Mr. Nasty Pants Gets Bested By You And Haiku
My pantaloons-challenged fiend has resurfaced. Right on schedule. And although sharing the latest confidence-bashing session feels unprofessional, I promised to blog honestly about my transition into writing. Ya gots ta take the good with the bad.
My Conversation With Mr. Nasty Pants
Mr. NP, feet shuffling and arms pumping in evil anticipation: “Well, Missy, people can soon read your book. You must be glued to the toilet.”
Me: “Well, yes, I do feel as though I’m simmering in a stew of adrenalin. But, you know, that’s the order of things, right?”
Mr. NP: “Sure…sure. But are you prepared for the snickers? For whispers behind your back? For nose pinching and dry heaving and the cough of cruddy prose?”
Me, head suspended between my knees in pre-syncopal grayness: “Um…”
Mr. NP, prancing away: “Oh, good, so you’re aware then. Just checking.”
The Good News
But guess what? Even though my nasty imp pops up like a bloated carcass, I’m learning to dunk him back under. Partly because the situation is now out of my control—the book should surface next week—but mostly because of you. The enthusiastic response to my last blog post surprised, humbled, and thrilled me. Your support turns every verbal turd from Mr. Nasty Pants into a Tootsie Roll—hard to chew but not impossible.
So thank you all very, very much. You made my week and fought off my demons.
Wait, There’s One More Thing
I haven’t posted any Awful Offspring Offal for a while, but today, for something different, I’m going to showcase some Horrible Husband Haiku.
Why Mr. Rubin suddenly decided to scribe haiku is beyond me. Perhaps the penis and poo haiku my boys chanted at dinner a few nights ago birthed his inspiration.
The set-up to Mr. Rubin’s haiku consists of a collection of old towels, long overdue for a date with the trash can. (Note to self: Buy new towels.)
Horrible Husband Haiku
My hair smells like mold
Not because I am old, but
The towels must go
After his enchantment with the first one, he one-upped it with this:
I don’t like to write
It does not cause undo fright
I simply just suck
Supportive blogging buddies and a funny husband. Take that Mr. Nasty Pants.
Have your self-doubt demons visited lately? What helps you beat them away? Ever lost a dental crown in a Tootsie Roll? I did. Do your towels smell moldy? Mine do.
All images from Microsoft Clip Art
137 Responses to “Mr. Nasty Pants Gets Bested By You And Haiku”
[...] randomness is inspired by Carrie Rubin’s post where she shared her husband’s rhyming haikus with us. I refuse to generate original blog topics, so I decided to come up with some haikus of my [...]
If I was more poetic I’d comment via haiku but instead I’ll just say that I’m very excited for you and can’t wait to read your book!
Thank you! And don’t worry. The term ‘poetic’ doesn’t exist on this blog, so any haiku you created would fit right in.
Funny post and I really liked your last one too! My Nasty Pants surfaces right after I send something off. I got a request for my full manuscript on Friday but I couldn’t bear to send it off until late Sunday. I just wanted to live the dream a few blissful days that an actual agent WANTED me. Mr. Nasty pants says of course she’ll say no. Statistics support Nasty, but I reject him often and keep sending out those queries!
Thanks for the post.
Congratulations to you! Having the full manuscript requested is a good sign. Even if the agent ultimately passes on it, the fact that she requested it means your work has merit. I tried to turn those types of rejections into positive ones. Whenever an agent requested more than just my query letter, I took it as a good sign. I wish you luck with your project. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!
Mr. Nasty Pants needs to step off. I wonder if he’s related to the shrew who comes around to my place when I’m writing. Probably. We should get them together so they can hook up and leave us alone.
I think that’s a great idea. As long as they don’t make nasty babies together, we should be fine.
Good point. If they spawn, we’re all in big trouble.
Your self-talk against mr. nasty pants is a hoot…and very effective. But the husband and towel-inspired Haiku (and especially your sons’ references) should remind you that you have it all, or at least everything that matters!
