Publishing isn't like middle school...or is it?

Hey, Laura here.

I probably don’t even have to explain the title of my post. I don’t know anyone who wishes they could go back to middle school. High school? Maybe.

But never those years of 6th-8th.

I thought it was over when I shook the dust of middle school from my feet. The awkward dances, dreaded lunch periods, and the whispered gossip. As my kids yearn to grow up and leave their problems behind, I tell them.

“There are always mean kids. Cliques. Gossip. Hurtful words.”

I do see this in the publishing industry. Authors feeling jilted or not cool enough. Maybe they don’t realize people are actually reading their random tweets or blog posts. lol. At the same time, that’s just a small percentage. Overall, the writers I rub shoulders with are all extremely supportive and nice.

As with anything, my biggest advice in publishing would be keep your eyes on your paper. There’s always someone doing better than you and there’s always someone not as well off. And that eerily echoes what I tell my kids. That there’s always someone with more money, better vacations, a cooler house.

Don’t compare. Be thankful.

Once you let it bother you, once that bug grabs hold of you…it never ends. You reach the level you dreamed of being at only to realize that that isn’t quite enough. There’s even higher levels to reach.

Be happy. Be content. I do believe it’s possible to be both those things while reaching for the stars.

The answer to whether publishing is like middle school or not is….

it’s your choice.

 Laura Pauling @laurapauling writes about spies, murder and mystery. She's the author of the Circle of Spies Series for teens: The Almost Assassin (a short prequel), A Spy Like Me and Heart of an Assassin.

Johnny Depp, Chocolate chip cookies, and Me.

Hey, Laura here. I have a confession, and I’m just going to come right out with it: I love spies...and Johnny Depp.

                                             

I mean I don’t really love him because I don’t know him. But I love who he is as an actor. (Okay, plus he’s kinda cute and sexy all rolled into one.) (And don’t worry Castle, you’re my TV crush. Johnny’s my movie crush. So no fighting, you two!)

I don’t want to know anything about his real life because I don’t want to hear that he does horrible things or that he doesn’t like homemade chocolate chip cookies just from the oven with the chips all melty and yummy because then my image will be forever shattered. Now if he likes to frolic in the fields with cute fluffy bunnies and help orphans, I don’t mind hearing that.

                                                 

I was reading a bit on my friend, Johnny, and noticed that his career didn’t really take off until he paired with Tim Burton in Edward Scissorhands. (Which by the way I loved!) I love that Depp is known for his quirky, artistic movies.

And, of course, when he’s in slightly different movies, I’ll still watch.

What’s the point?

Sometimes we don’t succeed at the things we try. At first. It might be that we just haven’t found our niche yet. Or that we’re trying to do something for the wrong reasons.

Like trying to fit in with the group of popular and wealthy playground moms when our next best friend could be dropping off her child at afternoon Kindergarten and we just haven’t met yet. Yes, sometimes the whole middle school thing carries over into adulthood. The mean girls often turn into the snobby moms. It’s a vicious cycle.

Or maybe a high school girl desperately tries to be a cheerleader when that’s not her gifting or path - she just thinks it is. Or she feels that instant popularity will bring happiness, which we might learn the hard way that it doesn't.

Kid, teen, adult, when we look at who we are and accept ourselves we can then move forward with confidence. As a writer. As a mom. As a spy. As a teen. As an athlete. As an artist. As a pirate. As a lover of warm chocolate chip cookies straight from the oven.


                                                

 Be like Johnny. Embrace you. Embrace all the quirks and weirdness - or the complete normalness. And be happy.

  Are there any movies, actors or T.V. shows that speak to you? Make you fall in love?

Laura Pauling writes about spies, murder and mystery! Head on over and leave a comment on her blog to win an ebook of A Spy Like Me. There could be more than one winner!

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