Monthly Garden
This Monthly Garden is about
believing in yourself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
** Although I wrote this article back in
April 2002, the recent interest in
"The Secret" as well as my own
foray into new territory this year
have reminded me how important
this concept is. **
CONFIDENCE
By Eden Robins
"Our doubts are traitors,
and make us lose
the good we oft might win,
fearing to attempt."
- William Shakespeare
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We can be our own worst enemy. It's true. I've ruined my own chances at a good thing on numerous occasions by doubting myself. Sometimes I've actually given up before even engaging in the effort. Why? Self-doubt, insecurity, lack of confidence. That little voice in my mind whispering things like, "You can't do this. Who do you think you are? Give up before you make a fool of yourself ". This stumbling block comes in many different forms, but it all revolves around one issue, confidence.
It's an attribute that touches every aspect of who we are and what we do. It's woven into the many decisions and paths we decide to take during our journey through life. It affects how we see others and more importantly, how we see ourselves. As we grow from child to adult, it is a characteristic shaped and molded partly by the people around us, and partly by how we deal with those people.
As writers, possessing self-confidence is vital. We are often told by those more experienced that we need to develop a thick skin to succeed in this business. In other words, to keep believing in ourselves, despite what others tell us. In a sense, it goes back to the old childhood taunt, "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me".
However, they will hurt us, IF WE LET THEM. That rejection letter that was just a little too cruel, or the one that was a form letter, or worse a postcard, that gave us absolutely no feed back except to say, sorry--your work just isn't for us. That meeting with an editor or agent which left them bored and yawning and us crying our eyes out with a box of chocolates. These are all events that can damage how we feel about ourselves, IF WE LET THEM.
That's the key, right there--IF WE LET THEM. Confidence is not something others grant us, it's something we grant ourselves. It is in our power to control, not others. We can look at a rejection letter or a meeting that went badly in different ways, depending on how we see ourselves. We can take it personally, and let that little voice tell us how inadequate we are. We can get bogged down in self-doubt, and insecurities or we can try to learn from the experience and move on. Easier said then done? Maybe. But that's what belief in oneself can do. It gives us the ability to take criticism and use it as an educational device or even as an incentive to keep going, instead of letting it overcome and defeat us. There are successful people I know who openly admit that when someone told them they couldn't do something, it made them try even harder to accomplish it. These people had confidence and belief in their goals.
I was once told something which I'll never forget, because it is, in my opinion, an ultimate truth: NO ONE CAN MAKE YOU FEEL BAD ABOUT YOURSELF, BUT YOU. Only we hold the power to love or hate ourselves. We make that choice. And in so doing, we chose our life's path.
© Copyright Eden Robins |
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From Eden's Garden
Dear Friend,
Welcome to my April Monthly Garden newsletter!
Arizona is in full bloom. When I look around me, it's hard to believe this is considered a desert. The time consuming task of planting bulbs back in September is now paying off. I have daffodils, irises, hyacinths and tulips exploding in my front garden. Just looking out the window makes me smile. Another thing (of many) to be grateful for.
This month is going to be a busy one for me! Mid-month, I'm spending several days in Costa Rica. It's my first time there and I'm very excited. I've heard the people are incredibly friendly, the country is beautiful and the food is some of the best I'll ever have. I'll tell you all about it in my upcoming newsletter and/or blog and will post pictures of the trip after my return. If you've been there and would like to share your experience, I'd enjoy hearing from you. Please send me an e-mail or leave a comment on my bi-monthly blog. Both links are listed below.
After leaving Costa Rica, I'm flying into Houston for the fabulous Romantic Times Booklovers Convention. I'm thrilled to participate in this great event again this year and look forward to hosting the magical Faery Ball once more. If you're attending the convention and happen to see me, please come by and say hello. I'd love to chat with you. If you don't catch me wandering around with a big grin on my face, I'll be at the book fair on Saturday signing my books and talking with folks.
NEWS:
MySpace:
Curiosity got the better of me. When I went to MySpace for the very first time and discovered this incredibly vast community, I couldn't resist. I joined then and there. Although I'm currently having a dynamic new space designed for me, it's not quite done yet. I'll keep you posted on that. But in the meantime, I'd still love for you to stop by! Please visit me at MySpace and say hello or join my Friends list at: http://www.myspace.com/edenrobins.
*APRIL STORY NOW UPLOADED*
Your Personal Storyteller at Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine online: I've started a fun storytelling joint venture with Romantic Times Book Reviews Magazine.
