In the Meantime
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As I continue to wait to hear from publishers and contests, I’ve decided to be proactive and continue to write something. A new friend said she continued to write full novels until finally one sold, then she had others to tweak on the heels of her first sale. In my life, I’ve put the cart before the horse many times, but there is something to be said about doing something while waiting.
So, what I’m going to do in the meantime is write a novella. I didn’t do NaNoWriMo, as you know, but I can still probably knock out a novella during the holidays. I’ve already started it. It’s Lighting. And I decided rather than revise the story, I’d just rewrite it in a bit different way. I got to it again yesterday.
But take the waiting time and improve your craft. I’m going to a writer’s conference in our region in January, provided it doesn’t snow a foot the day before or the day of. I also attend a local writer’s group. Those are some things to do while I wait. I pass them along to you. You could also find a personal writing mentor. I know people who are doing that. That mentor keeps you accountable and gives you lessons and assignments to complete. My training was a lot like that, only mine was more formalized as part of Christian Writer’s Guild.
I’m also part of a couple of online writers’ groups that encourage and help each other out in answering questions in their genre. I believe there’s room for all of us out there. I believe writing is exploding right now. Here we are blogging, writing all kinds of stories, non-fiction, etc. and people are reading more than ever, especially with Kindle, Nook, and lower-priced books. e-books are free, if you know where to find them.
Writing isn’t rocket science, but it is an art, and we continually need to grow and change and hopefully, someone will eventually pay us to do it. So, in the meantime, I might just get back to my novella. You’ll know when I finish it, and you’ll know when I self-publish it. But I’ve already made the decision to write, whether or not I ever get paid to.
What are you writing, if you’re a writer? Leave a comment and let me know.
Donna L.H. Smith 
Hi Donna –
It’s very good that you’re writing while seeking that first contract. I once read an article by Agent Rachelle Gardner. She said that agents and publishers like to see someone with more than one book written. It tells them you’re capable of producing multiple titles.
I’ve been told not to post parts of my books online. It’s just not a good idea. You want your books to hit the market fresh and also avoid someone grabbing your ideas. And yes, I’ve seen it happen.
Have a great week,
Susan 🙂
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Thanks Susan. Have a great and blessed day. 🙂
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Hey Donna, another thing you could do is see if your local newspaper or local magazines or national magazines might be willing to publish your writings. Sometimes there are these other venues that might be more “needy” than the major Christian publishers. And remember, your writing is just as good as any of the published authors, you just haven’t been “discovered” yet!
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Thanks Dorothy. I do have a couple things submitted to Chicken Soup, but I won’t know for awhile if they’re accepted. I’ve already done the local/ regional thing (like 20 years ago). I’m moving from articles, for the most part, to fiction, although at a later time, I’ll probably be talking more about rejection. I’m coming out of the closet on that. :-). I’m planning a submission for next year to a short story online magazine. We’ll see what happens.
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Good choice, Donna. It’s so important to just keep on keeping on. The waiting will also pass much more quickly if you are busy doing something while you wait.
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Thanks Kelly. I did get another rejection last Friday, but I’m trying to learn to get over it quicker. Still waiting to hear from one publisher and 2 contests. Are you going to the Hershey conference in January? 🙂
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Reblogged this on Donna L.H. Smith and commented:
I’m almost in the same position now as I was a year ago. Not much has changed. I continue to write other things, while working on an umpteenth re-write of Meghan’s Choice. I’m also working a couple different novellas, one for a collection with three other writers. Blessings to you all today.
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