Very, very true. Luckily, that’s why Mr. Nasty Pants never hangs around too long. I know what’s most important, and the rest pales in comparison. But he’s still a nuisance.
Self doubt? No, I just doubt anyone else will get how awesome I am at everything, including messing up
The washing machine gets an occasional dose of vinegar for less smelly results.
Oh, I like your positive spin on the self-doubt thing. That’s the way to do it.
lol – I have my self-doubt chained to the wall of the oubliette but on still nights I can still hear him moaning about how self-deluded I am. It’s amazing how far sound will travel when it’s dark and quiet.
That sounds like the perfect place for self-doubt. Of course, I had to look up the word ‘oubliette’ before I could say that. Always learning something new, I am. Thanks for furthering my education.
lmao – blame the oubliette on some of the video games I’ve played! And you’ve welcome.
Props to your husband for giving it a go. The first one is definitely the best one for me. Mildew towels remind me of a hotel on my wife and I’s honeymoon road trip (well that one more of a B & B really). Upon entering the room we heard “High quality humping”, not in the room I should add. Then there was mildew towels which did not, a nice face wash make. Or dry. This likely puts you in mind of one of those movie, rent by the hour motels, but the rest of it was good / fine.
Anyhoo, ignore those demons, best to just get on with it. That’s what I tell me, and it mostly works.
Ha ha! My husband and I had a scary B&B experience once, too, though luckily no moldy towels. That was also when I learned B&Bs weren’t meant for introverts.
Thanks for stopping by! I know you are somewhat on a ‘break.’
Yes, Carrie, some of my towels have adopted that oh so favored scent of mold, mildew or both? Mr. NP might be hanging out at my house these days and getting in the way of my aspirations. Bad, Mr . NP, bad!
I’m sorry to hear that. I always wondered where that ugly dude went when he wasn’t harassing me. He belongs with my mildewy towels in the trash.
I dunno, I like your horrible husband’s haiku. haiku are just made for short, witty statements – and clearly, so is he!
He is, and I just realized I should have probably called it Husband’s Horrible Haiku, because the way I’ve written it, it sounds like my husband is horrible. Which he isn’t.
Your husbands haikus are the only ones I have ever understood! Thank him for me. HF
Will do. For a bright guy, Mr. Rubin can be surprisingly simple.
Ah good ol Mr. Nasty Pants long time no see. I’m not surprised as you are getting close to your book release. I’m glad that your last post brought you encourgment and comfort. It was such a fun idea for a post but very difficult to sum up a person in one word.
I think being aware of Mr. NP is really helpful seeing him for what he is and not letting him go on and on for days at a time. :+)I think it takes away some of the power. Kinda of like me working through some of my fears. Just being aware really helps and then I can change my self talk to more encouraging and helpful.
Good job on the hubby writing a Haiku. :+) I wouldn’t even attempt a Haiku.
Yeah, I think self-doubt can be good as long as it’s kept in check. Without it, we could get cocky.
And I hope Mr. Rubin’s haiku days are over. Or maybe I don’t. It makes for good blog fodder.
I agree I think the self doubt can be a good thing. I guess I can let my self doubt run amoke from time to time. I agree it does help keep the cockyness in check. :+) Is that even a word?
Sure. But I think it’s cockiness. Though I wouldn’t bet the farm on it.
Your probably right it’s not a word I use every day Thankfully! :+) That made me laugh and blush all at the same time.
Blushing is to be expected around here.
Well done …. thanks for the laughs … and I see you are a friend of Guapo … thus hope you attend tomorrow’s party.
I am so intrigued that I most certainly will pop over to your blog tomorrow. Those are the kind of parties introverts like me enjoy. And I promise not to dance like Romney.
That video is such a hoot. Glad you enjoyed it. BTW – your friends are welcome as well. (Being a shameless promoter for this event is so not me!)
I’ve begun to think ‘shameless’ and ‘promoter’ are synonyms.
That they are …. nonetheless, not me in reality … with the exception of this event!
I hear you.
