Value Lessons More than Successes

I recently heard a speaker say, “Value lessons more than successes.” The presenter also emphasized that there’s no failure, only feedback (Derek Doepker). I needed to hear that.

Over the past eighteen months I researched facts and then excitedly began to write my next novel, tentatively titled, All That Glitters. The project, about two orphans accompanying their guardian West on a wagon train just before the California gold rush, has morphed several times. Now, two-thirds of the way through, I recently paid a writing coach to provide feedback. The input I received made sense but implementing the critique will almost put me back to square one.

As I allow the truth of the coach’s comments to sink in, the sickening pit in my stomach threatens to paralyze me. I had the same feeling when the middle school band I taught several years ago worked hard to get a Superior rating at a music festival. We performed well but only received a second place score. What more could we have done? I realized then to value lessons more than success.

Perspective – At first I felt as though all the writing I’d done on All That Glitters was for nothing. Then I remembered that as a band teacher I always had students warm up on scales, arpeggios, rhythm exercises and chords to listen for intonation. I’d never have my students play those warm up drills for a concert, but they served as an important rehearsal technique that, in the end, helped to create a beautiful performance.

So with my writing. If I take my coach’s comments as feedback not failure, If I view my present word count as rehearsals and warm ups rather than a concert, then I’m that much closer to creating a well-tuned piece that will soon grace your shelf with a well-crafted, gripping story that you’ll find hard to put down!