Sometimes, recommendation is the sincerest form of flattery and here at Plotmonkeys, when someone recommends an author, we listen! Cynthia McClain Cooper suggested Cathie Linz after reading her book and Cathie was nice enough to agree to join us in the jungle! SMART GIRLS THINK TWICE is Cathie’s 54th published book!!!!! (I was thinking of putting in 54 Exclamation Point’s, LOL!). Pretty impressive, right? 
Smart Girls Think Twice
Emma Riley is an academic content to study life from the sidelines. Jake Slayter is a total risk-taker, always on the move. Both have come to Rock Creek with questions. The answers they find there will change their lives forever. Because when it comes to dangerously sexy men, smart girls think twice.
Looks good to me! I’m going to check this one out!
So give Cathie Linz a warm Jungle welcome!!!
*****
DEALING WITH FEAR AND REJECTION
As the author of over 55 published contemporary romances you’d think that I’d be able to conquer fear but as I told my RWA chapter a few days ago that isn’t the case. When I researched this subject I found nearly half a million entries under Fear of Writing. That’s right – 466,000 plus entries. Notice that the title of this blog is Dealing With not Overcoming. Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the way – use those that work for you and toss out those that aren’t your thing. One of the things we fear is rejection so let’s start there. Did you know that there are various levels of rejection? Sometimes you get a preprinted postcard saying something along the lines that your project doesn’t meet our requirements. Sometimes you get a form letter saying something similar. But sometimes you get a letter saying this project doesn’t meet our requirements but if you’d like to submit something in the future we’d be interested in seeing it.
They aren’t lying.
The editor is not being kind. They don’t have time to be kind.
Writers are sensitive and rejection is hard on normal people. We’re not normal. We’re writers.
We are creative people. Who happen to be filled with fear and anxiety. A lot fear and anxiety. About what?
Here’s a list of just a few of the things we writers fear.
1) That you aren’t really a writer.
2) That you sound dumb
3) That you won’t ever finish the book
4) That even if you do finish the book, it’s no good
5) That it will never sell. No editor will buy it.
6) That even if it does sell it will get bad reviews
7) That readers will hate it
That you’ll be mocked or laughed at
9) That you’ll be exposed as an imposter – as someone who isn’t really a writer, or someone who doesn’t have enough talent.
10) That your mother will read it. Or worse, your father will read it.
Okay lots of fears. Here are a few of my tips in dealing with it
1) Focus on the writing. Don’t think about it being published, just focus on your characters story. Play with your story and your characters. Have story conferences with them. Remember how Whoopi Goldberg was the only one who could hear Patrick Swayze in Ghost? You are the only one who hears your characters so be creative with that. Just write. Turn off the critical side of your brain that says “that’s a run on sentence. That’s a fragment. That sounds dumb.” When you create you’re allowed to sound dumb. To make mistakes. To take chances. Things can be changed in the revision stage. So take some pressure off when you are creating. Don’t try to be perfect. Sometimes you just have to get out of your own way.
2) If I’m not sure what comes next in a scene, I just type xxx. That means I’ll fill in that part later but it allows me to keep going. I also will put in some stage direction and have parenthesis around those. And example (her uncle walks in here. Describe him).
3) Experiment with playing music. This works for some writers, and not at all for others. The soundtrack for my new book SMART GIRLS THINK TWICE (in stores now) included Sheryl Crow’s greatest hits (the fire escape foreplay scene has her song “My Favorite Mistake” in it).
4) Try writing in a different place. I write both in my office downstairs and at my laptop upstairs.
5) Try writing with a different method – using your laptop instead of your desktop or vice versa. Go back to using pen and paper. I’ve done that when I’m stuck. Just to get started again.
6) Some writers find journaling helps. This doesn’t work for me but you can try it and see if it helps you to describe your feelings, why you’re afraid to write.
7) Get moral support from other writers.
Try reading books about the subject so you don’t think you’re the only one who’s afraid.
One is THE FEAR OF WRITING by Milli Thornton who also has a website fearofwriting.com. Another site is clarityworksonline.com.
In THE COURAGE TO WRITE by Ralph Keyes he talks about writing as an act of courage.