I do have a fix for moldy towels…Wash them with Borax and detergent. The Borax gets rid of the moldy smell. I don’t know how exactly it works but it works.
When the agent came back with massive POV rewrites, I seriously cringed. Not because they weren’t necessary, but because I doubted my ability to do it. But I just decided to try and that made it possible.
I’m a firm believer that anything can be tackled in baby steps. Some things are too overwhelming to bite off whole. So if I start with little pieces I can usually overcome those self-doubts (like POV rewrites).
And thanks for the towel tip! Of course, they are faded and ratted, so a new towel splurge wouldn’t kill me, but who knows when I might need that Borax again?
Thanks, Kourtney!
Ever wondered whether editors and publishers have their own Mr Nasty Pants lurking? They’ve put their faith in you, endorsed your work, supported you in all those amends, they haven’t done it for nothing!
So glad to see you’ve given him a good booting.
Congrats to Mr Rubin on his hilarious haikus and for besting old Mr NP
Can’t wait for that BOOK! xx
Great point about editors and publishers. I hadn’t thought about it that way. Guess their name is on the book as well.
Luckily Mr. Rubin isn’t making a transition into writing alongside me, but he did enjoy his brief foray into the world.
Thanks, Polly!
Give Mr. Nastypants a kick in the behind for me, will ya?
Can’t wait for your book to come out.
It’s no wonder you have a great sense of humor…you seem to be surrounded by it!
Well, if you can’t laugh at life, what can you do? Luckily, we all share that philosophy in this household. And we also all suck at haiku.
I will keep kicking that self-doubt basher’s fanny. Despite his best efforts, he still can’t overpower my excitement nor my peaceful glow from finally doing what I’ve always wanted to do.
As always, Miss Wendy, thanks for coming by. (And please don’t look at how horrible I did at the first Canadica challenge. I could identify Harper and that was about it. And I lived in Canada for 5 years as a child! Of course, if they had shown an Aero bar, I would have been all over that.)
lol…I haven’t even been over there yet. On days that I work, I have very little time online.
I can imagine.
that was incredibly funny, but yet know the score and reason behind it. i had self-doubt creep in 3 years ago and quit writing altogether. fortunately after buying some major hi-fidelity sound for my place and lacing the cd tray with the rock group rush is when i picked up the pen. that was back in february. so far so good since then.
Glad to hear you got your mojo back. Some self-doubt can be good, but too much can hinder our creativity–or at least our desire to create–just as you point out. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, and reminding me I am not alone with these esteem-bashing thoughts.
Wow–I haven’t listened to Rush in a while. Maybe that’s just the boost I need.
a little self doubt can be good. it keeps you honest. by all means get that rush out. they have inspired me since i was a teen:)
I’m kind of a Nine Inch Nails gal myself when I need a pump-up, but a little Tom Sawyer might do the trick just as well.
that’s cool. trent reznor grew up not so far away from me in mercer pa. i like his newer stuff better though. it’s not quite as dark. say like “the hand that feeds” i think i got that title right. yep tom sawyer is definitely a great track:)
Yeah, I like the newer Nine Inch stuff, too. But I’m probably what bands hate–I go to iTunes and just download the songs I like, rarely the entire album. The last full album I downloaded was Eddie Vedder.
Congratulations, you’ve inspired your husband to become a writer too! OK, seriously, I hope he keeps his day job.
As for doubts, unless you’re so anxious, you can’t function, I think they’re healthy and remind you that you’re human. And just remember, as humans, we all have different tastes. Some books people are raved about, I couldn’t stand finishing them (5o shades of grey, anyone). There has to be something for everyone. I don’t know how much of your own promotion you need to make, but I’d think you’d promote your book to people who like the literature genre your book fits in. Why advertise it to people who would never read that genre, right? Marketing 101: know your audience.
As for personal doubts, yep, I’ve had plenty recently and some days are better (or worse) than others. But I keep thinking, in the end, everything will be fine. Remember Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds, “every little thing gonna be alright”.
Oh, yes, that’s a good song. Thanks for linking to it. I will bookmark it so that I can listen to it everytime that self-doubt creeps in.
