Wednesday 1 July 2015

IWSG: Just Get Out The Way



The first Wednesday of every month is the Insecure Writer’s Support Group bloghop. It's a day where writers/bloggers reach out and post their fears and doubts about their writing, but also share their triumphs, no matter how big or small.




So some of you may already know I started a B&B a few months ago. Lately, I've been drawing parallels between running a B&B and writing. Here's what I've gotten so far:

1. No matter how hard I try to be perfect or make everything look perfect, there will always be that one negitive person who will never be happy and who cannot help but critisize.

In other words, you can never please everyone, no matter how hard you try. However, you can reach a point where you can please the majority, and that's good enough. 

2. Sometimes it only takes one positive comment to change your crappy day into a good day. I remember one day in particular, I was feeling extra crappy and had to force a smile across my face when the new guests arrived. They turned out to be the nicest people, and speaking with them for just a few minutes was all it took to turn my mood around. But the best, was when a guest left a hand written thank you note in the room after they left. That was awesome, kinda like getting fan mail. :)

In other words, never underestimate the power of a positive comment or a kind word. You never know how much those words mean to someone or how badly they need to hear it. 

3. Recommendations / Reviews are so important. Authors know how important reviews are to book sales, well this is the same thing. Several of our guests have been nice enough to leave positive reviews on a B&B website about our room. The reviews are only a few sentences long, and yet they carry a lot of weight in the eyes of potential clients looking to book a room. As a result, we're booked for most of the summer. 

As I think about this list, it's easy to see that many of the insecurities I have about my writing creep up in my work with the B&B, which begs the question....what if... what if it's not my writing that's the problem.... what if the problem is me? 

Well, duh! 

Of course I'm my biggest obstacle with my bemoaning insecurities. I really need to get out of my own way sometimes. :) 

Well, that's it for me today. If you haven't already noticed, my blogging schedule has slowed to a crawl since I started the B&B. Sorry! But I'll be back on a more regular schedule in September when we close our activity for the fall/winter season. Thanks for stopping in, I wish you the very best in your writing endeavors and for crying out loud, get out of your own damn way and just write! :)  


*****
Thank you, Alex Cavanaugh for another great bloghop. And a big thank you to all the awesome co-hosts this month! 
To find out more about the IWSG monthly bloghop or the IWSG website, click the links.


23 comments:

  1. Glad it is going well, being all booked up is awesome. The cat gets out of his way and just types away.

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  2. I'm sure there are a lot of people out there looking for a nice B&B. I'm glad you're getting good reviews :)

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  3. I think it's way cool you run a B&B. :)

    Your post is dead on. I'm working on #1 right now, sorting through feedback and doing final edits on my WIP. Nope. I can't please everybody.

    IWSG #123 until Alex culls the list again.

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  4. I'm getting out of my way!
    Sorry for those whom you can't please.
    Hope the business is doing well.

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  5. Yep, I'm in my own way a lot of the time.

    And you're absolutely right about how that one positive comment or kind word can make someone's day. :)

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  6. A kind word or even an off-handed complement can go a long way in someones day. It's great the B&B is going well.

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  7. It is amazing how a little kindness can go. Any of the complainers, just send them over here to the States--we will get the wet noodles ready to change their behaviors. Haha.

    I hope you get your pleasant compliments outnumber your poo-poo comments by at least a 50 to 1 ration. Take care Elise.

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  8. To use all that energy for something so negative...it must be exhausting for people who constantly find the tiniest flaws in everything and feel the need to point them out. I almost feel sorry for them.

    And your list would apply to a lot of careers, not just writing. Seriously. It's practically universal.

    -T
    Tanya Miranda - Writer, Dreamer, Intergalactic Superhero

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  9. Definite parallels. :) This is so very true. I likewise am finally starting to figure out that my writing funks are caused by my brain. Duh is right! Lol!

    I'm so glad to hear that the B&B is doing well! I work retail, so I can definitely relate.

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  10. I'm so happy you're booked for most of the summer. That must be a relief. Everything else is spot on. Guess I need to start writing again.

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  11. Kindness is something lacking in our world these days. I saw a saying once, "If you want more kindness in the world, put it there." I love it, and I live by it. I can't think of the last time I said something unkind, but when I do, it's in a teasing manner where the target person knows it's in a loving way.

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  12. A B&B! You're my hero! I've always dreamed of running my own small business like a B&B someday. I can't wait to hear more. Miss you and can't wait to reconnect. I've really been collecting momentum with my current writing project, but it's more bitter than sweet. It comes from a very painful experience our family has been through unfortunately.

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  13. We have a condo/cabin in the Pennsylvania mountains that we rent out as well as use for ourselves -- and I hear ya on all of the above things! Best of luck to you in this venture! We have had our ups and downs, but we have repeat customers who love our house and come year after year ... and um, it's the only way we can afford to keep it. So, there's that.

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  14. Exactly! Just get out of your own way and just write! I've been saying this all year and finally somebody gets it. It's so interesting how you can learn something so insightful about writing when doing something so completely different from writing.

    Good luck with your B&B for the rest of the season and may you have only the cleanest, nicest customers. :)

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  15. Hey E!
    Sounds like you're doing okay with the B&B. Can't please everybody.
    On the topic of reviews, I always say that the nicest thing you can do for a writer is write them a review.
    Just keep on writing!

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  16. #3 I love seeing new reviews for my book, especially when they're positive! But I've been pretty good about not letting the bad ones bother me too much. Not much I can do about it now.

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  17. Readers who don't write haven't a clue about how important reviews are. You're right about getting out of your own way. Sometimes I know I'm my biggest block.

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  18. Hey Elise!

    B&B aka Blog and Breakfast. I'm sure your writing, based on parallels with your Bed and Breakfast place, will have some over easy and sunny side up moments.

    Indeed, you get out of your own way and enjoy the magical experiences you have with some of your customers. Did that sound right? :) Seriously, keep believing in your writing and your new hospitality establishment.

    Take care and have fun, dammit!

    Gary :)

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  19. Oh my! How did I miss your post??? Em...I'm here now. It counts, right? Yes, it is absolutely impossible to please everyone. Put all you have into whatever it is you're doing, and leave the rest to the fates. Really, sounds lame. But the sooner we accept what we can't change and then forge ahead with what we can change/improve on life is much easier.

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  20. I get in my way all the time. And what's worse is I'm like Sybil, I've had so many conversations with myself. (Scary, huh?)

    Running any business is much like being an author. I totally agree with your parallels. If it's any consolation, I think you rock -- which 100% true. The B&B just adds to your cool factor too. The reviews will come, just like the writing!

    Miss you tons!

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  21. I'm trilled that your B&B is booked! That's awesome news. Also, don't worry about scaling back while it's season. A new business like yours takes a lot of work and time. :-)

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  22. Hey :)

    I had noooo idea your washing machine was broken last month (and that you swore in really small letters, which cracked me up :)

    Seriously, How FUN that you're running a B&B .. I think that is AWESOME... and sure it's hard work, but it's gotta be a great feeling to get the good reviews and the fan mail :)

    Wishing you all the best (and I'm sorry, but I asked for white toast, not wheat.)

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  23. Art imitating life. Congrats on your new business!! Make sure you leave plenty of books in the lobby!

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