BEING BORN A DOG BY GUEST C. HOPE CLARK

"Yesterday I was a dog. Today I'm a dog. Tomorrow I'll probably still be a dog. Sigh! There's so little hope for advancement."  
Charles M. Schulz

Yes, we're all born with many factors determined for us. We are citizens of a particular country, belong to a certain race, are one gender or another.

We often think of successful writers as people born into the profession. They miraculously landed in the laps of agents and made it big. Luck worked in their favor. They had one fabulous idea that catapulted them into fame.

But us? We are normal, routine, mundane. Sure we're creative, but what are the chances we can find that remarkable opportunity that changes our lives as writers? Your answer determines which category you fall into:


1. One day that great idea will happen, and I'll write it.
2. I have good ideas, but nothing great.
3. I have ideas, and it's up to me to write them great.
4. I'll write until my ideas become great.


We don't like where we live? We move.
We don't like our hair? We cut and color.
We don't like our profession? We change.
We don't like our spouse? We divorce.


Yet...it's amazing how we don't change our outlook on how to write as easily as we alter the rest of our lives.


To be great, you have to think great. Not so-so, not maybe-good, not half-baked. No publishing until you think you have gold in your hands.


In case you haven't realized it yet, you become great by fighting to be great. You envision greatness at the end of your tunnel. You don't publish and HOPE someone likes it. You write it knowing thousands of people WILL like it from all you know about your genre, your platform, your voice.


You may be born a dog, but nothing says you can't be the best darn dog in town. Whether you write brilliantly, market like a genius, or tap perfectly a subject that's selling hot as firecrackers, you excel because you decided to excel...and not settle for being just a dog.

Hope Clark
http://www.fundsforwriters.com/
THE BLOG - http://hopeclark.blogspot.com/

TWITTER- http://twitter.com/hopeclark
FACEBOOK- http://www.facebook.com/chopeclark

Thanks to Hope Clark for letting me share her editor's message from a Funds For Writers newsletter. Hope is a lovely woman, dog owner, and champion of underdog writers. (Pun intended, sorry.)

Pictured is Hope with her blind and deaf dog, Dixie, at Dixie's recent 15th birthday party. After a steak to celebrate, Dixie is reported to have settled down for a nice snooze.