Okay, so I'm going to warn you, this is probably going to end up being a rant and a half. "Why?" you ask. Well...because...I...want it to be?

Ehem...so let the second (and hopefully last) rant of a thread I've posted on HW commence...

It occurred to me while chatting today, reading the news, sifting through the Rebelution forums, writing a depressing scene in a book, and deleting a story that I decided was not a good enough story that...I seriously need to stop multi-tasking so much, but, yah, that's beside the point of the post.

Okay, so since I've been on HW (and those of you whom chat with me often) y'all have gotten rather used to my happy-go-lucky, the-glass-is-never-empty, silver lining kind of attitude (or so I hope) with my occasionally "random spurt of glumness" that usually only lasts the amount of time it takes Shark Bait to think of something really funny to say.

Consequently, I don't like it when people aren't happy. I'm always trying to cheer others up even if I'm having a bad day (reason number one hundred and forty seven why I also hate to mention when I'm having I bad day ) and I always love to see smiles and happy faces. Like this one: (Best. Smiley. Ever.)

And so...I figured today that I would write a tiny little post about this. Since usually, when trying to cheer someone up, I tell people to eat a pie and give them all around the same advice. Which I now wish to share with you here and hope that I can either make you laugh or cheer you up...or help you cheer yourself up. So...the Bethany's rules to being cheery.

The Snowball Effect.
Usually people aren't glum for just absolutely no reason, something always happens that makes you glum, even if you don't notice what that something is. And with most people that something is the foundation for other somethings to build up on until you have a massively big bad...something. So...we have "the snowball effect".

It's rather easy for this effect to take affect when it comes to bad things. Everybody knows that you can be having the greatest day in the world, but somehow the one bad thing that happens to you is what sticks with you for the rest of the week. It's just how we're wired (Somebody once said that it's because the bad thing is different, so the different thing automatically sticks out to us...I don't know how much I agree with that, though.). We don't have to think about it...it just happens. Next thing we know, we're absolutely and positively glum.

As you can imagine (and probably know) it's hard to get out this glumness. Unless...we use the snowball effect... Yes, I know, I am making no sense.

My point is; who is the genius that said the snowball effect only works for bad things that happen?! Perhaps, next time you're feeling glum you can try thinking of all the good things that have happened, as oppose to all the bad. Just let them pile up (maybe write them down) until they outweigh the bad...like a pros and cons list....except... Not being called that because you aren't writing down the cons...just the pros. K?

Alright....moving on since I don't think there is much more to describe there.

The Way The Reader & The Writer Read The Book.
We all know this, "The way a reader reads a book is going to be different than the way the author of the book reads it.". Let's name a few of the differences:
The Reader: Is probably going to have a hard time finding fault in the book, especially if it is a really good book.
The Author: Is probably going to find faults in everything it's an artist attribute and it is....wow...don't think it's possible to fix that.
The Reader: Is going to find a lot of good things with the book, things that probably outweigh the bad.
The Author: Is going to decide to revise the book five times because "Nothing is right!!!".
The Reader: The book is always at least a little bit good.
The Author: The book is always at least a little bit bad...

So...I think you get the point. Now...guess which one I want you to be?

Bingo!

Welcome to the reading side of things. When you read the bad and the good are equally noticeable in your eyes...which means...(normally) you are a positive reader. Positivity changes everything.

It's best if you go above and beyond just the way you read book, though. Negativity in the past, present, and future in life and can make hard things even harder. So (as I have told many people) BE POSITIVE!! I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY THERE IS SOMETHING POSITIVE HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE!!! Oh look! I thought of something!....YOU'RE ALIVE! WOOO!

Well, I think you get the point of this one...moving on to the last rule...

When Push Comes To Shove...
My mom is an endless source of wise quotes that I don't pay heed to until I find myself repeating them to people shortly followed by the words "is what my mom says.". This would be one of those things...

When me and my sister fight we always end up complaining to my mom one way or another (my daddy calls it "dropping a dime" ) and by now I have memorized what she says when we complain that the other sibling hurt our feelings.

"Well, as long as your heart is right with God and you are positive you are no longer in the wrong. Ignore her mean comments and let God handle it."

Why do I tell you this?...because I want to.

Being Christians and more so being Christian Fantasy writers we have all dealt with our fair share of criticism. Often times, the mean comments will be one of those things that add to the snowball effect. So the above sentences are good things to remember the next time someone says something mean to you. And....if they very say that they are offended you would write Fantasy and dare to call yourself a Christian, you can always use my come back.

