A few weeks ago I was out shopping with my husband when we came across a card. It made my husband guffaw. On it was written:
Dear Optimists,
If you continue to look always on the bright side, you’ll eventually go blind.
Regards
The Pessimists.
It summed us both up perfectly. I always believe something good will happen, while my husband believes that the worst will always occur, and is bemused by my perpetual optimism.
I maintain that I am right to be optimistic. You need plenty of optimism to be a writer, especially when you seem to be making no progress with your WIP or your book sales have dropped from one a month to zero. To explain the power of optimism, let me give you an example. I have followed the Tuesday Tutorial here on Indies Unlimited, ever since it began. Thanks to these tutorials, I have become competent in ways I couldn’t have imagined before. I can now make book covers using paint, videos, network all over cyber world and have developed all sorts of skills that assist me as an author.
When KS Brooks posted her tutorial about joining HARO (Help a Reporter), I thought why not? If you missed that tutorial, HERE is the link. In brief, when journalists want information about certain topics, they ask HARO, who in turn send out emails to their subscribers, each morning and evening, with a list of subjects/topics on them. Journalists request all sorts of information or help. You scroll through the subjects and if you find one you like, you write a pitch for it, click on the relevant link and sit back to see what happens.
I have not had huge success when pitching in the past. Last year, I got very excited when invited to pitch for a major UK woman’s magazine for a regular slot with them. I was told that although my ideas were great, I flunked the actual pitch. This, I thought, would give me an opportunity to hone my pitching skills. I signed up to HARO and within a few hours had my first email. I didn’t expect that I would know much about the subjects. I looked down the list and discounted anything to do with technology, business and finance, biotech and food and diet, but then one request caught my fancy. It was from a journalist requesting articles on men’s health problems. I write a lot about the challenges of getting older. I do it with humour but always try to make people appreciate that getting older isn’t always the end of the world. Recently, I have been researching Grumpy Old Man syndrome, or as I call it, “Irritable Male Syndrome”. I decided that this was definitely worth pitching.
I sent a brief email to the journalist, Bill, at the address listed, explaining that this was a subject close to my heart and indeed, one that was also under my feet at home, all the time.
Within a few days I had a reply. The journalist had received five lengthy pages of pitches but mine had stood out and he wanted to interview me. The next day he phoned me, even though I was on holiday in Lanzarote, and spoke not only to me, but my own personal Mr Grumpy, the pessimist. We chatted for almost an hour. He seemed enthusiastic about the subject. Unlike any other journalist I have spoken to, he continued to stay in touch after the interview and surprisingly even asked for details about my latest book, How Not to Murder Your Grumpy, due out June 1st.
He sent an email last week to let me know that the article had gone out on air and was now to be found on the website. Oh yes, I forgot to tell you, the journalist was from NBC. My author website got so many hits the following week that I thought it would explode. Sales of my books went up too. What a tremendous result, and all thanks to an Indies Unlimited tutorial and some optimism! If you would like to read the article click on the link HERE.
My message is simple, don’t give up, even when times are rough and, “always look on the bright side of life.” Sing along everyone
Congrats, Carol! The article was terrific.
Thank you hugely Lynne. I’ve been driving everyone mad whistling the song though.
I’ve got a souvenir umbrella from when we saw “Spamalot!”, in case you need to borrow one for a production number. 😉
Oh brilliant! On my over to collect it. Does it double up as a Hubby prodder?
I’m sure that between the two of us, we can rig something up! 😀
I always say:
An optimist believes the best will happen, despite all evidence to the contrary.
A pessimist believes the worst will happen, despite all evidence to the contrary.
A skeptic is someone who believes absolutely nothing until it is proven.
A cynic believes nothing, even after it is proven.
A realist is what everyone who is not an optimist calls themselves.
Great article Carol. 🙂
Good ones. 🙂
Excellent stuff! I might have to use these. Thanks Stephen. I appreciate the praise.
What a delightful article, Carol. It hits home. As a matter of fact, I read parts of it to my “Grumpy” and he even laughed! I could have written this post – our relationship is so similar. Like you, I don’t say “I can’t” but I get busy and find the information. I love IU and all the helpful tutorials – they’re great!
There is something about making a “Grumpy” laugh that is ultra satisfying. Very pleased you enjoyed it and that the tutorials are useful I’m just getting another one written. Got to keep us writers up to speed with the latest helpful tools to make us visible.
That’s fantastic, Carol. I think I’m a waffler. 😀
No, you’re not. I interviewed you and you were definitely not a waffler. Amusing and cheerful but definitely not a waffler.
Terrific article, Carol! I’ve always called myself a realistic optimist. Like you stated above, you need plenty of optimism when you’re a writer. Congrats on the NBC coverage 🙂
Realistic optimist sounds sensible. You certainly require an abundance of optimism if you are a writer and a lot of luck! Thank you very much for your comment 😉
Good stuff, Carol! I’m glad my tutorial got you some well-deserved coverage. 🙂
I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you. Well, you already know and that signed photo you sent me of yourself is framed by thebedside so I can gaze at it in admiration every day. You’re the best Kat!
Wow that’s so fantastic Carol! Hope you had a fab holiday too. Oh, and I’ve been singing the song, and humming it too, but now I can’t stop it playing in my head and I’m going quite mad…… ‘always look on the bright side…’ Arrggggg!!
Join the club! I even sang it to all the passengers on the plane when we were stranded at Manchester airport because I’d just sent in this post and couldn’t get the song out of my head. 🙂
It’s very difficult to be a pessimist when you’re around, Carol – I don’t know how your Grumpy manages it! Smashing post and I’m very happy for you that your hard work is paying off and you’re going to new places 🙂
Chris, he has tried hard to convert me to his pessimist ways but I won’t succumb!
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. You are my personal ray of sunshine.
Stay positive – it will happen if you want it badly enough.
The song’s still IN MY HEAD!!! (Thank you, Carole. I needed a dose of this today.)
I wonder if I could get a World Record going…how many people could we get whistling the tune simultaneously? You’re welcome Laurie. A smile and a chuckle help the day seem brighter, even when you are stuck in snow with a grumpy Hubby!
Terrific post. Trouble is I am now singing that song in my head and have feeling it will be there all day. Great news about NBC. Am totally thrilled for you.
Hi Kit! My evil plan is working. I am now going to post it all over Facebook and Twitter too and see if I can get everyone singing it. NBC was a real surprise and I was blown away. The reporter even phoned my hotel when I was on holiday to get an interview. For one moment I felt important. 🙂