Tuesday, February 5, 2013

February 2013 IWSG Post -Exacting Revenge Without Getting Blood On Your Hands

Happy Wednesday, peeps!

I love Wednesdays, especially since I joined The Insecure Writer's Support Group. So, it is with a happy heart that I write this post about REVENGE.

If you're scratching your head, wondering what the???? Scratch no more, because this topic, deranged as it is, is sure to rescue anyone suffering from rejection. This post may spare hours and $$$, many are about to spend at a therapist's office. Yes, I know, the couch is comfy, but dignity is at stake, so put away that tear towel, and tune into your screen.

Did anyone out there get a rejection this week--a form letter--from Mrs. Ooh-la-la? Or maybe it was a heart-felt note, telling you how perfectly your prose fits her current list, BUT she wasn't impressed with your sample chapters, so she had to PASS. Well, bless your heart. I know exactly how you feel. Has it happened to me? Of course. Too many times to count.

Rejections have a way of knocking the sparkle out of our dreams, and if we let that old monster, Doubt, have its way, a simple, "No thanks." can easily morph into, "Nobody likes me. Everybody hates me, so I'm gonna eat a ..."  Then the next thing we know, we're lying on the floor, in a fetal position, crying for our mommies. But, I've got a better idea.... NO! YOU CAN'T BLOW UP THE LITERARY AGENCY. Mrs. Ooh-la-la, doesn't deserve to die. Maybe it'd be funny if all her hair fell out, or if she broke out in shingles. Then, maybe her rejection wouldn't sting so bad. And while we're dishing out wrath, what about that lady at the supermarket? (the one who clearly saw you waiting for that parking spot, but zipped in front of your car and resigned you to the cardiac-arrest section) Because of her, you'll be late cooking supper, cleaning the dishes, and bathing the kids/cat/dog. Thanks to her, you may not even get to write tonight.... WHAT?!?!? OF COURSE YOU'LL WRITE!!! YOU'LL TAP OUT FIVE PARAGRAPHS... ABOUT THAT LADY. Yeah, only you'll call her... Suzy, and instead of blond hair, she'll have black. Poor, poor, Suzy, the lady with a pig's snout and blisters on her eyelids. She never saw that alien ship coming--the one that sucked her into space, leaving an empty parking spot for you to nab.

Do you see where I'm going with this? Yeah, I'm immature...but hey...at least I know how to get even without earning a life sentence in prison. And guess what? This cool method of REVENGE makes for interesting characters, not to mention it throws me into a furious fit of writing. And if I'm writing, my writing gets better. So, before you all stick a, SHE'S NUTS--JUST LIKE TAYLOR SWIFT!!!, label to my forehead, ask yourself one question...Is she CRAZY or a GENIUS? I vote GENIUS!

If you still don't get the point to this post, I'll be serious for a minute. We all have bad days. Sometimes we're down due to rejections, lack of time, or maybe someone was just plain rotten to us. On more than one occasion, I've taken people I loathe and thrown them into my stories. Writing is such a great outlet for our emotions, and it's safe. So, the next time you're down, go to your keyboard, and let it all go. You may be surprised what comes out. Oh, and don't forget the disclaimer...This is a work of fiction....blah, blah, blah.

For more inspiring posts, click on the links below.
Insecure Writer’s Support Group, hosted by Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh and co-hosted  Stephen Tremp and Julie Flanders.
 
Until next time, happy writing or whatever makes you smile. :)

26 comments:

  1. A very ingenious (as well as satisfying) way to take our some frustrations.

    Great idea! :)

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    1. Hey, Mark!

      Yeah! There's no end to the things we could scheme up, lol! Good to see you! :)

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  2. Yep - writing stuff out of your system can really work well for me too! Your post is so funny and so true!

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    1. Hey, Pat!

      I swear, this is the only way I stay out of prison,lol! :)

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  3. I've done that. Turned my boss into a villain in one of novels. Turned out pretty well, actually.

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    1. Hey, Nigel!

      That's hilarious! I bet it was also very satisfying! Thanks for stopping by! :)

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  4. Giggle. Why have I not done this yet?

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    1. Hey, Debra!

      I don't know, but you gotta try it! It's a real sanity saver! :)

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  5. I once had a complicated emotional/relational situation arise in my life and pounded out a great "why these kind of people suck" article. I actually wrote queries, modified the tone a bit and gave it a constructive bent and tried to solicit publication. Fortunately,I never got any bites. Then I wrote about all the stupid editors who couldn't recognize my genius. ;) Nevermind, I felt better and that's all that mattered.

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  6. LOL, Julie!

    And it kept you from taking anyone hostage! Good therapy! :P

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  7. Yup, I've featured a hated person from my life as a villain in a book. So satisfying. Especially when you give them their fatal flaw, or better, turn one of their real life flaws into their fatal flaw. Mwha ha ha ha!

    Oh, right, back to work.

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    1. Mwha ha ha ha, I love it, Rena! I hope you gave them bad breath and gas, too!!!! :D

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  8. Hey, I never looked at it in this way... you are one smart lady!

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  9. And none of it can be used against you in a court of law!! You are a genius!!

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    1. That's right, Elizabeth! And I know just where to put the fictional body, too! :P

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  10. Ahhhh, the pen of poison. Lovely. Alien brainsuckers are being dispatched to the office of a former tyrant as you read.

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  11. Ha! Hello, Jack!

    Those brain-sucking-aliens always come in handy! Can't count how many times they've come to my aid. :P

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  12. Great blog, Celeste. Sometimes the minor characters are the most fun to write about already, but slip in a little revenge where we can work out our angst on paper, and the quality of our characters can only get better.

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  13. Thanks, Jeff! I agree, nothing like raw human emotion to bring our characters to life. :)

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  14. Hey,

    I received a rejection email this morning. You are like a mind reader. :)

    You are also one of my favorite comedian/writers/IWSG peeps.

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  15. Hello Brinda,

    I'm sorry about the rejection. Whoever turned you down, will wear the hat-of-shame, one day. I know this, because I was snooping around on Amazon last night and discovered you're an awesome writer!

    And we have something in common because you're one of my faves, too. :)

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  16. Living well is the best revenge -- according to Oscar Wilde at least! But for us, you're right: writing well is even better! :-)

    Thanks for putting me in your sidebar.

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  17. Yes! Writing well, is living well! And I really enjoy your blog! :)

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  18. I just fantasize Real Genius type scenarios.
    "This is God..."

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  19. Haaaaa! I totally forgot about that! "Cut the crap, Kent!" :P

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