*says quickly* "I'm offended that you're offended about what I wrote that offensively offended you, sad offended person. So, Ha!"

And so...I conclude my rant. That...was hard to type with wet nail polish... Hopefully, I did not confuse you or bring you to the point of throwing a corn dog at your computer screen. To conclude I will end by saying. I've honestly had some tough experiences in my life and believe me they are hard to overcome, but just like when you have writers block you have to force yourself to move on with a smile on your face and before you know it you shall be zooming through your writing, completely forgetting the previously mentioned block.

So...have a pie! *hands you pie*

Bethany Faith

Great post, Faith. It made me think and laugh at the same time!

You sound like Leah. *pouts*

Oh well. *eats pie*

I take that as an immense complement. Maybe now I don't have to threaten you with PMing her to get you to write, I can just be like her.

Oh no, it's been proven, no one can get me to do stuff like she can. But you're very very close. (that does NOT mean you can go about ordering me to write, okay? )

Me? Order you?....we both know I fail at kicking you out of the chat room and more so telling you to do something besides stay in the chat room for longer.

Well... yes.

*laughs* I loved this, Bethy! The way you describe yourself reminds me of me. I dub thee my Happy Twin!

Also, even if you've got a good reason to be glum, you can choose not to weigh others down with your glumness. A negative person is no fun to be around, and when I'm feeling down in the dumps the best way to get your mind off it is to put your mind on others. After all, we aren't put on this earth to serve ourselves, but to serve others. So when I'm feeling very glum, I ask how everyone else is going, and try to encourage them.

If worse comes to worse, you can always quote the old saying:

Any day above ground is a good day!

Yay! I be Happy Twin!

*hi-fives* Totally agreed! I hate complaining when I'm feeling glum (though, admittedly, I still complain sometimes...) it's way more affective to help someone else!

Bethany Faith

Yeah! I mean, why be glum when you can be happy?

There's complaining and then there's "complaining" for me. Actually,.. there's only one type. This usually consists of:

"Awwww! It's raining again! I wanted to play tennis!"

"I don't feel like washing the dishes." *pouts*

"I jammed my finger in the door and it reeaaallyy hurts!"

If I'm feeling anything more serious then this, no one hears about it. It just aint worth sharing in my point of view and it only makes everyone that you tell feel bad for you, thus turning everyone glum.

That's the thing I love about HW Chat; who can stay glum when people are chucking chocolates and cupcakes at you?

Haha, usually my complaining consists of:

"I'm good! Just slightly glum, but it'll pass."

Followed fifteen minutes later by an:

" Okay! Okay, you guys made me happy! *is laughing* "

*laughs* same here! Doesn't take long for HW people to cheer me up!

So I know this is slightly off topic, but is it bad if I don't find a lot of faults with my book? I mean, I know they can always use improvement, especially as I age and mature, but I like my books. They are my babies. I don't find lots of faults in them, just like I don't find lots of faults in my best friend...

That was a lovely and thoughtful post. ^^ There's a quote: "For every second you spend being angry or upset, you waste 60 seconds of happiness." Or something along those lines.

I have a friend who's like you in personality. She's always very joyful, smiling, and laughing. She tries to find the positives even when she's struggled with depression over health problems. I really admire her.

Me on the other hand, I can't hide my emotions. I'm an open book, which is usually to my disadvantage. :/ I can be a realist and pessimist when things go south for me. >< I tend to dwell on things too much sometimes. (I'm sure people can relate to that.) The Snowball Effect was a very good explanation.

Anyways, way off track here, but again, thank you for posting such a great topic.

~Calen

I think Bethy meant that an author can more readily find faults in their own writing then the reader can, not that every author finds faults with their work. Personally (since I haven't completed and edited a novel yet) I can see a multitude of faults in my writing, yet others (who are not writers) read it and think it is fabulous.

But then, finding faults in your work could be a bit of the "glumness" factor as well. After all; anyone can find fault with anything if they are looking for them. So I think loving your work (after you've ironed out visible faults!) is perfectly fine.

Good post, Bethany.


It would be hilarious to hear you say that to somebody.

I love these posts Bethy, you are an inspiring young lady! Thank you once again for a thoughtful, well written post!

Sometimes my sister says she's offended about something that I said just so she can hear me say that. I have to be really angry to say it to anybody out side of my family, though.

(@Airi) Yeah, what Busheh said. I can't really put it better than that.