So I vowed something to myself. I vowed not to check my email all weekend. And since it's become such a regular part of my day--like every five minutes--I even moved the email icon on my phone to the last app page. Did I still pick up the purple iPhone to check? Yes. But by the time I swiped to the last page in a fog of email addiction, I was coherent enough to remember my vow.
I can't say that this impromptu weekend fast from all things email has given me any perspective. But it has temporarily lifted the weight of the "What's in my inbox? Is it a rejection?" burden.
And you know what? Maybe it has given me an ounce of perspective.
In my four years of trying, I have not had as rough a week on my path to publication as I did last week. I think that counts for something. It's another notch in my belt, if you will. An algae covered, slippery stepping stone on a river whose stream I'm traveling against, and I didn't fall. I slid a little. But I quickly gained my footing, stilled myself to correct my balance, and decided more than ever to press onward.
My critique partner/best friend recently reminded me of my favorite saying: The darkest hour is before dawn. And I'm hoping this time, it's true. :)
Does that saying encourage you? Have you been on a writing high lately, or a writing low?
PS. After you comment, this post is VERY good. I suggest giving it a read, especially if you're in the query trenches or submission hell.
I feel like lately I've been in sort of writing stasis. I'm querying a novel in a genre that I'm crazy about but is a super-tough sell right now, and wondering if that "write-what-you-love" thing is a bunch of crap, if I actually want to land an agent that is.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile I'm supposedly working on my PhD dissertation which feels more like pulling teeth. So yeah, there's that.
But at the same time I have a million new shiny ideas for novels that I've promised myself I am allowed to work on AFTER finishing said dissertation, so that'll be good, I hope!
Morgan Shamy did a great post on this recently, the highs and lows of the road to publication. It's the process everyone goes through and yes, many parts suck.
ReplyDeleteBut, as long as you make sure that journey never ends, you will get to your destination. Over and over and over again :)
Exactly. You gotta keep walking up that river. :)
DeleteSorry to hear that this week so difficult, Rachel. I really hope that things start looking up and that you get good news really soon.
ReplyDeleteI, too, am in a writing low. But I try to think about this: every time I get rejected, revisions aren't liked, I have writer's block, etc ... it passes. I learn from rejections. Cooler ideas spring forth, words appear. As long as I am committed that no matter how long it takes, I'm going to keep writing, as long as I remind myself that if I wasn't trying to get published, I would still write because that's who I am and what I do -- I can get through it. Just like for your characters, obstacles teach us something we need to know about who we are so we can eventually reach our happy ending.
ReplyDeleteHang in there - it will get better! :)
Sorry last week ended up being so rough for you! I'm crossing my fingers that your friend is right about this really just being the darkest hour before dawn. Also, I'm so impressed that you were able to avoid your email over the weekend. I'm way too addicted to checking mine!
ReplyDeleteI did! Today I checked it. I had seventy-ish emails that came over the weekend. Crazy.
DeleteSeventy-ish?! Wow! I can't ever imagine getting that many in such a short amount of time!
DeleteSorry it was such a rough week. I love your blog though. Keep your chin up :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that it has been a rough week. I hope things get better soon.
ReplyDeletewww.modernworld4.blogspot.com
I had a week like this not too long ago, but really, the darkest times always produce the most light.
ReplyDelete