Hey! It’s the monthly blog hop/ known as the Insecure Writers Support Group founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. You’re invited to join if you're a writer, insecure, or just supportive of writers. It happens the first Wednesday of each month, and it would be sweet of you to visit at least a dozen or so new blogs and leave a comment. Your words are appreciated. Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG. Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
The awesome co-hosts for the May 4 posting of the IWSG are:
Kim Elliott, Melissa Maygrove, Chemist Ken, Lee Lowery, and Nancy Gideon!
May 4 question - It's the best of times; it's the worst of times. What are your writer highs (the good times)? And what are your writer lows (the crappy times)?
Waaaay back…
After completing my first full manuscript…
I sent out queries with much anticipation…
And I scored!
I got a request for a full!
I couldn’t believe it!
I remember thinking…
Querying and snagging an agent isn’t so hard.
What’s all the fuss?
I celebrated with my sister in California via phone
And we drank Kahua and creams...
I was giddy beyond belief.
**That was the best of times.**
Then…
DUN DUN DUUN
The agent responded quickly and brusquely…
And rightly so…
“You need to get this edited.
I don’t have time to do this.
Find an editor and when it’s done, send it again.”
Okay…
Didn’t sound too awful bad….
So, I did...
But when sent it back to the agent…
**POOF**
She wasn’t in business any longer.
No worries, I told myself…
I’ll just send out more queries…
I did...
Then more queries…
And even more queries…
Until insecurities and disappointment took over...
And I buried that manuscript...
Deep in the cavernous digital realms ofmy laptop.
**That was the worst of times.**
A few years back…
Wiser and obviously older…
A writer friend encouraged me to get it published...
So, I opened that file, blew off the pixel dust...
And worked on it again...
And then two years ago, I self-pub’d.
It was an arduous project...
But at least it was a book in my hand...
And not just a dream in my head.
Now…
With another manuscript finished...
I know the ropes...
And won’t make the same mistakes again.
I’m now on the path to publication again!
What’re your best and worst of times?
Always,
Em-Musing
7 comments:
Yes, getting a full request was a high for me too.
When you said, "At least it was a book in my hand and not just a dream in my head," I related so much! It's like that saying about a bird in the hand. We writers could change it to: "A book in your hand is worth two in your head." Actually, it's worth far more than two. I've never queried agents or publishers, but I intend to do that with my next project. It's in my head for now, but I'll try to have it in hand by next year.
Good for you for sticking it out and getting there, regardless of the twisting road. Sometimes I think I'll print my books out in book format and stick them in a notebook...just to have a "book in hand!"
Too bad the agent was no longer in business when you were ready to submit. I think that happens to other authors sometimes too. It's could that you're wiser now and have kept on writing.
Another book - excellent!
We have very similar high/low paths :)
A book in your hand is better than a hundred books in your head just going in circles. Self-publishing can be a great boost to the next level for a serious writer. I wish you well on the next effort. Hope you have the success you desire.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
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