Free The Writer Behind the Words by Dara Girard Page B

handling success.
     
Get a good, trustworthy and reputable business manager.Many writers are not good business people and lose money quickly. Unless you have a trusted friend or family member who is good in business, do your research and hire someone who can help you with taxes, contracts, and other business and financial matters. You don’t want the government or a lawsuit at your door.
     
     
    Your success may take time away from your family. In that instance, have a discussion with them so that everyone can learn to adjust to your newfound popularity.
    Remember that success is not a destination; so be gracious when you pass it by. You’ll always want more. One bestseller will lead to the desire for a second bestseller. One huge check will create the desire for a larger check. Keep your goals and mission in order. Don’t let the thrill of success become a drug.

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Part Three
Four Steps to Resilience
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Get Support
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    Y ou can’t survive the creative life alone. You need a person or group to help you get through the rough patches. Successful writers use agents to help guide their careers, are part of a writing or critique group, belong to an organization(s) or rely on a family member for support. Oprah has a production team; Stephen King has his wife. Who can you turn to when times are tough? Try to build your support network.
     
Find a mentor. A mentor doesn’t necessarily have to be in the writing field. Find someone who is living her dream and is willing to listen to you and can offer you advice and encouragement.
     
Join a group. Local or national. Become part of a writing group online or offline. Be around other writers who are happy being writers (it’s easy to slip into groups that just complain about the writing industry, and that’s not good for you).
     
Volunteer with a writing organization. This will help you to get out and about. Far too many writers isolate themselves.
     
Share. Tell a trusted friend or family member about your intention.
     
Get inspiration. Get the life stories of three people you admire (whether it is a book, movie or audio) and make them available whenever you feel down.
     
Attend writing courses or conferences. It helps to be around people of like minds.
     
     

Extra
    Focus Your Revenge
    Those of you who believe in forgiving people who have mistreated you, please skip this suggestion. You won’t need it. For those of you with a little wickedness, please consider the following:
    Think of someone who mocked you, a bully in school who shoved you into lockers or a girl who always made fun of your clothes, a boss who wouldn’t get off your back, an ex who said you’d never amount to anything, or a parent or teacher who belittled you. Put that person(s) firmly in your mind then write to show them how wrong they were (are). Develop your career so that it can become an eloquent F — you.
    It’s okay to write out of vengeance. Sometimes you won’t find a community or buddy that suits you. Use this as your support instead. It is okay to follow your dreams just to prove all your naysayers wrong. Become a big success; that is the best revenge.

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Relax
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A writer’s life should be a tranquil life. Read a lot and go to the movies.
    MARIO PUZO
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    S elf-care is critical for resilience. The world will not come to an end if you don’t write for a few days, or format a manuscript incorrectly, or realize your 400-page novel is a pile of garbage. There will be days or moments when you won’t feel like doing anything. You’ll want to curl up in your bed and hide from the world. That’s fine, you’re still a writer. It’s not whether you stop writing; it’s for how long.
    A couple of days is okay, but a couple of months or years? Well, then something else is going on and you need to face it.
     
Remember to exercise. It helps the blood to pump and your body will be better able to fight off disease and the effects of disappointment. It also helps keep your brain