First Soman Chainani congratulations on your achievements. I know how math works but its still amazes me when the years just pass you by. I've been reading your books since 2014 from tween years , teen, undergrad and now grad student. Also more congratulations on you getting closer to a graphic novel adaptation I heard you spoke about that idea in oakbroke when I saw you in person but its still amazing. Thank you for always writing despite the decades changing and with it trends that book publisher chase some of whom create great art but also can be frustrating im sure so thank you for always trying
also: you keep teasing this new fantasy series. and NOW you've dropped it's also a faerie tale world???? can we at least know the category? (mg? ya? adult?) or did you break all the rules again? :D
or, perhaps it's still publishing secrets???
i LOVE that you lugged your ms around the world and got to deliver the proof pages back in person, too. can't wait to see the final cover decision and the artwork!! happy happy dances (on the inside) abound! :)
This whole post makes me think of one of my favorite Broadway songs, one from Scarlett Pimpernel, that goes, "Hold your head even higher and into the fire we go!"
Oh, I needed this so much! I'm in the unpublished lottery ticket phase, as you described, but the message rings true. I just love your blog so much -- thank you for sharing all of your insights. And I hope you enjoyed the strawberries!
(& here i thought the only "art sports" i could get behind was project runway...teehee.)
i've been carrying "the work is the reward. the reward is not the reward" for the past couple of weeks. (said another way, "the outcomes aren't up to me. all i can control is the work.")
but definitely needed this reminder, too... because we need to take the arena into account is what you're adding to the creative equation!
it's friggin' wimbledon.
it's the bookstore of my dreams.
it's my art and words and soul on a page and i want it shared with more than just my writing group.
so i'm gonna hydrate (even more) and keep going.
don't waste the platform. don't waste the stage. don't waste the call, the talent, the years of honing one's craft just because the trophy isn't handed to me for showing up. i gotta keep doing the HARD WORK.
(and to tie in to our AI convos: "why would i bother to read it if no one bothered to write it?" it's supposed to be hard!)
once again: you've given me inspiration to KEEP GOING.
This prompt also reminded me of characters in a webcomic I read called Cinderella boy where the two leads Chase and Nox can make a wish but I think their only one wish so that will be complicated as they both are catching feelings for one another
It's supposed to be a challenging but that doesn't mean it always feels good. I feel like this is why every story follows a hero journey where a hero has weak points because even they get tired of the challenge . For me I wrote a story that I thought was a bit better than stuff I previously wrote at 64 page count but then I ended up on a writer block no matter what ive done to distract or redirect my writing I still feel at a block and its always when I hit page 65 and I hate it so much because ive studied stories , I read a lot and yet no matter how much I try I write too much that it wouldn't be accepted as a first story nor would it fill a novel. It's supposed to be a challenge yes but its also very devastating to not get everything working.
I'm an autistic vet student struggling with crippling chronic illnesses. I'm on the fine balance between fighting through, and spiralling to a place that feels as if there's no return. The battle of I need to do this- I WANT to do this, and I just physically can't. I don't know the answer yet, but it's supposed to be a challenge. Everything is. I'm not going to give up on this yet.
I've felt peace in SGE since the first book released, and rereading it for the millionth time over 10 years later, I gain the same strength. Thank you for your advice as always Soman.
Thank you for being so open. Sometimes I think just changing the perspective slightly towards understanding that it's a challenge and the struggle is part of the process -- and win or lose, you're going to try to appreciate the challenge for what it is... That can give relief, even temporarily.
Aaah Somain: thank you for your inspiring insights. And thank you for pouring your incredible brain, world view and writing skills into crafting such quality, thought-provoking posts. The question, "Where would I rather be?" is such a perspective-shifter, isn't it? Gets us out of a momentary funk or malaise and reminds us just how good we have it, right here, right now.
Whenever I think of a challenge, I think of my writing career.
I want to retell fairy tales but also tell my story as a Muslim hijabi girl in a wheelchair living in the 21st century. I want to talk about religion, resilience, trauma, and what it's like to be beaten down so much by all that's around you but you still make it through.
My parents don't approve (they don't even know that I publish my writing on my Substack). I feel like everyone ignores my work. I never had any real friends until 12th grade. As I tell my stories, one at a time, I find myself being knocked down a lot, and I wonder if Allah is punishing me.
But Islam taught me that if a bad thing makes you a better person, then it's not a punishment. It also taught me that this life is challenging, and that it's what makes the story.
So "it's supposed to be a challenge" means to me Don't give up.
Not only don't give up, but enjoy the fact it's hard. That's the whole thing. The difficulty is what makes the success satisfying. And you will find success.
This is a good reminder that the best way to inspire yourself is to remind yourself that it's okay if it's not easy. Things are hard, life is hard. Do we still do them? Yes. Do we still live it? Yes. If you beat challenges, remind yourself that you didn't just automatically win. If you lose, remind yourself you tried.
Fantastic message as always! Life brings us challenges and half the fun is the journey. We must never forget it!
