HOW TO KEEP THE FAITH by Sue Ward Drake

Sue Ward Drake drew on her experiences as a hearing-impaired woman to write her hearing-impaired heroine in her soon-to-be-released romantic suspense novel, HEAR NO EVIL.  ~Sarah and Judith~

SUE WARD DRAKE
(Photo by Mari Corn)

Now I know it’s way past New Year’s Resolution time, but that’s essentially what this little piece is about. How to keep the faith, when it’s easier to give up.

Because you’ve been trying to lose weight, or graduate from college, or get fit, or write a novel for what seems like forever. Should you forget about achieving the impossible or plug on?

When I published my first book, a romantic suspense, HEAR NO EVIL, with Silhouette Intimate Moments, I could not contain my excitement. Then I discovered I had to turn in more ideas. They weren’t happy with just the one! Imagine.

I slaved away on several proposals, each one I was sure worse than the one before. Instead of sending them into my editor, I changed my genre and flamed out. There were extenuating circumstances, or so I tell myself. I recently got back my rights and will self-publish HEAR NO EVIL again within the next few months.

I am currently on my second iteration as professional writer, but I can never have enough inspiration. 

Tips and tricks on how to stay motivated—at whatever:

• --Practice affirmations. Instead of plugging into music at the gym—an impossibility since I am nearly deaf—I recite affirmations. I am creating/living the life I want. Because I am a talented writer, I easily make my own opportunities. I easily wear a size 10, etc.
• --Visualize success. An oldie but goldie. Make a vision board if you have to, or just write down what you want. Henriette Anne Klauser wrote a book on how she fulfilled her dreams this way.
• --Clip articles from magazines and newspapers and review the folder along with one for story ideas if you’re a writer. I have one from the New York Times wedding section about a bride who when she wanted something would go after it with a “sort of mythological force.” 

Newspaper syndicated columnist Jeff Herring wrote about “destination thinking.” He talks about not making excuses, about reminding yourself daily why you want this particular destination, about breaking down the journey into small enough steps so you begin to see them as manageable.

 Remember there’s an unlimited supply of success. I particularly like this quote of Nora Roberts, who got her start as a Silhouette author.

“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never get it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place.”

I hope you will continue with whatever you resolved that night at the turn of the year with a champagne glass in your hand. You can do it. ~ Sue Ward Drake

Please watch my TWITTER account for the date of my re-release of HEAR NO EVIL, a story with a hearing-impaired heroine. 

Bio

Sue Ward Drake has lived in many places: New Orleans before and after Hurricane Katrina, Greece, Baltimore, Nevada, and Germany. All are fodder for her stories. Her hobbies include hiking, travel, cooking low density meals and, of course, reading. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Thriller Writers International, and Mystery Writers of America.