Sure, positive thinking is an empowering frame of mind. The potential of changing the world through attitude alone is enormous. But it can't stop there. It can't be the only factor that drives the change.
Hope won't get you published. Wishful thinking won't push your book into number one.
When we throw all our energy into building a positive attitude, we won't have anything left to set realistic goals, to hone our skills, to learn all there is to learn about the industry. We may even start to think that the positive energy we're burning is enough so we won't need to make vital connections, expand our support network, or spend the endless hours polishing our stories, getting second opinions and polishing again.
Just because I have a dream, doesn't mean I'm entitled to it.
What are your thoughts on the Tinker Bell Theory?
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Thank you to Nick Wilford at Scattergun Scribblings and Honey at Stories to Share for the Sunshine Award. My favourite colour is purple and favourite animal is a dragon.
I've also been tagged by Angeline Trevena with the Lucky 7 Meme. Thank you so much for the tag. I'm supposed to post seven lines from my current WIP, but those lines are decidedly unpolished. I hope you'll forgive me.
And finally The Grumpy Bulldog tagged me for a Star Wars Trivia Challenge turned Blogfest. I'm supposed to post 250 word fanfic where a character from one of my stories is trying to write a Star Wars story. To maintain my rebel reputation, I cheated and made a Star Wars character write a flash fiction: 01100101001110101001111010101
Can you guess which one?
57 comments:
Hmm. I guess I think that a positive attitude can help you get through all the WORK it takes to reach your dreams. So... Sorta?
yep, you're right, Lynda, wishful thinking is OK until you really grow up and face the harsh reality :)
I'm not sure I like the new cover for CLOCKWISE, both this one and the old one look very amateurish, they need a professional touch.
Positive attitude always helps! But wishing isn't nearly as powerful as taking action and working hard. And no one is entitled to anything either. I think the positive attitude helps us deal with the struggles and with other people.
And I'd say R2D2. Fitting entry for that tag.
C-3PO?
I don't think wish alone will achieve much. It might get you started on something, but you also have to work to meet your goals.
Yes. A postive attitude helps. It always helps when you know you can do a better MS than the one you've produced.
R2?
My husband dreams of having a Porsche 911. He's more than welcome to have this dream but I don't think he's entitled to have it come true unless he saves up a heck of a lot of money! You make a great Tinker Bell Theory point.
I don't believe in fairies.
Crap, there goes my publication plan. Ah, well, I shall try to remain positive despite your bummer of a post. :))
Hmmm... Interesting. I look at writing very clinically... It's work. A job. A technique that meshes with talent. I'm not starry-eyed about the whole thing--I'm only focusing on what needs to get done & how I can be better. Sure, attitude & hope is important, but you're right, it doesn't get anything done ;)
I have faith that I can achieve my dreams, and hope helps me sustain that faith. Faith is a verb, an action. If I act upon my faith, I have hope. In the end, both should help me achieve my dreams. However, not everyone is willing to act.
I agree with a positive attitude and hard work.
I almost didn't post it because it was a bit of a bummer. It would be nice to think that positive thinking alone will get us through to the shiny dream. Alas, getting published (and doing it well) requires so much more hard work than anyone in the general population knows--and that includes our families.
we have a winner!
Yep, it's R2D2 :)
close, but I think C-3PO prefers the sound of his own voice too much to break his story down to binary code. ;)
I didn't mind the original cover, but I agree with her reasons for changing it--because it didn't quite aim at the right market.
Wishful thinking is still a good thing to have, as long as you base it on a solid foundation of hard work and knowledge.
yep!
Your prize is a virtual chocolate in the shape of the Death Star.
Ha, I agree. Then again I'm a realist so "positive thinking" only gets so far for me. Plus seems like I'm supposed to use "positive thinking" to cure all my ailments, and life doesn't work that way.
I agree with you. Positive thinking is important but it can't be your end-all, be-all. I knew a woman once whose life was falling apart and she would just sit in her house and basically try to wish everything better and say that if she thought positively things would turn out fine. Not so much!
Thank you for introducing me to this theory Lynda. Quite familiar with it, lol. You've been a busy gal.
Denise
Positive thinking, yes. Sitting there and wishing, no. Although it's totally fine to dream of the future while you're writing ;) Roll up your sleeves and put in all that hard work to see the real results.
Positive thinking is great as one of the tools available to you, but it's not going to do much good on its own!
I want to know what R2 is actually telling us :-)
(Dang blogger just ate my more articulate comment, and I can't seem to wish it back...) Anyhow, I completely agree--wanting something and being positive about it can help you reach a goal, but it doesn't put in the hours for you!
