Sometimes, as a writer, things can get overwhelming, especially when you are trying to juggle several demands (work, relationships, family) at once. Then add to that- seeking a publisher or an agent and all the work entailed with that process (following specific formats catered to each individual you contact, weeding through the vast quantity of agents and publishers that don’t take your genre or aren’t accepting queries or submissions). To top it off, the toe-tapping, nail biting period between submitting all your work and getting the ‘golden ticket’- what you’ve been writing for in the first place- that lovely contract that says “Yes, we want to publish your work” can be extremely long. Even one day can seem like several and a month akin to a year.
So, in the meantime, what are you going to do with all your available time? Check your e-mail every hour on the hour, expecting any minute to receive that brilliant white light of paperwork welcoming your manuscript to a new family? You will drive yourself nuts plus it’s a real strain on your emotional health and well being, after a while.
The old saying, “if it is meant to be…” is true. It will happen for you but only when the time is right- for you. This can be frustrating and it often is for debut or relatively new authors wanting to get their product out, trying to make writing their career, and trying to build an audience. But the concept of everything happening when it is supposed to happen for you is not going to change just because you’re upset you didn’t get the contract today or you received another rejection. Remember- rejections are only one person’s opinion and they really have nothing to do with the value of your work or the long hours you spent crafting your manuscript before sending it out.
The best thing for you to do is to step back and do something else. I know it sounds crazy but doing something fun and enjoyable just for you re-energizes you and gives you strength to carry on. It also allows the process of flow and creation to occur in your life. Because when you are stressed, you are blocking – and you don’t even know it. You’re just trying, fighting, doing anything to do what you love. This is when you need to turn off the computer, check your e-mails only once per day, and do something nice for yourself for a few days to several weeks. Unwind, read something else for a change, focus and concentrate on something different. For taking that crucial step back, essentially switching things up, will allow you to continue doing what you love- later.
Take care, my friends.
TK Lawyer 