I know it’s normal, and even healthy, to have the self-doubts, but they still can reek havoc on one’s stomach. But I never claimed to write a big literary novel. My goal was hopefully a good story for fans of that genre to enjoy–just as you point out. You are so wise. AND you’ve made me feel better.
Thanks, as always for your wise words and insights!
You’re welcome! I think the only way to get rid of self-doubt is to have other people give you comforting words because our own selves can’t do that. Self-doubt only leads to inertia and that’s an awful state to be in. I know, because I’ve found myself there too many times recently! I keep working on my photo blog but it’s taking me a very long time because I always find “something else” to do, since I don’t know how I’ll make my photos famous. I think I need to slap myself sometimes!
Well, then, I will keep looking at your photos and keep praising them to keep you from that inertia! Your photos are so vivid. I’m waiting to get my calendar to hang on my wall: Milka’s Photography Marvels. (Although I suspect you can come up with a much better title than that. My brain’s a little shot right now.)
Argh, that calendar, I’m missing my window of opportunity! Well, maybe I can put a great one together and advertise it my blog PM blog, as well as my photo blog even if that blog is still in progress. Gee, now you’ve got me thinking…
Oh, you should. Just start with 12 photos for a calendar. Get it up by mid-November on your PM site, and it will be in perfect time for Christmas gift buying. Of course, then you have to set up Pay Pal and all, but I suspect that’s child’s play for you.
Ooh, I’m sounding kind of bossy. What’s gotten into me?…
Actually I have an account on Zazzle, since most of the photo media I want is available there. So I could create my store and make the calendar the first item. They handle the ordering, printing and shipping for me. Gosh, I feel like such an idiot for not thinking about this. You’re brilliant!!!
Well, I know I would buy some for gifts. Everyone needs a calendar. And looking at pretty photos would be much better than looking at the school one that hangs on my wall now.
I think he has unresolved issues of jealousy based on your success. The idea of him suffering delights me.
Yes, I’ve been standing up to him more lately, and I don’t think he likes that. He may have to go find some new unsuspecting soul.
Carrie,
For a minute I thought this was a pornographic blog.
Le Clown
PS: I did miss the 69 + 1 window of opportunity.
Yes, I was disturbed to have my comment number dangling at 69. That’s never a pretty sight.
Late to the party…AGAIN. Oh well, better late than never.
I wanted to whip out my can of Whoop-Ass on your Mr. Nasty Pants earlier, but I had to scurry off to work and extinguish delusional fires for the clueless. Not to worry, it was great material for blog ranting.
Yeehaw – next week! Happy dance; no toilet hugging for the noble of spirit!
I can’t decide which i mayfy phrase pleases me more: “extinguish delusional fires for the clueless” or “no toilet hugging for the noble of spirit!” Both are surely mantras worth keeping. Hmm, decisions, decisions…
I deem you most worthy of choosing wisely (sword blade resting lightly on one shoulder and then the other).
With my luck, I’ll cut myself.
I think I’m mildly bipolar because I vacillate between delusions of grandeur and feelings of mediocrity. I sure wish my feelings of mediocrity tasted like a tootsie roll. I love tootsie rolls.
Just be careful you don’t lose a crown in one of those babies. That was not fun. And of course, it was a Friday afternoon when it happened to me.
I haven’t had any delusions of grandeur yet. I vacillate between feelings of mediocrity and feelings of “it’s crap.” Thus, the feelings of mediocrity become the good thoughts. When it comes to writing, that is. I’m sure my kids could name many other instances where I maintain delusions of grandeur…
Thanks for stopping by!
Writing brings out a Mr. Nasty Pants for all of us. I hate him. Ick! And no, I’ve never lost a crown in a tootsie roll before…but I tied my tooth to a kid’s play shopping cart as a 9 year old to try to speed along the process. My mom came in, saw what I was doing, and grabbed the other side of the cart to spook me as she moved it from one place to the other. Then when she stopped, I stood up in relief…and left my tooth behind. ***I can’t wait to read your book! Will you autograph my ebook (ha ha ha–you can even sign it Connie).
