who are struggling to write for one reason or another. It is not to criticize poor writing for the sake of criticizing poor writing.
Encouragement through Rejection
It might be strange to combine “rejection” and “encouraging.” They seem antithetical to each other. I suppose they usually are, but I’ve been remembering one of the earliest rejections of my work, and I think it was encouraging.