TAKE A BREAK FROM DISCOURAGEMENT by MARY L. HAMILTON

TAKE A BREAK FROM DISCOURAGEMENT by MARY L. HAMILTON
Thursday, June 1, 2023 by Patti Shene

FEATURED BOOK: Dead Air: A Waco Mystery

AUTHOR: Mary L. Hamilton

PUBLISHER: Blue Mist Books

GENRE: Mystery/suspense

SERIES OR STAND ALONE: Stand alone

TARGET AGE: Women age 30-70

IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME AUTHOR MARY L. HAMILTON TO THE OVER 50 WRITER. MARY SHARES HER JOURNEY FROM DISCOURAGEMENT TO OPTIMISM ABOUT HER WRITING CAREER.

MARY IS OFFERING A GIVEAWAY! SIMPLY LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW TO ENTER THE DRAWING FOR AN EBOOK COPY OF DEAD AIR: A WACO MYSTERY.

TAKE A BREAK FROM DISCOURAGEMENT

Mary L. Hamilton

I thought I’d learned to accept criticism of my writing years ago in my first job out of college. Tasked with writing our organization’s monthly newsletter, I submitted my first month’s draft for my supervisor’s approval. She took out her red pen and proceeded to slash and burn my draft—crossing out, circling, drawing arrows, writing in… I left her office fighting tears and thinking, Why doesn’t she just write it herself?

Each month, however, I earned less red ink, and soon people were telling me how much they enjoyed reading the newsletter.

Really? It’s just a newsletter.

That experience taught me the value of critiques and the importance of criticism in order to grow as a writer. But years later, when a judge in a writing contest gave me a low score with some frank but not harsh comments, I buckled under the disappointment. Even the kind, honest comments from my trusted local critique group had me choking back tears until I could get to my car. As I drove home, I realized my confidence was shattered.

Prayerfully, I put the story and my writing on hold. For three months, I read books for fun rather than research, played with my dog, and enjoyed all the things I didn’t take time for while writing. Then one day, the mail brought a packet of judges’ evaluations from another contest, one I’d forgotten I had entered. Thinking I couldn’t endure any more criticism, I held the unopened envelope over the trash bin. But I couldn’t drop it.

Why not open it? The damage is already done. It can’t get much worse.

Finally, I pulled it back and opened it. The scores were all very similar to the first contest—two higher scores and one low score. But this time, the low-scoring judge started by saying, “You’re a good writer.” He or she then explained exactly why my scene didn’t work.

Of course! Why didn’t I see that before? And the judge says I’m a good writer! I dug out my manuscript and rewrote the scene that became part of my first published novel.

Discouragement is part of every writer’s life. We should expect it, even when we’ve been writing for months or years. Sometimes, we need to toughen up and work through it. Other times, it helps to take a break. There’s no need to feel guilty about putting things on hold if we trust the Lord to let us know when it’s time to pick up our pen (or computer) and finish the project.

Let us also beware of sparking discouragement in others. The combination of that judge’s beginning compliment along with a specific explanation made all the difference in my attitude. Both motivated me to try again, to revise and rewrite. I’ll be forever grateful to that judge, and I try to follow that example. Compliment first, then offer specific suggestions for improvement, and end with a final encouragement.

Now wouldn’t life be sweeter if we followed that method in everything we do?

Blurb for Dead Air: A Waco Mystery:

Good men don’t kill people. Do they?

Kit Squires never imagined her husband capable of murder. Until gunshots blast across the airwaves of his former radio show and into the dead air that follows, he speaks troubling last words.

Torn between believing the evidence against him or trusting the character of the man she thought she knew, Kit’s choice puts her at odds with her teenage son, Bryce. One of them has to be wrong, and that could have fatal consequences.

Would a good man commit murder? That’s the question Kit must answer in Dead Air: A Waco Mystery, a novel about a family in crisis and the importance of character.

Buy link for Dead Air: A Waco Mystery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BH1WX3G8/

DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT TO BE PLACED IN THE DRAWING TO WIN AN EBOOK COPY OF DEAD AIR: A WACO MYSTERY BETWEEN NOW AND MONDAY, JUNE 12^TH AT MIDNIGHT MT.

BY LEAVING A COMMENT, YOU GRANT PERMISSION FOR YOUR EMAIL TO BE REVEALED TO THE AUTHOR IF YOU ARE THE WINNER TO FACILITATE RECEIPT OF YOUR BOOK.

Mary L Hamilton is the author two suspense novels, including her latest release, Dead Air: A Waco Mystery. She has also written the Rustic Knoll Bible Camp series for middle-grade readers, inspired by childhood memories of the youth camp where she grew up. Mary draws all of her stories from real-life situations and writes characters who struggle with various aspects of faith. Visit Mary at https://maryhamiltonbooks.com/mysteries/

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Comments

Cleo Lampos From Oak Lawn, IL At 6/7/2023 4:10:55 PM

It is so hard not to take it all seriously and personally. Glad that you persevered because we all got encouragement from this article.

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Cleo. Thank you for visiting and participating in the conversation.

Natalya Lakhno From California At 6/5/2023 7:45:48 PM

Perseverance - you did it! Blessings in your writing!

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Natalya! Thank you for stopping by and sharing a word of encouragement and praise with Mary.

Becky Van Vleet From Colorado Springs At 6/2/2023 6:06:49 PM

Mary, I've been right there with you for discouragement with critiques, judges, and contests. But over time, I've toughened up a bit and learned a great deal to improve my writing craft along the way. Thank you for sharing and offering words of wisdom!

Reply by: Patti Shene

Becky, look how far you've come after pushing through that discouragement! Same with you, Mary! I admire both of you and your work.

Peggy Wirgau From Colorado At 6/2/2023 5:02:40 PM

Mary's been a great encourager to me in my own writing, and I'm a big fan of all her books!

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hi Peggy. Thank you for stopping by and joining the conversation.

Mary L Hamilton From TX At 6/2/2023 4:00:05 PM

Gwen, I'm so glad my post helped you today. Thanks a bunch for stopping by and for letting me know it was encouraging to you.

Gwen From Oklahoma At 6/2/2023 2:50:43 PM

Patti and Mary, this was just the encouragement I was needing today. Thank you so much!

Reply by: Patti Shene

Hey Gwen! So good to see you here! I'm glad the post was encouraging. Thank you so much for stopping by and letting us know you were here.

Beth Ann Ziarnik From Wisconsin At 6/2/2023 7:53:00 AM

Hi Mary! Loved the story of your writing life. Thank you for sharing so candidly. Of course, you already know that I love your can't-put-it-down novel, Dead Air. All God's best to you!