Writing Wednesday – It’s only the beginning
2 December 2009
For years, I had one clear goal in my head—GET PUBLISHED.
I spent countless hours obsessing about how to get published, when I would get published, which project was most likely to get me published. This went on for years.
And then, magically, it happened.
When my agent called, I was so shocked that I couldn’t even feel excited. It was too much to wrap my mind around. This goal that I’d been working toward for nearly eight years had been achieved. I was now living the dream I had in first grade.
And very soon after, when I started talking marketing strategies with Revell, I discovered that I hadn’t “arrived” like I thought I had. That getting published was just the beginning. While I’d studied myself into an expert on what it took to get published, I then realized I had no idea what it meant to be published.
There are a lot of things to worry about, and I’m a person who can worry even when there’s nothing to worry about. In the moments that I get sucked under, here’s what I’m thinking about:
Will my sales improve? Will the people who read and liked the first book read and like the second book? What about the third? What can I do to get myself on a bestseller list? Will my editor like the other book I sent her? What if she doesn’t? Do they completely write me off or ask to see something else? If so, how many shots do I get before the drop me? Will I get to have a career as a writer, or just a series? What is wrong with me that I can’t just leave this all up to God?
And so on.
Fortunately, being an aspiring author is good practice for being an actual author. You get used to waiting, used to working hard on something that you might end up throwing away, used to feeling like nothing you write is very good at all and maybe you should throw the towel in now.
What I’m trying to say is what seems like the finish line is really only the beginning of another race. Actually, I’m finding that to be true about more and more in life. There’s a line in an old Semi-Sonic song that I’ve always loved: “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
So if you’re dreaming of publication, stick with it. It’s a great goal to have. But do it smarter than me—talk to authors about their experiences, be prepared to give up writing time, and expect to be stretched.
Is this a downer blog entry? I don’t mean for it to be. I’ll try to be lighter and zippier tomorrow.
Comments
IT’s not a downer of a blog post. I like reading about the real process of publication. and when you say, “…finish line is really only the beginning of another race” you hit the nail on the head. Thank goodness we have our God to hold our hand through it all. He’s our audience of One, sister. :-)
Posted by Lynn Rush on 2 December 2009
I’m so glad it wasn’t a downer post! I certainly didn’t mean for it to sound like I don’t enjoy being published, just that I don’t get to sit back and relax like I thought I would :)
Lynn, I’m constantly grateful for The Great Hand Holder!
Posted by Stephanie on 2 December 2009
This is so true, and such a shock when it happens. But, at least we’re never bored! :)
Posted by Erica Vetsch on 3 December 2009
Nothing “down” about the truth! I think a lot of us just want to “get there” without factoring the fact that there IS no “there.” I think you’ve really hit on something—that there’s the journey TO publication, then the journey OF publication. Different, but both are ongoing.
Posted by Roseanna White on 2 December 2009