The book NO PLOT, NO PROBLEM it’s a low stress high velocity guide to writing a novel in 30 days. The author gives lots of pep talks about the importance of continuing to write and not letting fear win.
Another book I found helpful is WRITING FROM THE INSIDE OUT by Dennis Palumbo. He has an entire section on Page Fright.
Again, only use what works for you.
I also like DOJO WISDOM FOR WRITERS by Jennifer Lawler. Subtitle is 100 Simple Ways to become a More Inspired. Successful and Fearless Writer. I wonder why she put Fearless last. Maybe because being Fearless is even harder than being inspired or successful.
In the end it all falls back to the 3 pieces of advice I have on my office wall
1) Just Do It
2) Do It Anyway
3) Yes I Mean Now!
———
Nicola Marsh, who guest blogged here at Plotmonkeys this week, is hosted a super book giveaway over at her blog today…and Carly is the special guest today! Click over and enter! Or just say hi!Please pop over and read the post and enter her fabulous contest!
Carly Phillips would like to take 100% credit for all her stories but the truth is, Carly’s strength is writing family, emotion, funky elderly people and animals. She couldn’t plot her way out of a paper bag, which is why she smartly found her plotmonkey pals early on in her writing career. Thanks to their support, Carly is now a NYT Bestselling author of 23 plus novels. Because writing doesn’t keep her busy enough, Carly is also a wife, a mother of one preteen and one teenage daughter, the primary care giver of her soft coated Wheaten terrier and an expert carpool mom.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
Subscribe to Posts 
Comment
Hi Cathie this is Michele from Fl on facebook I too emailed Carly and suggested you to be a guest. I loved you SMART GIRLS THINK TWICE. which I have told you. it was your book BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY that got me back into reading after many years of not picking up a book, after that I couldn’t read enough that is how I started reading Carly’s books. I finally have started writing and love all the advice. Keep writitng great books and I’ll talk to you on FB
Comment
Hi, Cathie! Welcome to the jungle. “Rejection” must be in the air. I did a piece on my blog about the subject this week. I would add one more “quickie” to your list: IT’S NOT PERSONAL.
Fear is a whole separate can of worms. You’ve got some great advice and I’ll admit to using several of the techniques when I’m blocked or depressed because I’m convinced my writing “tanks”. Almost every book I’ve written has a soundtrack and the best thing that happened to me for “writing to the finish” was participating in National Novel Writing Month. Chris Baty’s No Plot, No Problem is very inspirational.
I’ll watch for Smart Girls because…Smart Girls rock!
Back to
– I have 121 pages to go on this edit and I told myself I’d have the current project sent back to my editor by 2/1. Thanks for dropping by! 
Comment
Wow I got distracted by all those moving image/icons! First off – thanks Carly for the wonderful intro and for the invitation to blog here today. Michele, thanks again for the vote of confidence about my books! Silver, great point about rejection not being personal (even though it sure feels that way). Cathie
Comment
Hi Cathie!! Thanks for sharing some wonderful advice!!
I have to admit, as I read through the list of common fears, I have every single one of them. I used to be fairly self-confident and sure of myself, but since I’ve started writing I’ve gotten less and less so. All of those fears piling up on me has done a number with my self-confidence.
This is going to sound ridiculous, but I hadn’t even thought of getting books on the subject of fear, and espcially fear of writing. Thanks for the recommended list. I’ll check them out this weekend!
Thanks again for being here!!!
Comment
Welcome to the Jungle, Cathie! Great advice about the fear of writing. I love the three quotes you have on your office wall. Thanks for swinging through the jungle with us today!
Cher
Comment
Alannah, As buddy Susan Elizabeth Phillips keeps telling me “You’re not special ” because we’re all writers and we’re all a little bit crazy. Okay totally crazed . We are creative and sensitive people in a business filled with rejection – well duh!
We should run screaming but then we wouldn’t get much done. We have to beat the fear back 
Ok I am having entirely too much fun with these icons! :jumpleaf
Cathie
Comment
I really look at those signs in my office a lot Cher. Cathie
Comment
I forgot to thank Cynthia for recommending me to Carly in the first place! Cathie
Comment
Cathie, The book sounds great! I just love “Smart Girl” heroines.
