Rose McCauley, Christian Author

Success/Failure

The sermon today was about mistakes we make. One of the quotes the preacher shared really stuck with me throughout the day in regards to my writing. Malcom Forbes said, " Failure is success if we learn from it." An online search also led me to this quote by Henry Ford. "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently."

I know I have a lot to learn about writing fiction. Most of the writers on the ACFW loop say writing is a lifelong learning process, which suits me fine because I love to learn new things! So, each failure is a success for me if I can learn from the experience and "begin again more intelligently." As the minister said, we can learn from our own mistakes and from the mistakes of others. So, I will continue to read and study writing how-to books and attend conferences, and most of all, continue to write and implement what I have learned.

I received a rejection letter a couple of weeks ago. I told my husband it was a "nice" rejection letter, although that sounds like an oxymoron. But, it was addressed to me personally by my first name, and signed by the editor with her first name. (I had met her previously at a conference.) My failure in attaining a contract from that house can be my stepping stone to success as long as I continue to learn and to write more intelligently. How about you? Is there some failure you need to turn into a success by learning from your mistakes and implementing what you have learned? What better time to start than now?