3 S.R. Johannes: Sunny Sunday - Pat yourself on the back and be happy!

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Sunny Sunday - Pat yourself on the back and be happy!

Weird Update:

Ok so some of you may call me a freak. But yesterday I blogged about seeing a spider weaving a web. Today, I found a black widow spider and this is the symbolism for a black widow spider

"If spider has come into your life, ask yourself something important questions. Are you not weaving your dreams and imaginings into reality? Are you not using your creative opportunities? Are you feeling closed in or stuck as if in a web? Do you need to write? Are you inspired to write or draw and not following through? Remember that spider is the keeper of knowledge of the primordial alphabet. Spider can teach how to use the written language with power and creativity so that your words weave a web around those who read them."

Don't you think this is weird? Things like this always happen to me!

Sunny Sunday


My blogger buddies, Suzanne Young and Robin Mellom are determined to spread good cheer through the writing hemisphere. (and I know we could all use that right now!;)


They will be doing Project Perk on Mondays and are asking other to follow along. I told them since I do Marketing Mondays, I would preempt their special day with Sunny Sunday.

This week - Pat your self on the back!


We, as writers need to pat ourselves on the back from time to time for choosing our passion and following our hearts. In addition, we keep trying and trying in the face of adversary and overwhelming odds because we know writing fills our souls and spirits.

Here's to all the things You - as a writer - are doing right. Be sure to recognize them!

  • Reading blogs
  • Writing your hearts out
  • Connecting with other writers
  • Encouraging others
  • Fearlessly subbing (sending out submissions) and keeping your projects out there in the publishing world.
  • Looking past rejections and rejections and rejections!
  • Working hard day after day even though you may not have a book to show for it yet. BTW - print out your manuscript - you do have a book to show for it - it is just in the "infant" stage. :)
  • Your hard hours of researching - whether it be agents, books, publishers, ideas, or connections.
  • For seeking and accepting criticism. Its hard and the fact we seek it shows how strong we all are.
  • For giving up financial comforts.
  • Most of all - being true to your spirit and following your dreams.

There were a few posts that made me feel abso-bloomin' fabulous this week.

1) The gracious agent, Rachel Gardner when she complimented all her blogger readers for keeping in the know.
2) A Fab agent, Nathan Bransford, for reminding me how to stay happy as a writer. I forget sometimes.
3) A jamming agent, Jennifer Jackson, for encouraging us to be positive in our query letters.

4) Courageous agent Caren Johnson for reminding us that we have what we need!

So pat yourself on the back before you go out and have a Sunny Sunday.

A happy day!

A day where we can be happy about how hard we have worked, how far we have come, how great this journey is, and where we can celebrate our happy days ahead.

Reminder: Laini Taylor, author of Blackbringer and Silksinger as well as blogger extraordinaire will be our Marvelous Marketer tomorrow.



36 comments:

Anonymous said...

I like the "perk" idea. I avoid following the extreme bad news cuz all it does is breed panic and worse, for me, a sense of helplessness. If I can't do anything about it, why wallow in it?

Anonymous said...

Okay, I have this fear that all my posts are not showing up that they are going into the ether and there's no point to all this effort. See what thinking negatively does? Oh wait, I don't want that to be my Shadow Brand...

Anonymous said...

Reading blogs: check
Writing my heart out: check
Connecting with other writers: check. Three out of 11 isn't bad.

Suzanne Young said...

Great post! I'm doing a bunch of the things you've listed!

Anonymous said...

Yikes! A black widow? Dang--I didn't even know they were around in GA! That's some serious synchronisity.

Unknown said...

I ADORE spiders--always have. They're my good luck sign...so maybe a little of that good luck is coming your way!

Anonymous said...

Where did you get the info on the meaning of a black widow spider? So fascinating. i once had an obsession with Luna Moths. I wonder what that means!

Anonymous said...

Just actually read Caren Johnsons's piece that you linked to. Powerful message. I just wish I could retain it for more than 30 seconds.

Anonymous said...

Just read the post by jennifer Jackson. The thing that got me: that she read 131 queries and did not ask for a single full or partial. Man!

Anonymous said...

I have to know...how in the world do you get any writing done if you got two little ones and your marketing biz and this blog?

Anonymous said...

So much enthusiasm all in one post. Love it!

Sherrie Petersen said...

Wow, the spider thing is COOL! I love that symbolism!

And my Sunday is VERY sunny...I got good news about a submission! Yay!

Kimbra Kasch said...