What an inspirational piece on fear. I have to admit, some days I wonder what possessed me to try and publish. The waiting and rejections only add more work on top of the struggle to make time to write. I typically stall in my writing process when I get overwhelmed by fear of rejection or that I’ll never be “good enough”. Then I have to remind myself that I need to persevere and write the best book I can.
One of the books you mentioned, Writing From the Inside Out, is one of my personal favorites. It deals with a lot of issues writers face. Very helpful.
Comment
Danielle,I’m sorry to say that the fear doesn’t go away even after you get published. Which is why it’s good to find tricks that work in dealing with fear. In overcoming that inner voice that says “that sounds stupid”.
I often tell my writers group that if they write, they ARE writers. Period. And that like Whoopi in GHOST who was the only one who could hear Patrick Swayze — you too are the only one who can hear your characters and tell their story. Now if they start giving you investment advice, that’s another matter. I often have story conferences with my characters. Meanwhile we need to just keep going, keep writing THEIR story and celebrate those moments of flow when things just keep going and an hour or three have flown by when the writing is working.
Comment
Sounds like great advice!
Comment
Hi Cathie, Welcome to the Jungle. It is so nice to see your here. I’m used to seeing you on the WAYRN thread at eHarlequin! It is always nice when you drop by there to comment. I haven’t picked up your latest book but I am looking forward to reading it.
I don’t write but I enjoyed your blog today. The icons here are fun!
Comment
Welcome, Cathie. I was in Boston for the day and just got back now, so I’m popping int to say Hi and thanks for joining us in the jungle and giving us such great advice!
Comment
Donna, too bad eharl doesn’t have these icons huh? When I talk about my happy Snoopy dance
you could see it. Great to see you here, thanks for taking the time out of your busy day to stop by to say hi. 
Cathie
Comment
Cathie, I love your contemporary romance stories. I am looking forward to reading your new book, can’t wait. By the welcome to our jungle.
Comment
Hi Cathie,
I’m not sure if this has ever been an issue for you, but it seems to be one for me. Not fear of failing, but fear of success and how it will change my life. I’ve been working on correcting that fear lately, but it’s slow going. I’m sure there are promo things you need to do once a book is published, etc. That’s what scares me.
I know I’m weird and everyone around me knows that, and if they don’t I make sure to explain that ahead of time, so I have no fear of being considered weird or crazy and I know that my family members think I am a good writer, so my writing will always be good, even if it is to just them and no one else, so there’s no fear there.
I’m like that kid who stands at the edge of the pool dipping her toes in but not going any further because the water’s too cold!
Congrats on your book and I enjoyed both this blog and you RWQ blog!
Comment
Carrie most writers are introverts and somewhat shy so pr is always a fear for us. so step away from the cold water pool and turn it into a warm hot tub instead Good luck! Cathie
Comment
Elisa, Thanks for making my day!!!! :jumpleaf Cathie
Comment
Just a quick word of thanks to everyone who posted and to all those who may have been lurking. I enjoyed my time in the Jungle!!
Cathie
Comment
Your welcome Cathie :hug2:
Comment
Hi Cathie, thanks for this blog article, and thank you for mentioning my book in your fear of writing medicine list. A new reader told me about your post.
I agree with everything you mentioned – and especially the advice to “find what works best for you.”
Another thing that can help is to lend our fears to our characters. I found this transformative. I had fear of writing as bad as it gets, so I purposely infected the characters in my book with that fear.
At first they let themselves be totally consumed by it–but then each of them found a way to burn through the fear into a new level of writing freedom. And, each time, I didn’t know how that would happen; all I could do was watch as each character worked it out in his or her own inimitable style.
My characters then returned the favor by infecting me with a bit more confidence in my writing.
For anyone who wants to try it, this can be done in stories you write on the side for fun (or should I say therapy? – LOL). That way, you can go the whole hog and make at least one of your characters the most blown-out-of-proportion version of your fear(s) that you can come up with. Catharsis!
Comment
You mean to tell me that there is another Cynthia McClain Cooper out there? That is my name and while I do recommend books a lot, I have not ever read this one. I will have to give it a try since my name is attached to this post!