See? Despite what you may say, you ARE a brave woman. I would have been way too wimpy to tie a loose tooth to a cart. Not much of a daredevil am I. Well, not for the physical stuff, anyway.
If only we could sign e-books. That would be cool. I know at book signings, some authors have distributed signed bookmarkers for those who have the e-book. Of course, what one does with those bookmarkers is another question…
I have wondered about this, too.
I started thinking refrigerator magnets might be the way to go. They have to be big enough to sign, but everybody has a refrigerator!
That’s a great idea, actually. I envy your nice balance between your left and right brain.
Hmm, maybe I could give out signed handkerchiefs with my e-books, something to sneeze those viruses into…
Accidental daredevil am I. I never meant to be brave, and I cried my head off and made my mom feel super bad. I’m glad my kids aren’t as whiny as I was. Are you talking about paper bookmarkers? Or is this some kind of digital bookmark? I’d say it’s a plus you don’t have to sign books. When someone has given me my book to sign, I am at a loss at what to say. I feel like I should have a dunce cap on my head. They’re probably thinking, “Come on! You’re a writer! Write something witty.” And all I can think to write is, “Hope you enjoy.” Lame.
I’m talking about actual glossy bookmarkers. I ordered up a batch to distribute (I’ll post a future blog entry on the company I used). I will have a paperback version of my book as well, so I’ll get to enjoy that “what do I write” awkwardness, too. Well, that’s assuming anybody comes to my book signings…
Cool. I thought your book would only be digital. Do they already have a book signing tour for you to do?
No, they are a small publisher. Any marketing like that is on my own. The paperback will be POD which can be kind of pricey. I envision me mostly peddling the paperback locally, so I’ll hit up the local bookstores. Unfortunately, the paper version will lag behind the e-book, and I haven’t yet been told when the paper version will surface. As always, it’s a wait and see.
Well now I do have something to look forward next week! I dedicate my latest post to Mr. Nasty Pants.
Ha ha! That’s true. He’d be a good recipient for your scary side. Thanks, Sandee!
Humor is the best weapon I can come up with in fending off demons like Mr. NP. And you pull it off grandly.
I think self-doubt is part of the deal. We put ourselves in this mess called ‘writing a book’ so that’s our reward–lots of self-doubt and fear and multiple runs to the toilet. 
Blogging has helped me overcome a lot of my own fears, so I embrace this community with everything I have.
Obviously, you have won us over, judging by the replies you get on all of your posts. And like others before me have said, if we love your blog this much, we’re going to love your book too.
My mother recently bought Turkish towels, and then she decided she didn’t like the feel of them. So, I inherited brand-new Turkish towels. Hooray! Finally, I could turn my mildewed towels into what I call “muddy floors and wet dog” towels.
Thank you for your reassuring words. It really does help to hear others get where I’m coming from. I think writing is the most vulnerable thing I’ve done, so I’m not surprised to be fighting bouts of uncertainty. But as you point out, the blogging community really is one of support. That’s something I hadn’t considered when I first started blogging.
I am also equally happy to learn that others have moldy-smelling towels. I really must stop at Target for new ones.
Self-doubt is the bane of all artists and would-be artists. Self-doubt is, in itself, not an unhealthy emotion. It prevents us from doing stupid things. However, a surfeit of self-doubt traps us in the ordinary, the expected, the normal life. More than talent, I think, the ability to overcome self-doubt is what separates those who do from those who plan to do someday.
I battled with self-doubt for many years, and I let it prevent me (note that I didn’t say IT PREVENTED ME) from doing the things I wanted to do. Although in recent years I have been much more diligent in striving for the things which matter to me, I do sometimes regret the time I wasted wondering if I really wasn’t just fooling myself.
To a large degree it was getting married and having children that gave me the courage (or wherewithal or whatever it was that made me realize I didn’t have to live an ordinary life) to change. The biggest thing was finding a partner in my wife who believed in me, but I also wanted my boys to be able to be proud of their dad.
