Sitting on the Fence

It’s that time of year when I look over my balcony railing and compare my lawn, with its patchy areas of green and brown (thank you big snow storm two weeks ago) to my neighbor’s rich green grass. Yes, in this case, the grass is always greener…

But what about in publishing? When you’re querying, you long for the moment when you get The Call. You long to be on the other side of the fence. You’re positive it’s better than where you’re standing. And maybe it is.

And maybe it isn’t.

Regardless of which side of the fence you’re on, here is a list of things you can expect or should try to accomplish:

Rejections (you get them no matter which side of the fence you stand on…even if you’re a bestselling author)

Feedback/reviews that make you want to OD on chocolate and wine

Feedback/reviews that you want to plaster all over your office—for inspiration

Fans (even if they’re just your beta readers)

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

More waiting.

Workshops…because you should always keep learning

Try something new

Challenge yourself to do better with each project

Read books within your genre

Read books outside of your genre

Waiting. Waiting. Waiting.

Connect with new friends on various social media sites

Find a support system among writers/authors who are at a similar place to you

Compare notes to others who are in the same place as you (whether that be writing your first manuscript, querying, on submission with editors, getting ready to launch your debut book, getting ready to launch your tenth book)

Do your best not to compare your journey to someone else

Fail at not comparing your journey to someone else

Read a book and decide you should quit writing because you will never be that good

Read a book and aspire to write like that

Learn more about the realities of publishing

Remind yourself of the realities of publishing every day

Complain to your friends…just don’t complain where the whole world (i.e. agents, editors, readers) can read your complaints, especially if you’re complaining about someone specific

And finally…

No matter where you are on the journey, take time to enjoy it.

Stina Lindenblatt @StinaLL writes New Adult novels. In her spare time, she’s a photographer and can be found at her blog/website.  She is represented by Marisa Corvisiero, and finds it weird talking about herself in third person. Her debut New Adult contemporary romance TELL ME WHEN and LET ME KNOW (Carina Press, HQN) are now available.