A little rant: I HATE it when people greet your good news with tales of disaster.
I happen to have some nice possibilities opening up to me in my writing. It's fun to talk about but there are some people who immediately go to that "Let me tell you about someone in your position who had something terrible happen" or "Don't get your hopes up because it's not likely to come through" (in detail) or "I was in a similar situation and let me tell you how awful it was." It seems they're just bound and determined to haul out every disaster or prediction of painful experience they can. I'm sick of sitting politely and having to decide whether to defend myself, tell them to STFU or listen to their self-absorbed doom and gloom diatribes.
I remember the same thing from 1) when I was pregnant and 2) every diet I have ever been on. It's why I don't like diet programs that involve groups and why I don't do group therapy. I don't like the rabbit holes people go down and it's a constant effort to encourage people to tell and honor their stories but not to use them to drag one another down. If you tell them you've been successful all too often you get "I tried that and it didn't last" or "Be careful. I heard about someone who did that and they met with XYZ disaster."
For Christ's sake, the world could use a LOT more encouragement and faith in happy outcomes and simple pleasure in one another's achievements! It doesn't make us naive and it doesn't make us too dumb to recognize that there are caveats out there to be happy about things.
Thanks. Had to get that off my chest. Have a fine, successful, enjoyable, relaxed Saturday, Lounge.
= new reply since forum marked as read
otherwise known as marshing your mellow? ask them that and then
ask them if they would like a nice cup of STFU
and then move on to someone that can relate and be happy with and for you.
I am just full of pithy advice today ... all for fee 
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I'm not the most optimistic person, but I'm happy when good things happen to those that deserve it.
Congratulations to you! 
I'm not happy for politicians who get elected that want to infringe on women's reproductive rights, shove their religion down my throat and screw most of the country out of spite.
I wasn't happy for George Zimmerman either.
I could go on, but I need another cup of coffee and then go play with my voodoo dolls. 
Let's face it, life is tough for just about everybody and some people take the cuts and bruises very personally. Because they have been hurt, defeated, etc., and have fallen into a self defensive internal coping strategy they feel that everyone else should feel that way too. I don't believe that by and large most of these individuals are mean spirited, it's just that they have lost their optimistic spark, and I guess their form of emotional self preservation is so automatic that they feel others need it too.
It's sad really as I've known some very bright and talented people who, as the result of unfortunate circumstances/decisions/disasters, fell into this way of thinking and because of it continue to live lives devoid of the joy and happiness that otherwise should be theirs.
Soapbox psych 101 off now.
Congrats on your writing opportunities, and knock 'em out of the park! I know you will. 
I have one in my life, too. I am happy for you, nolabear!
but I have this friend of a friend of a friend who was that way and here's what happened.......
Just kidding! 
I don't really care for the Debbie Downers either.
In all honesty I probably can get into cynicism when I think someone is being successful as a result of doing someone else harm, and I agree that we hear so much bad news (and from a psychological standpoint that always makes more of an impression on us) that we can get stuck in that mentality. I'm pretty sure I celebrate with people when they have good things going on, but that might be an offshoot of my therapy training and realizing how much it actually generates more success and satisfaction, not only in them but in me. And that's lagniappe (N.O. speak for "a little extra something"
for both of us.
I guess we all know people like that and have encountered similar tales of doom and gloom.
Best of luck on your writing prospects! Hope it works out for you! 
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Didn't matter what you wanted to be, or what you wanted to do, she would come up with all the ways in which you sucked too much to do what you wanted to do or be what you wanted to be. Horror stories were something she enjoyed recounting. My ex called her the 'dream killer'.
She's still like that. She never looks on the bright side of anything that might happen to you. When my ex first left me and I moved away, I randomly bought a lotto ticket and won $75. I told my mom maybe it was a sign. She freaked out and started talking about gambling addictions and how I would have to watch myself. Um, I'm sure one lotto ticket in a year will do it. 
I'm getting close to finishing my degree (less than a year of f/t courses, but I'm doing it p/t because I'm a single mom who is short on time...) and the closer I get the more she harps on me for 'dreaming' and 'not working' and 'not being realistic' and 'expecting my ex to pay my way'. Well, I'm sorry I quit a well-paying bank job to raise OUR kids, he SHOULD pay, lord knows he makes enough money! Gawd.
Some people just enjoy putting other people's dreams down. Makes them feel better. And it can rub off on you if you are raised like that. I was like that as a teen and young adult but I realized (through therapy) what I was doing. My mom is narcissistic and in her world, she is the only one entitled to wonderful news. If you come to her with wonderful news, she sees it as you bragging or trying to upstage her, so she feels the need to beat you down and put you in your place. Maybe you're just surrounded by narcissists? 
Good for you on your writing! I'm always in awe of people who are able to put thoughts to pen coherently and make a living doing so - that takes real talent. You must be so excited! Good luck to you
Put a bunch of crabs in a pot, and if one starts to pull itself out, the others pull it back in. 
Don't let the "crabs" pull you down. Good luck.
I wonder if there's a breed of crab that builds little ladders...
I've always sort of borne up or stayed away but it's got to the point where I want to use language my Grandmother wouldn't approve of. 