Wise words, for sure. And I agree–self-doubt can be helpful. It keeps us in check. The trick is to not let it paralyze us. It may slow us down, but as long as we don’t give up, it shouldn’t preclude our accomplishments.
Having a supportive family is key. If I was being told, “You can’t do this. What makes you think you can?” I suspect I wouldn’t be responding to these comments today.
As always, thanks for your insights.
Oh, Mr Nasty Pants–What can we do with him? He globs on to unsuspecting, kind, compassionate, creative authors in the wee hours of the morning. However this time we are all just waiting for him to come. We will send him on his way so fast
? He won’t know what hit him. Oh, and Here’s the fluffiest, yummiest toi-toi chocolate designed just for you. 
Thank you! That chocolate was just what I needed. And thank you for your supportive words. They’re much appreciated.
A great post again
I enjoyed the haiku rhymes
Nothing more to say
Thank you! Mr. Rubin really got his groove on with those ones. Which is really not that pretty of a sight…
I believe you there
No real reason to doubt it
May grooving go on
hmmmmm…haikuing is addictive
Go ahead. Post some on your blog. I’d love to see what you come up with. Haiku responses to your spam perhaps?
That’s a pretty cool idea, I may just get inspired
Whew. I’m exhausted from scrolling so far down the page past all of your minion of followers!
Keep smacking down old NP. We all love you!
Thank you!
I wish WordPress had the comment box above all the comments instead of below them. It would avoid having to scroll down. But I’m grateful for each and every morsel.
Love your man’s haiku. *big grins*
Thanks! He was pretty proud of himself.
Just keep dunking that bloated corpse – you’re gonna be fine. I follow a lot of blogs and I’ve read a lot of debut novels, and I can predict with 99% certainty from reading your blog that your book will be great.
As for those self-doubt demons, here’s what I’ve learned: Not everybody will like your book no matter how well it’s written. Choose your favourite author, read their reviews, and you’ll see everything from one to five stars. Even the superstars get bad reviews.
The people you truly care about will still love you even if they hate your book. Nobody else really matters. And there will always be trolls who’ll annihilate your book with a caustic review, but they’re the same kids who used to wipe boogers on your sandwich back in Grade 1. Once a dickhead, always a dickhead.
Next time the bloated carcass pops up, fish it out, wrap it up in those moldy-smelling towels, and ditch the whole mess in a dumpster. Trust me, that mildew smell never comes out of the towels, even if you wash them a few dozen times. The only thing they’re good for is hiding bodies.
I want a like button for comments. This is great!
Isn’t it? I told her in my response that I would copy and paste it and then print it out, which is what I just did. In fact, I may do that with more of these comments–yours included–then I can look back on them when that self-doubt creeps in. Tape it to my cabinet or something.
Wow! Very sage advice!
I agree. Maybe I’ll have to sniff around WordPress and see if there is a ‘like’ button.
I am going to copy and paste your wonderful comment into a word document and then print it out for future reference. Funny and helpful all at once.
Part of my self-doubt comes from the fact that I wrote the book 8 years ago (with rewrites since then, of course), and I know I could do better now. I’ve had much more practice with writing over this past year than I did back when I crafted it. But I guess that’s life. We always improve; otherwise what would be the point of continuing? And your insights into reviews are helpful, because yes, bad ones will be there, and I’ll just need to deal with them and then move on. I love your solution of wrapping the debris up in my moldy towels and trashing the whole thing together. I may just do that!
Thanks, Diane. Very helpful comment.
I’m glad I could help. And of course you can do better now – that’s the best/worst thing about writing. It’s all about practice and experience. We work hard and do our best every time… but we keep improving. Then we want everything we ever wrote to be “our best”. Grrr.
I think it was Stephen King who said (paraphrased) it’s never finished, but at some point you just have to decide it’s good enough and walk away. That’s probably the hardest advice a perfectionist will ever have to follow.
