Be humble or be humbled;

you're (like) a rockstar now.

When I first started teaching, I had to attend a new teacher orientation. During the portion where they tell us we can’t be anything but teacher now (and especially not an social media), the speaker told us: you’re a rockstar now; that’s how they (the students) see you. That statement is both a bit of stretch, but it’s also true. Just think of a time you ran into one of your teachers outside of school; it was kind of like running into a celebrity.

This week’s thought on writing: Putting yourself out there is going to get you some unwelcome feedback.

With this persona comes some negative feedback. You get a reputation among your audience. Not everyone is a fan. With writing, it’s the same. Yes, not everyone is going to be a fan of what you write, but that’s not what I’m getting at. When you’re trying to sell a book, pitch article ideas, and working with editors on assignments, you’ve got to have some thick skin. You had better never ever think you’ve got this or that you’re doing great or killing it, because that’s when one of your students will tell you (to your face) that they don’t like you or all of your editors will get back to you with a flurry of revision requests, including a document from that lists the ways in which you need to do better next time. 

The public eye is a real bitch. So you had better not take it personally. Sit down, do your work, and be humble. You’re a rockstar now, and you’re going to get some shit thrown on you up on that stage.

Something I've written lately… 

I shared a tough one with Insider this week about my son struggling with grades. I used to hover, overbearingly so. But I’m changing my approach in the hopes that he has enough space to figure out how to succeed independently. 

And what I’m Reading/Watching/Listening to.

Reading: I’m down to 700 pages of It and figured out how many pages I’ll have to read to finish by the weekend before Halloween so I can watch the movies, both of which I’ve never seen. It’s giving me nightmares, literally, but it’s fun. 

Watching: I have a date with myself to watch the new Netflix romcom, Nobody Wants This, with Dave from Gilmore Girls, because he will always be Lane’s Dave, period.

Listening: I’ve split my podcasts up into three different playlists: one that’s just for me while I’m eating lunch, one that’s comprised of shorter podcasts just for me that can be played back to back while I’m driving, and a third for my husband and I when we’re in the car together. This may seem like an insignificant change, but it has added a level of efficiency to my self-improvement that I'd highly recommend anyone who podcasts to try out.

Write on,

Ashley