Be an Encourager
<< All Articles“A word of encouragement after failure is worth more than an hour of praise after success” – Anonymous
I’d been writing for five years and had four completed manuscripts yet had not sold a single word of fiction. The rejections came so fast I swear they hit me in the back of the head on the way home from the post office. I wondered if I’d ever be a good enough writer to sell a book. After the sale of an article for which I’d received $350 I was able to attend my first writers’ conference. Because of the conference, I had the opportunity to meet with an editor who had read the first fifty pages of my manuscript. I loved this story and felt it had all the elements of a wonderful romance. If this book didn’t sell I didn’t know that anything I wrote would.
To say the editor didn’t like my book is an understatement. In fact she said the best thing I could do with it was throw it in the garbage.
Devastated, I decided that I should give up trying to sell adult fiction and write children’s books instead. I attended a workshop for children’s books and the author said something that I’ll never forget. “Your book has a home. Your job is to find it.” That little bit of encouragement is all I needed. I grabbed hold of it with both hands and clung to it as I submitted the very manuscript that had been so brutally rejected. That book, Heart Song became my first sale. Heart Song found a home with Simon & Schuster. That small encouragement meant everything. I believe if I had given up, and surrendered to defeat as a writer I would have lost a piece of my soul.
“Be an encourager. Scatter sunshine. Who knows whose life you might touch with something as simple as a kind word.” – Debbie Macomber
June 21st, 2016 at 4:07 pm
So glad you didn’t give up! Love your books hours of enjoyment and fun. Cannot wait for the next one in August1
June 21st, 2016 at 9:03 pm
I also,think of you as a great writer and novelist! Have enjoyed your books especially the Cedar Cove books
Can’t wait to read “A Girls Guide To Moving On”
Judy scott
June 21st, 2016 at 9:49 pm
Thank you for scattering sunshine in all that you do. I’m so glad that you did not give up on your writing! So many people have been blessed by your gift of story telling.
June 21st, 2016 at 11:15 pm
Glad God put someone in your path to give you hope just when you needed it. Your writing has blessed many hearts.
June 25th, 2016 at 12:53 am
Debbie, when I receive one of your books in the mail from Amazon, I try to relish it first. I am a fast reader and tend to blow right through your books. But, now I want to enjoy the characters in the story. I find myself thinking about them and can’t wait to get back to them. The Rose Harbor series especially feeds me for some reason. I have reread each of the books in that series. Mark is so cantankerous yet I can see he cares for Jo Marie. Each guest brings with them their own angst which is so well written.
How these publishers could not see the warmth and pathos in your stories makes me shake my head in wonder. I personally think you are one of the best writers at the present time and I make my escape into one of your books regularly. Thank you Debbie! By the way, I was so sorry to hear about Doris Roberts passing away. What a loss! She was so perfect in the Mrs Miracle movies. I have both of them.
May you live long and write much!!