Never heard of the Tinker Bell Theory but it sounds an awful lot like The Secret or The Law of Attraction. Have you heard of these?
Too bad I don't have a funny comment like all the other great ones on here. lol (nope, not funny)
I agree, Lynda..lit takes hard work to advance in the writing world. Of course, we need to have a positive attitude, but can't just sit back and let it happen. Good thoughts...thanks!
Yep, wishes alone won't do it. They can help fuel our motivation, but they can't do the hard work part. Ha, enjoyed your Star Wars flashfic by R2. Congrats on your awards/tags. :)
No, we don't get everything we wish for. But we are more likely for the things we worked hard at and did give up on.
Well, I'm not sure how I feel about it, but my brother is into it. He thinks by imaging something as really happening, you put yourself in a frame of mind to work harder for it and therefore, it's more likely to become reality. I guess I'd have to agree with that.
According to the witches, wishes are vague expressions of one's will. Only when you make your wish your will, can you manifest it to become true. Where there is a will, there is often a way.
Positive thinking is important but it's true, we do need more. Thanks for this post.
Love Elle's new cover.
I understand — based on life experience — that some things are out of my hands. I'll do my best and work hard.
Yes, I also agree. We lose energy doing positive thinking and forget to set realistic goals. If I sit back and think that I'm going to sail through my exams without studying, will it work? No, I don't think so!
Riya
I don't by into that. I prefer to assume the worst and be pleasantly surprised if I'm proven wrong.
And if the worst does happen, well, I was expecting this result all along so nothing lost.
I think a positive attitude will help keep you on track, but it takes a lot of ambition, drive, and tons of hard work to get published. But you also have to know there are many paths to publication, a lesson a friend taught me last week. One person's road might not be a good fit for another. Either way, wishing it so will only take you so far, like maybe to the garage where you parked your car! great post BTW!
A positive attitude will draw people towards you, but it today's day and age, if you want to get published you have to put some hard work into it!
A positive attitude is great, but it has to be coupled with lots of hard work, and dedication. Just wishing for something does not make it appear, we have to actively work towards it.
This reminds me of a saying I read somewhere. "The best way to make your dreams come true, is to wake up and work towards it."
Yay, CLOCKWISE! I love that book, and I LOVE the new cover! All the best to Elle. :o)
As for Tinkerbell theory--is that what that's called? I think it's super-important to have a positive mental attitude, but I agree. One also has to be realistic and clear sighted and do the work or nothing good's going to happen.
Great post, Lynda! :o)
I suppose it depends how far you take the theory...a little Pixie Dust helps;)
A positive attitude is important but so is effort. You are always interesting.
I always consider that a truly positive attitude puts things into action. Merely hoping for the best shows that somewhere you have doubt and aren't taking action for fear of failure (at least that's what I've seen in my experience).
Thanks so much for mentioning my blog! Tinker Bell theory, hmmm! I don't have much positive thinking with regard to being published, and if a happy thought comes up I quickly squash it. I'm not a negative person really- I have an awesome life, but I want to be realistic with regards to being published. That's not to say I don't hope or dream!
A positive attitude is a beautiful thing, and helpful in many ways, but it's hard work and perseverance, in my opinion, that leads to publication. Although I wouldn't mind some pixie dust on my first drafts.
It seems to have grown popular since the middle of the 20th century.
If you put a lot of hard work and diligent studying into that positive attitude, you'll have a winner.
Congrats on your awards :)
I'll be a nudge and say you're entitled to your dream, but you're not entitled to have it come true.
I thought I was being harsh, but it seems many agree with me.
Attitude makes a huge difference in the work that we do . . . but the work has to happen for the dreams to come true. There is a quote that I can't quite remember about that . . ."You can build castles in the air, now build foundations under them . . ." - something like that.
That's a great approach and it will get you far.
He is saying how much he loves to connect with the mainframe computer so he can have long conversations with it ;)
Not sure what the secret Law of atrraction is.
If it helps you to work harder, then it's all good. I only have an issue when wishful thinking is all a person has and they lack the motivation to do anything else.
It worked for me in school ;)
Kinda
(lol)
Love that quote. It's so true!
Yep, it's what I call it, anyway ;)
yep, working hard is under-rated in today's world where so much comes to us so easily.
Another great quote. I love it.
I love Elle's new cover.
I think a great attitude is a motivator, but people still have to produce quality work, improve their craft, and persevere.
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