What makes or breaks you?

Writer’s are funny creatures… by nature. We have to be to get through all these processes that bring us to the final goal… Publication.

The writing, the editing, the querying, more editing, the procuring of an agent, still more editing… really, there is humor in it all. Though, maybe I am confusing humor with insanity. That can be debated later.

When I see my fellow-friend-writer-folks going through one of the many processes… it always amazes me how each one reacts to the situations of waiting.

Waiting will make you insane… if you aren’t careful. Been there done that, the t-shirt was designed by me.

But there are valuable lessons in waiting. As waiting is a test of patience… not that anyone should ever, EVER pray for patience… you’ve heard that joke right? Yah, don’t do it. Just be happy with the patience you have… or else. OR ELSE.

I digress…

Part of the process is the waiting. You can judge character by the wait… and how one responds to the wait.

For instance, if you are driven crazy, then it’s a perfect wait. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger… right? Well at least that is what they say… Who is “they” again?

Another part of the process is moving on. If you are stuck in the “Hurry Up and Wait” mode, it’s best you move your mind on to another project. There are usually enough roaming around my head that I can occupy my wait with writing another novel. What is one more…? This also means, if you don’t hear back in the set amount of time, you move on to another query, agent, house, etc… which can be hard but it can also help you grow.

Don’t get stuck just waiting for the response that may never come. If you believe in your work, get it out there! Someone will love it and take a chance on you, but they have to see it first!

Also, don’t get disappointed by one rejection. Many of the best novels out on the market today received countless numbers of rejection letters. Don’t let the first of MANY rejection letters get you down to the point of no return. It’s part of life, just like stubbing your toe. It may hurt, but it’s part of walking and you will forget about it soon when you find the right pair of shoes.

Have you ever thought about what you tweet or blog regarding this writing, editing, querying, waiting process? Did you know that the agent, pub house, etc is reading your tweets and blogs to see what type of person you really are? To see if they can work with you and establish a great working relationship?

It’s all connected. Specially in this day and age. You can pull up a tweet IMMEDIATELY after its sent on Google. How is that for technology.

My encouragement to you… lift your head up high, be proud of your work and wait with sophistication! Show them who you are and that you aren’t going to be “one of those” authors that can’t be worked with.