Yes, I thought that was a good piece of advice from King. I really liked his book “On Writing.”
We went through a nasty towel-smelling time a few weeks back. I had to clean the washing machine. WTF? Really? The very thing that’s supposed to be clean wasn’t clean? Yeah. Really. Now the towels are back to smelling delicious. Well, at least not mildewy.
Can’t wait to read your book. And name me a writer who doesn’t suffer from feelings of self-doubt! Just let us all read it and love it.
Not only am I reassured by your kind words, I’m thrilled to know I’m not the only one with stinky towels. But that being said, I really must pick up some new ones. You’d think with all the trips I make to Target (best store ever, in my opinion), I could just grab a few towels and toss them into the cart, along with all the other items I didn’t intend to purchase, but through some Target-induced hypnosis, just had to have.
Target is dangerous. It’s a serious addiction.
Ha, I love your thought-evoking questions. As a matter of fact, I do have a mildewed towel that needs to be dealt with.
Love your husband’s haikus! Congrats on the book! Good luck!
Thank you! Both for your well wishes and for admitting you have a ‘mildewed towel.’ Both make me feel better.
Okay, confession time – I think self doubt may be the source of my procrastination in finishing this little, tiny, insignificant collection of short stories I’ve been working on. It does bite one in the ass doesn’t it? In your case, I know your book is going to be a success – for one thing, you’re driven, dedicated and you followed through on it! Now, you get to enjoy the rave reviews!
Well, I suppose there IS that possibility. However another view would be that I’ve deluded myself all along and now will fall flat on my face. Ah, isn’t self-doubt wonderful? But nobody likes a whiner, so I try to shake it off quickly and tell myself to suck it up and act like a woman.
But I hear you on self-doubt being an instigator of procrastination. It’s amazing how much we can bring ourselves down if we aren’t careful. And from what I’ve read of your work, you have nothing to fear. (See? It’s always so much easier to have no doubts at all about someone else’s work.)
Yah, nothing, no and yah. When your own friends and family refuse to acknowledge you have written not one, not two but three books, I think it’s safe to say it’s no longer insecurity but a confirmed case of novel suckage. There is nothing I can do to overcome my insecurities. I have learned to live with them. I have not lost a crown in a Tootsie Roll. And everyone’s towels smell that way occasionally, it comes from being lazy and not getting them into the dryer soon enough.
Is it wrong that I’m happy to not only learn others suffer from self-doubt, but they also sometimes have moldy-smelling towels?
It’s true about the family/friend thing when one writes a book. I have several who are excited, and others who I haven’t heard a peep from. Which is fine. Everybody’s got their own thing going on. But as someone who’s currently reading one of your books, I can say ‘suckage’ is definitely not a word that comes to my mind. You have a gift for characterization, and I envy you that. Your work reminds me of that of Jonathan Franzen and John Irving. I feel like Luke could walk through my front door, and I’d instantly know him. I’m over 60% through now. Just wish I had more time to sit and read, because I hate having to pull myself away. Clever title, too.
Thanks for coming by and sharing your insecurities with me. It really does help to know someone who writes as well as you experiences self-doubt, too.
Upon rereading it sounds if I were fishing a bit, but thanks to you for the kind words. And from a writer of a novel and your very funny blogs too. I mentioned you in my post of a couple of minutes ago and included a link to it.
Well, that was very nice of you. Thank you! I’ll work my way over there.
And no, I didn’t think you were fishing at all–only helping me see that others experience self-doubt, too. It’s so much easier to see the merit in others’ work rather than your own, isn’t it?
Congrats on your book launch and the addition of a new scent to entice Febreeze with…
Thank you! Yes, the scent is an oldie but moldy, and who doesn’t want that?
My self-doubts are always there, simmering away just under the surface and ready to pop up any time they think I’m getting too positive or confident.
But my blogging buddies and their encouragement and support help keep the lid on that bubbling pot of yucky ooze. You were one of the first in that group, and that’s why I violate my blogging schedule when you post. If I’m home, I read and comment, even in the morning.
