For today's post, I've been contemplating for days what I wanted to share. I have been a very insecure writer lately. Still in the querying mode, I've had a few rejections trickle in. Each one does chip away at my confidence (a little) and I begin to wonder if I'm good enough.
Those of you who are regular visitors to my blog may remember me mentioning that I was recently asked to write a story for a youth Girl's Camp. A story that portrays the meaning of deep beauty—a beauty not defined by how you look, but who you are on the inside.
I wrote the story, but was hesitant to send it to the Camp Director. I was worried. What if she hated it? What if it was nothing like she pictured? What if...what if...what if...
I finally sent it to her, confident I had done the best I could. I got an email reply soon after. She LOVED it! We talked on the phone and she told me all the things she loved about it. She had sent it to her husband immediately afterwards, and he also thought it portrayed the message perfectly. My confidence soared.
The reason I'm sharing this is because just when I was feeling despair at the rejections, I had a glimpse of what I like to call "a tender mercy." That tender mercy gave me the motivation I need to persevere. I think when we do feel insecure, we need to seek out those tender mercies, the ones that will validate and uplift us.
I don't know if my first novel will ever get published, but you know what? That's okay. There's always another novel begging to be written.
Well done, Kristin! It always helps to have something to turn to in those darker moments - a kind note from a reader, encouraging comments from fellow bloggers, etc. :)
ReplyDeleteMadeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
We write and risk rejections over and over again, but it's those few moments when we get a positive response that makes up for all the pain. Glad the Director liked your story.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! Cool when those little boosts come at just the right time. Now, keep at it.
ReplyDeleteThat is fantastic, Kristin!!! We all need those little boosts and I'm glad you got yours at the right time. I think that sounds like a great story, by the way. Inner beauty is so important and unfortunately too often ignored in our youth these days.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea of a 'tender mercy!' I've gone through the query grinder as well and man can it get you down. I'm not published yet either but it really helps to hear someone else in the same boat. I keep writing because I love to write and yes I love those tender mercies to help keep me going. :) Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteThat's so great to hear she loved it! Though it sucks about the rejections, I love that you're looking at the positives. Woot!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad she loved your write-up on inner beauty, which is so important for teen girls to realize, accept, and focus on! And rejections are so hard--bummer!! I love those little tender mercies that reveal themselves just when we need them. :D
ReplyDeleteAwesome. You've got a great perspective. What you also have to realize is that querying is the LEAST effective way of getting a book in an agent's hands. They get so many queries that you're lucky to get more than a cursory glance. Contests and conferences are the real way to go if you want attention. Remember, writing is all about the reader, not the agent who may or may not put their stamp of approval on it. Their rejection may come from something as simple as: "I've got a title with a similar concept on my roster right now." or "SUCH AND SUCH publisher just bought four manuscripts like that. I could probably never sell it."
ReplyDeleteNever despair in your work. So many have been rejected and are excellent. Remember these same people would publish Paris Hilton's Autobiography even though her brain is the size of a peanut. You got the shot in the arm you needed and go for it
ReplyDeleteYou definitely are good enough. Rejections are hard, but they are so common in our world. Just keeping on going and keep your head high. It sounds like you have a great strategy to conquer your rejection insecurity. And I have faith that you'll publish this book. :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats. We always seem to negate ourselves, don't we? Negative talk. The "it can't be good enough"s. But many times it is.
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy for this success for you! I don't doubt if you keep at it, then you'll see one of your books in print. I don't doubt it at all. Go you! =)
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I love Alex's stuff and this is a great story:)
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful about the Girls' Camp story! What a great feeling to know someone else loves your work. It's funny how often it happens that something good comes along just when you need the boost. Best of luck with your novel! Don't give up!
ReplyDeleteGreat attitude, Kristin! Keep plugging away and you are bound to have more successes like the girls' camp story. Kudos on writing a story so moving that your recipient immediately forwarded it to her husband.
ReplyDeleteI think you eventually come to terms with the fact that you just love to write and you'll do it whether you get published or not. And THEN you'll get published!
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