I'm always a bit (a lot!) behind the times, so I've just found a song I really liked, from hearing it on the Amazon ad on tv. It's Full of Life by Christine and the Queens. Ended up listening to their album, Paranoia, Angels, True Love - v. atmospheric.
Regarding learned helplessnes - it's interesting that as writers (and maybe I'm genealising here...) there are times we convince ourselves we're no good. Or we can't do it. Or the odds are so stacked against us, what's the point in even trying...?
Yet we do it.
But where does this learned helplessness come from? Our own self-doubts? Or is it an unconscious product of years (in some cases decades) of rejections from agents and publishers? Yes, I know that in the publishing world rejection isn't personal and is rarely a comment on the quality of our work, but there is a part of us that believes "if they don't want my book, then it must be rubbish. Therefore, I must be rubbish."
And where do we find the determination to overcome this self-doubt? The need to write? Self-belief managing to triumph over self-doubt? Or the little seed of confidence that comes from someone simply saying "I like your work"...?
It’s true that for me anyway, ‘my work’ and ‘me’ are bound so tightly as to be virtually indistinguishable. This doesn’t make things easy but I know no other way.
I'm always a bit (a lot!) behind the times, so I've just found a song I really liked, from hearing it on the Amazon ad on tv. It's Full of Life by Christine and the Queens. Ended up listening to their album, Paranoia, Angels, True Love - v. atmospheric.
Oh great - thanks for the recommendation. I'll have to give it a listen!
Regarding learned helplessnes - it's interesting that as writers (and maybe I'm genealising here...) there are times we convince ourselves we're no good. Or we can't do it. Or the odds are so stacked against us, what's the point in even trying...?
Yet we do it.
But where does this learned helplessness come from? Our own self-doubts? Or is it an unconscious product of years (in some cases decades) of rejections from agents and publishers? Yes, I know that in the publishing world rejection isn't personal and is rarely a comment on the quality of our work, but there is a part of us that believes "if they don't want my book, then it must be rubbish. Therefore, I must be rubbish."
And where do we find the determination to overcome this self-doubt? The need to write? Self-belief managing to triumph over self-doubt? Or the little seed of confidence that comes from someone simply saying "I like your work"...?
It’s true that for me anyway, ‘my work’ and ‘me’ are bound so tightly as to be virtually indistinguishable. This doesn’t make things easy but I know no other way.