Here's a little more about it:
Dear Reader,
I have always loved fairytales. Probably for the same reason I love reading and writing romance--that magical, mystical happily ever after ending. Many fairytales, like Cinderella, for example, have such wonderful, universal themes like hope against all odds, creating a wonderful life after starting out with so little, the underdog who wins, meeting the man of your dreams, getting the respect you deserve, believing in magic, and believing in yourself, which folks can relate to today as much as they did when these tales first originated. Contemporary twists on these classic stories can be fun or serious, sexy or sweet, loosely portrayed or true to the original, while still ending in that happy ending we expect and desire.
I've sprinkled fairytale themes into the majority of my romances, whether contemporary, paranormal, or science fiction. And what I've liked best about this is when folks tell me how they have an "aha" moment at some point in reading my books where they start to see the similarities between my story and a certain fairy tale. I enjoy creating that moment so much that when Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine agreed to let me tell you more of these stories, I jumped at the chance.
I look forward to being your personal storyteller, as RT posts these tales on their site for you to enjoy. I even have my own Fairytale Message Board! I'll be checking in on a regular basis to read what you have to say, answer your questions, discuss parts of the story, or talk about your favorite classics. Please feel free to pop in and say hello. I'd love to hear from you!
So, sit back or curl up in your favorite comfy chair and let me tell you a tale that I hope will make you laugh, make you cry, and most of all make you believe in magic and happy endings all over again.
Best,
Eden Robins
Please check these stories out at www.romantictimes.com! (Look to the left on the home page screen. You'll see a pink box. In it will be the Modern Day Faerytale link. Just click on that!) And don't forget to let me know what you think on the RT Modern Day Fairytale Message Board! My latest story, an Ugly Duckling tale is now ready to read!
BLOG IT!
The blog continues...
That's right. I succumbed to temptation and curiosity! On my birthday, September 19th, I decided to join other Cerridwen authors in writing a Blog. If you don't know what a Blog is, it's basically an online journal I'll be keeping, covering all sorts of topics. I'd love for you to take a peek now and again to see what's happening with me, and let me know what you think! I'll be writing two Tuesdays a month. Please visit the Cerridwen Press website, and you'll be able to connect to my Blog from there! Here's the website to read my Blog: http://cerridwenpressauthors.blogspot.com/.
Thanks again to those of you who have commented on my blog so far. It's been great hearing from you! My upcoming Blog dates are April 10th and April 24th. Please stop by and say hello!
New E-Mail:
Don't forget, I've changed my e-mail. You'll see a new address at the bottom of this letter. I've had a big issue with spam over the last couple of months and haven't been able to resolve the situation, so if you'd like to contact me (And I'd love to hear from you), please note the new e-mail address below. I'm not receiving all my mail through my website contact address either, so if you've tried to contact me, and I haven't responded, I'm sorry about that. If you send me a note at the below new e-mail, I'll be sure to get it.
edenrobins@gmail.com
Please check these stories out at www.romantictimes.com! And don't forget to let me know what you think on the RT Modern Day Fairytale Message Board!
EVENTS:
Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Houston, Texas: April 25th through April 29th 2007: This convention was designed with readers in mind! Meet your favorite authors through workshops, breakfast get-togethers, luncheons, fabulous dinner events and, of course the nightly balls and extravaganzas. And don't forget about the Giant Book Fair and Signing on Saturday with all your favorite romance authors in attendance, or the Mr. Romance Contest on Saturday night with some of the hunkiest cover models you've ever seen. I'll be in Houston meeting and chatting with readers, signing my books on Saturday, making an appearance at the Ellora's Cave Moulin Rouge Party on Wednesday night, and co-hosting the 2nd annual Faery Ball on Thursday April 26th with best selling author Cheyenne McCray and a slew of other fantastic Faery Court authors. Hope to see you there! For more information on this event, please check out www.rtconvention.com
The 2nd Annual Romantic Times Online Faery Court Scavenger Hunt. January-May 2007: It's that time again. As the week of the Romantic Times Booklovers convention and the fantastic Faery Ball grows closer, the Faery Court is putting on another magical, mystical online scavenger hunt. Participating authors are giving away fabulous prizes each month to those of you who can find that tricky blue faery in all her hiding places! Stop by www.rtconvention.com/FaeryHunt.htm today to join in all the fun! Best of Luck!
I hope you liked my April Monthly Garden newsletter. Please let me know by sending an e-mail to edenrobins@gmail.com.
Thanks for your support!
Best,
Eden
Visit Eden at www.edenrobins.com for works in progress, contests, and past columns! |
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