First Soman Chainani congratulations on your achievements. I know how math works but its still amazes me when the years just pass you by. I've been reading your books since 2014 from tween years , teen, undergrad and now grad student. Also more congratulations on you getting closer to a graphic novel adaptation I heard you spoke about that idea in oakbroke when I saw you in person but its still amazing. Thank you for always writing despite the decades changing and with it trends that book publisher chase some of whom create great art but also can be frustrating im sure so thank you for always trying
The trying is the only thing that matters. Every day, you just get back to it.
also: you keep teasing this new fantasy series. and NOW you've dropped it's also a faerie tale world???? can we at least know the category? (mg? ya? adult?) or did you break all the rules again? :D
or, perhaps it's still publishing secrets???
i LOVE that you lugged your ms around the world and got to deliver the proof pages back in person, too. can't wait to see the final cover decision and the artwork!! happy happy dances (on the inside) abound! :)
This whole post makes me think of one of my favorite Broadway songs, one from Scarlett Pimpernel, that goes, "Hold your head even higher and into the fire we go!"
Love it.
Girl as soon as I read “reboot of THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD & EVIL series” I literally screamed!! Thanks for always keeping us Sge fans fed!😭👏
Oh, I needed this so much! I'm in the unpublished lottery ticket phase, as you described, but the message rings true. I just love your blog so much -- thank you for sharing all of your insights. And I hope you enjoyed the strawberries!
soman!!!!!!! i LOVE EVERY SENTENCE of THIS!
(& here i thought the only "art sports" i could get behind was project runway...teehee.)
i've been carrying "the work is the reward. the reward is not the reward" for the past couple of weeks. (said another way, "the outcomes aren't up to me. all i can control is the work.")
but definitely needed this reminder, too... because we need to take the arena into account is what you're adding to the creative equation!
it's friggin' wimbledon.
it's the bookstore of my dreams.
it's my art and words and soul on a page and i want it shared with more than just my writing group.
so i'm gonna hydrate (even more) and keep going.
don't waste the platform. don't waste the stage. don't waste the call, the talent, the years of honing one's craft just because the trophy isn't handed to me for showing up. i gotta keep doing the HARD WORK.
(and to tie in to our AI convos: "why would i bother to read it if no one bothered to write it?" it's supposed to be hard!)
once again: you've given me inspiration to KEEP GOING.
not everyone can do it, or everyone would.
xoxooxo and much gratitude,
*me. :)
This prompt also reminded me of characters in a webcomic I read called Cinderella boy where the two leads Chase and Nox can make a wish but I think their only one wish so that will be complicated as they both are catching feelings for one another
It's supposed to be a challenging but that doesn't mean it always feels good. I feel like this is why every story follows a hero journey where a hero has weak points because even they get tired of the challenge . For me I wrote a story that I thought was a bit better than stuff I previously wrote at 64 page count but then I ended up on a writer block no matter what ive done to distract or redirect my writing I still feel at a block and its always when I hit page 65 and I hate it so much because ive studied stories , I read a lot and yet no matter how much I try I write too much that it wouldn't be accepted as a first story nor would it fill a novel. It's supposed to be a challenge yes but its also very devastating to not get everything working.
I'm an autistic vet student struggling with crippling chronic illnesses. I'm on the fine balance between fighting through, and spiralling to a place that feels as if there's no return. The battle of I need to do this- I WANT to do this, and I just physically can't. I don't know the answer yet, but it's supposed to be a challenge. Everything is. I'm not going to give up on this yet.
I've felt peace in SGE since the first book released, and rereading it for the millionth time over 10 years later, I gain the same strength. Thank you for your advice as always Soman.
Thank you for being so open. Sometimes I think just changing the perspective slightly towards understanding that it's a challenge and the struggle is part of the process -- and win or lose, you're going to try to appreciate the challenge for what it is... That can give relief, even temporarily.
Aaah Somain: thank you for your inspiring insights. And thank you for pouring your incredible brain, world view and writing skills into crafting such quality, thought-provoking posts. The question, "Where would I rather be?" is such a perspective-shifter, isn't it? Gets us out of a momentary funk or malaise and reminds us just how good we have it, right here, right now.
I use it all the time -- this idea of: if you'd rather be somewhere else, GO. And usually I don't move.
Whenever I think of a challenge, I think of my writing career.
I want to retell fairy tales but also tell my story as a Muslim hijabi girl in a wheelchair living in the 21st century. I want to talk about religion, resilience, trauma, and what it's like to be beaten down so much by all that's around you but you still make it through.
My parents don't approve (they don't even know that I publish my writing on my Substack). I feel like everyone ignores my work. I never had any real friends until 12th grade. As I tell my stories, one at a time, I find myself being knocked down a lot, and I wonder if Allah is punishing me.
But Islam taught me that if a bad thing makes you a better person, then it's not a punishment. It also taught me that this life is challenging, and that it's what makes the story.
So "it's supposed to be a challenge" means to me Don't give up.
Not only don't give up, but enjoy the fact it's hard. That's the whole thing. The difficulty is what makes the success satisfying. And you will find success.
This is a good reminder that the best way to inspire yourself is to remind yourself that it's okay if it's not easy. Things are hard, life is hard. Do we still do them? Yes. Do we still live it? Yes. If you beat challenges, remind yourself that you didn't just automatically win. If you lose, remind yourself you tried.
And it's okay to lose! Otherwise the wins wouldn't feel like wins.
Fr