How come these professional people look younger and younger? This man could be my son. I glanced at the degree on the wall. It belonged to the other dentist. Where was his diploma?He eyed my pearly whites. "So what do you think about a crown?"
My eyes crossed. "Whoa, Nellie! I've got a little problem here. My last dentist gave me five shots of Novacaine, but they didn't work. I get migraines, so unless pain is severe, it doesn't register. He almost sent me through the ceiling when he began drilling. I haven't been to a dentist in three years."
He reassured me the Novacaine failure was probably a fluke. I chewed my lower lip, wondering if I should believe him. After discussing my options, I agreed to the crown.
I held my breath as he administered the Novacaine, praying it would take this time. Several of my friends, who knew about my unhappy experience with the last dentist, were interceding for me. God answered our prayers, and the visit ended on a positive note.
I'm happy. My tooth is happy. My trust in dentists has been restored.
So, what's the moral to this story? (You KNEW there would be one.) Agents, editors, and authors are people. We all have off days, get tired, and don't always realize how our words affect the person sitting across the table. Let's cut each other a break, chalk the rough experiences up to a misunderstanding or miscommunication, and move on. Most of all, don't let it stop you from improving your craft and pursuing your dream.
Have you ever felt like you wanted to quit submitting your work? Do you have any encouraging words for overcoming past disappointment and moving on to success?
30 comments:
Glad it all worked out well for you:)
My advice? If you are truly called to write, things will come together in time. Keep working to improve your writing, and be open to feedback.
Blessings for the week,
Karen
You know how much I "enjoy" the dental experience! LOL! Glad to hear yours worked out so well.
I can't stop myself from writing and submitting. Even with negative feedback, I still plow forward in hopes for a successful harvest.
Advice: Try, try again! Never ever give up!
Yay, I'm glad things went well for you!
Yes, I think about stopping. It's tiring and hard and I'm a big baby sometimes.
Great post!
Sigh.
Read the Parable of the Talents.
Determine if you are called to write.
Write for that Audience of One.
If this advice helps, praise God.
If not, blame Lynn Austin, who shared it with me in 2005.
Blessings and prayers,
Patti
Hi Karen -
Thanks for the good advice. :)
Blessings,
Susan
Hi Donna -
I need the smaller successes to remain upbeat. Perhaps I should submit to non-fiction markets again. This year, I stopped and miss the positive feedback.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Hi Jess -
Yeah, I do my share of kicking and screaming when I come up against a new challenge. I eventually calm down and do what I need to do.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Hi Patti -
No one ever said it would be easy, right? Thanks for the calming advice.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Oh, I am so glad your dentist experience went better this time!
I've definitely been discouraged before but encouraging words from my hubby or critique partners always help. And knowing God's set me on this path makes me keep going even when it's hard.
Yes, I have discouraging days. But I have a few friends I can turn to to snap me back into reality and then I pull out something to submit and keep going. It would be nice if God would whisper in my ear all the specific plans He has for my writing, but then I wouldn't need faith.
Blessings Susan.
Off the subject...do my new blog posts show up on your list of new daily posts? I had another follower tell me they never see my updated posts listed.
Hi Cindy -
A great support system keeps us balanced and seeing things from a right perspective. I'm grateful for all of you, my family, and local friends.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Hi Jan -
I'll check later when I'm visiting blogs. I didn't notice because I've been accessing your blog through my blogroll or your comments.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Phew! I am a dentist hater also. Glad your tooth is happy again. :O)
Hi Diane -
When I left the office,I told said they were nice people, but I hoped I wouldn't seen them so often.
Blessings,
Susan :)
so happy your dentist time is over! I keep praying my next appt will be a good one but I know I need some work. Have a good week!
Hi Terri -
As long as the Novacaine works, you'll get through it. :)
Blessings,
Susan
I'm so glad you are whole again!! And that the Novacaine worked.
My father-in-law has such a high tolerance for pain that he never gets Novacaine, and he's fine with all their drilling. I think he's crazy!
Great post Susan, thanks, as always!! I get discouraged all the time, even when things are going well, haha. It's either fear of failure or fear of success...
I talk to myself in the mirror every now and then and give myself a good pep talk :)
Great post Susan...and great analogy to get your point across. I seem to be forever the story teller in my efforts to do the same thing. I like your style! Would you ever consider writing a post for "A Wo-Man's Voice"?
http://doloresayotte.wordpress.com
:)
You deserve a crown, Susan. The Princess kind, though!
Yes, I've quit many times, only to get back up and write again. It's who I am, not just what I do.
When I'm discouraged I ask God to send me encouragement. He often uses people like you to keep me in the race. But I let Him decide how to help me; I never say, "I could use a cruise to the Bahamas to encourage me, Lord, or even a trip to Ruby Tuesday's!"
He always sends the best.
Glad everything went well with your dentist. Good advice about giving others some slack. None of us are perfect.
Hi Kristen -
Whew! He's brave. Actually, when I was a kid, I'd white-knuckle it because I was afraid of the Novacaine shot. Silly me. I'll never do that again.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Hi Marja -
You're in good company. David encouraged himself all the time. :)
Blessings,
Susan
Hi Dolores -
Thanks for the compliment. Right now, I'm preparing for vacation and a writers' conference. I'll keep your info, and get back to you. :)
Blessings,
Susan
Hi Jen -
LOL! I should have looked up "tiara" instead of "crown" for a graphic.
I don't often feel like I want to quit, but it does happen occasionally. I have to go back to the reason I'm writing: because He called me to write.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Hi Nancy -
Thanks for commenting.
Yeah, I want to be shown mercy, so I need to show mercy to others.
Blessings,
Susan :)
Susan:
I had one bad experience with a publication that sent me a rejection letter. It has taken me over two years to get past it. Just yesterday, I sent letters requesting guidelines and sample copies of magazines.
But, I have not thought about stopping.
Sounds great Susan...thanks!
Enjoy your vacation. :)
Hi Susan, we met on Facebook this week and you asked if I have a blog, so I came over to say hi.
I am having a crown made, so I can relate to your experience. Sometimes I take a break from writing, but then I do the biz side of writing.
Hi Terra -
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I hope you'll visit again.
I'm so happy the dental wars are over. I learned more about dentistry than I care to know. :)
Blessings,
Susan
Post a Comment