Le Clown is absolutely right—your blog content is great. Even though I know your book is NOT a humerus, er humorous! thriller, I know the writing and story will be good because your blog content and writing are very good.
So take that, Mr. Nasty Pants!
Thank you so much! The fact that you violate your blogging schedule for me fills me with glee. Which is probably not very nice of me. And now I’ve typed ‘me’ far too many times, so I’ll move on.
I think self-doubt may serve a good purpose in that it keeps us from being too sure of ourselves, which might make us less careful. Then again, if we’re too saddled with it, we won’t be productive at all. I hesitated posting another entry on this theme, because I’ve covered it enough, but the truth of the matter is, it keeps coming back. No sense pretending it doesn’t.
Thanks as always for your insight and for your reassuring words. Loved the ‘humerus’ pun, by the way.
Now, get back to your schedule!
I suppose a medical thriller could appeal to a humerus, making it a humerus thriller….
Okay, that was just bad. Fortunately, I’m not writing humor.
Well, you still made me laugh!
Well, Carrie you have read my blog ,so I hardly even need to answer your first question, but I will-Every friggen day?-
Maybe, not quite that bad.
Like you the good responses I have had to my writing go a long way in helping defeat what you call Mr. Nasty Pants ( great name) and I call Ms. Not Good Enough, but a skunk weed by any other name would smell as bad!
I hope Mr.Nasty Pants is smarting for awhile and stays away for a long time to come!
Good luck with that book!
Thanks so much, Rachael. It always helps to hear others suffer the same self-doubts. I think “Ms. Not Good Enough” and Mr. Nasty Pants should get together. Well, maybe not. They might end up hooking up and procreating, and no one wants that…
No we wouldn’t that to happen! Those two are bad enough on their own!
Baby Nasty Not Good Enough. A horrifying thought, indeed.
Ha! Ha! -Or, how about Baby Good and Nasty?-
That’s even better. But it does make me think of candy.
When I start feeling a little self doubt, a good friend of mine always asks me to consider the following question – ‘what’s the worst thing that can happen?’ My response – ‘people might not like me.’ Her response – ‘so what.’ Your book will do well. Focus on the fact that you have a published book (pretty cool!) and don’t worry about those who don’t like it!
Very good advice, and something I haven’t thought about in years. I used to ask myself that question during my younger days of training when I was unsure about something. It helped put things in perspective. Seems it would apply well here, too. “What’s the worst that could happen?” The book gets lousy reviews. Well, I’m still alive. I’ll just write a better one.
See? You made me feel better, and I didn’t even have to do burpees to get there (though I did do an hour of stepping earlier).
Glad to help!!
The dye has been cast and it’s your moment to shine… and you will, because you will
. There’s only one place for inner demons and that’s the kerb drowned in a sea of haiku!
Thank you! Very nice words. But I suppose self-doubt has a purpose. Keeps us from getting too full of ourselves.
Thanks for coming by!
Give Mr.NP a< poke with the trident from me…
Know what you mean about support…I've just had a nasty experience and the bloggging friends have helped immesurably.
That support is so helpful, isn’t it? I never anticipated that when I started blogging. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope your nasty experience is put to rest.
My dark inner voice is afraid of heights. I have all sorts of fun ways to deal with him.
hehehe
Can’t wait for you telling him to get stuffed after your first good review.
Afraid of heights? Well, that explains the bungee jumping. Clear as mud.
Thanks for the vote of confidence. Having never been in this position before, I’m like a fish out of water.
And that’s more than enough cliches from me for today.
Carrie,
I have always enjoyed your blog, but somehow, I think you’ve even stepped it up lately… I don’t know, perhaps it’s because I like the smell of mold in the morning…
Le Clown
Well, thank you Le Clown. It’s probably because I’m making my posts shorter. Even 600-700 words seems too many for busy people.
Then again, maybe it is the mold…
Carrie,
Then again, it might just be the content… As I said, you’ve always been a great writer. Somehow, I find your posts lately engaging…
Le Clown
Merci beaucoup.