Fail Forward-Why You Should Never Quit

Fail Forward, two tiny words that inspire me to never quit again. I want to inspire you to have your dreams and live them, too. You may stumble, and fall, but get up and keep going.

Fail, but fail forward.

People use inspiring words to keep them going on their goals and resolutions every year. Some pick a new word every year; some have the same word year after year. These words, or mottos help inspire them to keep trying, to not give up.

Do you have a motto to help you stay focused on your dreams?

A cynical worldview would be for pharmaceutical companies to provide 50 percent discounts on brand-name drugs like Avastin 100mg inj vial, Actos 15mg, buy tadalafil uk , Crestor 10 mg tabs for those in the doughnut hole and to continue discounting at that level year after year. Available in the form of tablet in blue color thus its name blue viagra online generic pill contains sildenafil citrate that helps men coping with the condition. They control arteries which cialis 25mg take the blood to the penis and when that does not happen, a person faces erectile dysfunction. ED can have generic cialis devastating results on relationships and is involved in one in five failed marriages.

For the past three years, my words have been Over the Edge. (To read what those words mean to me follow the link) These three words kept me going. Three words that kept me brave. I remind myself to get out of my comfort zone. In the past, if I thought about quitting my writing dream, these words gave me the push I needed.

Sometimes those bad thoughts enter my mind like who even reads my words? Why do I think I am a writer? Keeping these negative thoughts away is a chore for a writer, and these three words keep me writing.

This year, I have new words.

I have two powerful little words that might sound negative, but after you hear why I picked these words, you will learn they are powerful.

Fail Forward.

Simple. Empowering. And personal. My two little words are my motto, and they will keep me going strong.

Personal, because I have a goal this year of getting an agent and publishing my children’s books. I started this adventure almost thirty years ago when my firstborn was little. I have always been a writer, a dreamer.

In 1988, I graduated with a journalism degree, already married and soon after a new baby. But, no confidence. I never quit, I simply never started.

One day, while loving my daughter, a story came to mind. I wrote it down, and then I wrote three more.

Excited about the dream of becoming a published author, I tried to publish the manuscripts. Researched and sent the fat envelope off (no internet back then!). I received one no and filed them away. No confidence.

Dreams don’t have deadlines. Dreams don’t have wrinkles.” -dedra davis

Dreams don’t have deadlines

Children’s books have been in my heart for almost thirty years.

In October, another story came to my mind. I wrote it down. And, I smiled. This one is about my daughter’s silly Great Dane.

And then, I wrote a few more.

I joined Facebook groups, critique groups, writing societies, watched several webinars, and read blog after blog on the kidlit industry. This time, I am submerging myself in this children’s book world. And it is such a happy place to be.

But, it is also a hard place. I have a long road to being a published author, but I am so determined this time. Confidence! I met several of my writing goals in the last five years—newspapers, magazines, blogs, and I have quotes featured in a daily planner, two years in a row. Woohoo!

Getting published as a children’s book author is going to be hard. There will be rejections. I will have fails. But, I will Fail Forward. I will not quit. Children’s book author will be a dream come true.

Accept the rejection and move on

I already received my first two rejections, back to back in the same day, from agents. The rejections stung worse than any insect could. I wallered in my pity for half a day. Then after a bit of therapy at Target (shopping at Target always helps!), and having people loving me with positive support, I crawled out of my pity pit I dug for myself, and got back to work.

J.K. Rowling was rejected 12 times with her Harry Potter pitch. Twilight was rejected 14 times before being accepted. Agatha Christie tried for five years. Louis L’Amour received 200 rejections before being published.

For all of these writers, persistence, and determination, paid off. Royally.

I hope I don’t have that many rejections, and I pray it doesn’t take me five years, but I will Fail Forward if it does.

If I have learned anything from writing the last five years, I have learned the complete joy I have when I share my words. I have learned writing is like breathing—I must do it.

Dreams don’t have wrinkles

If you have a dream, don’t give up. Don’t be scared of rejections. You are never too old and it is never too late to start. Your dream will never come alive if you never try. For years, I ignored the words God gave me. I was too scared to try. Scared no one would read my words, and I was scared to put myself out there. Being scared only got me one thing—dreaming, not living.

'If you have a dream, don’t give up. Don’t be scared of rejections. You are never too old and it is never too late to start.' -dedra davisClick To Tweet

Now I get an enormous high from pushing send. When I submit my work, I am just as scared as always, but now I know I will be a better, stronger person because I didn’t quit.

I hope for you persistence and determination. Have your dreams and live them, too. Be brave, fail forward, and you will never quit.

love and blessings~dd

If you would like to sign up for my email below, I will appear in your inbox once a month, inspiring and keeping you up to date with my publishing journey. I appreciate you!

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

 

Affiliate Links: Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”