No doubt we’ve all bumped into criticism. What’s the best way to handle it? Apparently, attitude makes all the difference:

“Good, great, universal art may be incomprehensible to a small circle of spoiled people, but certainly not to any large number of plain men.” ~ Leo Tolstoy

“Pay no attention to what the critics say; there has never been set up a statue in honor of a critic.” ~
Jean Sibelius

“I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is to try to please everyone.” ~ Bill Cosby

“This manuscript of yours that has just come back from another editor is a precious package. Don’t consider it rejected. Consider that you’ve addressed it ‘to the editor who can appreciate my work’ and it has simply come back stamped ‘Not at this address.’ Just keep looking for the right address.”
~ Barbara Kingsolver

“To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.” ~ Elbert Hubbard

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”~ Kenny Rogers

“Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.”~ Barbara Kingsolver

“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader.” ~ Robert Frost

“Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” ~ E.L. Doctorow

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” ~ Mark Twain

“Pray for God’s enablement and don’t forget to abide.”
~ V. Gaines

Pardon me for posting this a bit late, but I hope many of you will want to participate:

It’s time again for another Carnival of Christian Writers! The July carnival will be held at Writer … Interrupted next Monday, July 28th. Please send in your posts no later than this Sunday. After a month off in June we’re sure you have much to share. Just send along your link with a short blurb about the post.

Ideas:
* How to stay focused on your writing career during the summer.
* Fun with writing.
* What you are learning about the craft of writing.
* Getting ready for ACFW conference!

Please be sure to let folks know about the carnival on your blog. If you wish to use the carnival button the you can grab it here: Carnival button

The carnival link page is: Carnival Submissions . Send submissions or questions to carnivalcw @gmail.com

We hope you’ve all been enjoying your summer and look forward to receiving your carnival entry!

Blessings,
Carla Gade, Carnival Coordinator

“We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing - that He is preparing and equipping us for some extraordinary work in the future. But as we grow in His grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, at this very moment.” ~ Oswald Chambers

“We must continually keep our soul open to the fact of God’s creative purpose, and never confuse or cloud it with our own intentions.” ~ Oswald Chambers

Have you ever set aside your own writing purposes to realize His? Maybe it caused you to shift gears entirely.

Another thought: does our writing glorify God?

I’m not asking if we’re always writing about Him, but whether or not our words reflect the purity of His heart to the world?

“To know what you prefer instead of humbly saying Amen to what the world tells you you ought to prefer, is to have kept your soul alive.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson (1850 - 1894)

“Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.” ~ unknown

“Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I do not know what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” ~ Patrick Henry

Many enjoy and celebrate national freedoms while their very souls are still imprisoned. The shackles of sin deceive and blind us. We won’t know true freedom until we receive the Life of the One who came, died, and rose again. Christ came to set us free…from sin, self, and our old exhausting way of life. Knowing Him will make us free, really free.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
~ John 8:36

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” ~ 2 Corinthians 3:17

Blessings on your weekend. I’m taking a short break.