I love the power of positive thinking - eh...blogging.

Robyn Campbell said...

What a great post. Thanks Shelli! When I read your post I said: I do all of that? Man, I must be tired!" So I had to head to bed to rest. :) Thanks for commenting on my blog. I needed that!

King of my Throne said...

This is one HAPPY BLOGGER! insert smiley faces!!! Love this!

King of my Throne said...

Wonderul you tube! Happy!!

King of my Throne said...

I dressed the kids while we listed to the Happy music... 2 out of 3 liked it. That is what I always shoot for. I'm happy and most of them are happy and we are all dressed! YEA!!!

King of my Throne said...

Happy is a full cup of coffee. Need a refill and the kids are demanding breakfast before they go to school. Wish I had some frozen smiley face waffles.

King of my Throne said...

Just went to Robin Mellon's blog her u tube video has been disconnected. Has a cute kitty on a comuter type board? Type Board thing.

King of my Throne said...

Yesterday we had a picnic at the beautiful Callaway Gardens. When we were cleaning up when thing 2 pointed out all the teeny tiny spiders. Thousands of them… she loved it! Made her day!

King of my Throne said...

This makes me think of my favorite book Charlotte’s Web.
What is the spider’s name???? Duh….it’s not Fern.

King of my Throne said...

Charlotte’s Web, insisted on reading this book to our kids. Son said that he had already seen the movie! UGH!!!!!! Made a point to read it to them… At any opportunity…When stuck in Atlanta traffic (hubby driving). After dinner while they ate dessert.
In the end they all loved it!

King of my Throne said...

One last thought on spiders... Hubby studied spiders we would go out into the swamps and look for these spiders that walked on water...Not sure of their real name, but we salled them Jesus spiders.

King of my Throne said...

WOW, I needed to read this! Thanks for the info! I am I am referring to Jennifer Jackson’s query letter.

Carrie Harris said...

Thanks for those fabulous links! I think it's easy to get a little discouraged when you're working on a large project, and you've got a great point about looking at the smaller steps and calling them triumphs. I have a mini party every time I finish a chapter that doesn't stink. :)

King of my Throne said...

I recognize as a writer, to take the criticism and try to pull out of it what I am supposed to and let go of the rest. Thick skin I am not! Determined I am! I am, I am, I am!!! YES

King of my Throne said...

I am, Iam, Iam, Give Thanks!
Thanks!
This is something my kid's and I say when we want something to happen. Thanks again!

King of my Throne said...

Caren Johnson Literary agency blog, You have what you need! This could become a new family motto. You have what you need! You have what you need to make it happen! You have what you need, don't compare your self to some one else! Told my twins, your twins sisters not clones!

King of my Throne said...

I haven’t sent out my first query letter or submission yet. I have sold the idea to a boutique shop and talking to a day care center who is considering it,King/Queen of my Throne books.
Even though it is face to face I feel like they are more approachable.
Gotta face that fear!!!

Robin Constantine said...

Cool about the spider. I love when serendipitous moments like that happen :)

And thanks for Sunny Sunday! It's a great idea. I loved Nathan Bransford's "positivity week" too, I'm trying to keep it going in my attitude. Not always easy.

Unknown said...

Very positive- thanks Shelli!

Spiders, owls... Nature's calling!

Anonymous said...

Went back to the 'perky posts' cuz I need that today. Unfortunately, the muppet vidoe is gone. But that gerbil--oh my god!

Anonymous said...

Just read Rachel Gardner's post again. When I read things like this or watch things American Idol (which I haven't done in a couple of seasons), all i can think of is, "Are people REALLY that unself-aware? Do they REALLY not know they can't sing or that they shouldn't tell an agent that they have the next blockbuster?" Can't understand. Always makes me go back and wonder what I'm missing about my reality...

Anonymous said...

Just reread Nathan Bradford's post that you linked to. I agree with it all but #4--as obvious as it is--stuck in my craw. Yeah, I won't neglect my family for my writing, obvs, but sometimes my mental health--which is balanced by writing--is necessary for me to be there for my family. Therefore, I do whatever is necessary for my mental health first--which is often--you guessed it--WRITING. Things are not always so black and white. But I get his overall point.

Anonymous said...

Jennifer Jackson's post again brings me back to the question--are people really all that clueless? No wonder agents get testy when people clog up their time with what they think might be self-deprecating but is actually self-delusional!

Unknown said...

Love this song! It does what it's supposed to do!!

Gonna go put it on my ipod now :).