So I’ve been thinking about it. How writing and trying to make it in this industry is kind of like a dance. Or something. Lord who knows. But here’s what it comes down to. You’ll always be moving.
You know that expression one step forward, two steps back? That’s how I feel about writing. Totally and completely. Envision a game board and your little game piece. You start out your career at Go and slowly make your way forward a few squares. Then you sub your first manuscript, get a terrible rejection, and realize you still need to grow. When that happens, usually your emotional high gets knocked back a few squares. And this continues as you learn, develop your craft, your voice and then start submitting.
So say you get to a point, like me, where you’re selling to a certain industry. I’m in epubs. I’m definitely not at Go anymore, I’m cruising down the board, but I’m not at the Finish Line either. I’m still doing the little forward and backwards dance. For instance, I win the Stroke of Midnight contest: move forward six squares. I send out submissions to NY, get very nice rejections: go back five squares. And so it goes.
I’ve been a bit swarmed with rejections in the past few days, which makes me feel like I’m getting my arse knocked back to Go. But then I have a small sale that keeps me moving forward.
It’s not easy. One thing that makes it survivable–heck, even fun!–is having the encouragement and support of our fellow writers. And I hope that’s one thing that we’ll always have, and that it doesn’t truly become a game. Where competiveness sneaks in, and we’re tempted to trip the others on their way up.
Does anyone else get the visual on this? Get the frustration of moving forward and getting knocked back? Forever wondering when you’ll reach the Finish line and be standing with some of your favorite authors? Or how does it make you feel when some newbie comes roaring past you, or maybe you’re roaring past your friends?
*Part of my thoughts today started from a talk Christina Dodd did at the Nationals conference.
September 12th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Shelli, what a perfect visual! This industry IS like moving on a game board. Two steps forward, fifty steps back, LOL.
I’ll admit, I’m a little envious of others when something really great happens to them career-wise, but I’ve also found it spurs me on and makes me want to better myself. To work harder and get farther on that game board. I’m also happy for them, and happy for their success. And when they get knocked back on the game board, my sympathies are w/ them too and I only want to encourage them to keep working.
There’s so much talent out there and only so many slots to fill. A lot of it’s luck, a lot of it’s skill and the rest of it? I have no idea…
September 12th, 2006 at 8:00 pm
Great way to put this, Shelli. I agree with you 100%. Its soo hard not to get discouraged when we take those steps backwards. The other day I had some good news, and bad news in the same day. While I was really happy about the good news the bad news emotions came out stronger. I was in tears and had to be reminded that some good things HAVE happened to be recently.
The support from other authors is Great! I don’t know what I would do without it sometimes.
September 12th, 2006 at 8:47 pm
Nah, it’s not the knock back you should be thinking about, love.
Look at it this way, right? You start off with the ezines, you get rejected. Then get a couple of hits and you rarely get rejected.
Next step, or rung of the ladder, same scenario except it’s ebooks.
NY - same shit, different story.
Each ladder repeats the last.
You got to the top of the previous ladders, right?
Now do it with NY. And keep doing it, and doing it, until the rejections don’t faze you…someone rejects, so turn round and send that sucker right back out to someone else, and one day, that email or letter will say yes.
Beleieve it. Truly know it in your heart. And NEVER give up.
EVER.
I hope you heard what I said, now!
;o)
September 12th, 2006 at 8:49 pm
I got so passionate then that I mis-spelt believe.
Tsk!
:o)