Work Through the Pain
When I thought about what I consider the best advice I’ve received throughout my career, as it relates specifically to writing, I couldn’t come up with just one thing I would classify as the best. Then it hit me, as sort of a no brainer, that my father provided invaluable advice on life that I’ve applied to writing.
Looking back, Dad mainly led by example with this lesson, but one particular day sticks out in my mind more than any other. It was when I was around ten and he had his wisdom teeth removed. I remember Dad not wanting to take the painkillers the oral surgeon prescribed for him. When I inquired why he felt it necessary to skip the pills, he said, “There are times in your life when you will feel excruciating pain, but with each passing day, the pain gets a little more bearable. Then one day you’ll wake up and the pain will be gone.”
Kinda funny that my dad provided such words of wisdom right after his “wisdom” teeth had been removed. Oh, and his advice got me through labor pains with both my sons better than any advice my mother ever gave me.
There are days I’m so emotionally wrapped up in a scene or the characters that I’d rather have a tooth extracted than write and edit. Then there are the days of suffering through self doubt, rejection and critical reviews. When these things happens, I think of Dad’s advice and work through the pain. I might only get through a page that day, and sure it hurts like hell, but the next day is a little easier, and I’ll get through a couple of pages. Then, eureka, another day later I’m back on track.
Gosh, I just realized how therapeutic this week’s topic has been for me. I’ve been sick a lot this year, and progress had significantly slowed on The Courier in January and February. But thanks to Dad, I can look back and know that I still worked through the pain. Excuse me while I wipe tears from my eyes and blow my nose…
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If you’re interested in more advice on writing, I publish a weekly Writer Wednesday Blog Tour in my own personal blog for writers and reader. There’s a section dedicated to the best advice I read in other writers’ blogs. I included one post all us wicked writers particularly enjoyed this week over at A Newbie’s Guide to Publishing by Joe Konrath. In his post, Whoa There, Ebook Writer, Joe really provides some valuable insight into self publishing eBooks and the changing industry.
Speaking of industry changes, we’ve better organized our links in the sidebar and added a section for articles about the changes in the publishing industry. As a writer, it’s both exciting and scary to watch this transition. If you happen upon something interesting we don’t have, email us a link so we can share it with other readers. Or, you can reply to us on Twitter @WickedWriterz so we can also retweet it.
C.J. Ellisson
Gregory Marshall Smith
David Sartof
Anastasia V. Pergakis
James Garcia Jr.
George Allwynn
Sharon Hamilton
J.D. Brown
C.J. Ellisson lives near Washington DC with her husband, two children, two Staffordshire bull terriers and a young cat to whom she’s newly allergic. 
After spending most of her working life associated with real estate, she’s now pursuing a new passion of fiction writing. Her Erotic Urban Fantasy series stars a smart, strong, and slightly sarcastic female vampire running a resort for the undead in Alaska.
J.D. Brown lives with her two Pomeranians on the border between Wisconsin and Illinois. She enjoys the best of both worlds: peaceful country side and neurotic city life. J.D. began writing for publication in 2009, when she started her first Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Thriller series, Dark Heirloom. She fell in love with the craft and her writing became a wicked hot obsession.
Gregory Marshall Smith, born in Somerville, Massachusetts and raised in historic Medford, is a jack-of-all-trades. 
Anastasia V. Pergakis is a high fantasy author, mostly. She also writes Sci-Fi, Urban fantasy, and mystery novels. Her main novel, The Faery’s Tale Saga is a four part series, a high fantasy mixed with action/adventure and romance. She also writes dark poetry and the occasional twisted or humorous short story. Besides writing, Anastasia also loves reviewing/editing, cover art design, and web design. 
The eccentric George Allwynn not only pens GLBT romantic suspense, but at times, has been caught sneaking in some paranormal, humor and (gasp!) erotica. 
Sharon Hamilton loves all things paranormal: angels, vampires, a witch or two, and even some hybrid beings who don’t know what they are. 
David Sartof has a PhD in management philosophy, has served in the Merchant Marine and as an Officer in the UK’s Royal Air Force. In addition, he spent most of the first decade of the 21st century developing businesses as an entrepreneur. 
David is the author of River of Judgement, a crime novel set in the City of London during the start of banking crisis of the late-noughties.
James Garcia Jr.began writing when he discovered horror novels in junior high. Later, he set aside his dream of being a writer while he and his wife started their family. 
Excellent post! You’re on a roll work-wise this week! Go girl!
Hmm, not sure I’d rather get a root canal or painful dental work than write. But, I see your point. There are just some days you don’t feel like writing but, as Stephen King once said, you have to force yourself, to keep yourself in the habit. It’s like people who take a semester off from college. We all know most of them suddenly take a year off, then two years, three, four and soon they’re like the average Brazilian whose resume says “I went to college, but did not finish.”
Not a knock on Brazilians, but a lesson in keeping at it.
Keep at it, girl and, please, get yourself to a doctor. I want you around for many years of fascinating novels and blogs.