I admit it. One of the big reasons I'm going to breathe a sigh of relief when I hear that I've been offered a book contract is that I will finally feel justified.
When and if that day comes, I will know that all the countless hours I've put into this thing called writing, have been worth it. On a personal level, I will feel validated. As a wife and mother who is often distracted from the tasks at hand because I need to go write, I'll know I wasn't ignoring all that laundry, cooking and washing up in vain.
(No children, husbands or animals were harmed during the making of this writer)
How about you? If you are like me, not yet published and wondering if you're really crazy enough to keep going, do you feel the same way? If you have been published, how did you feel? Did you get that sense of, "Ah, finally, they can all take me seriously!" and breathe silent thanks that all the work has paid off?
I've been fortunate enough to have a great support system with my writing, but there are times when I feel like it's still just a hobby, because I have nothing to show for it. I know that's just my own insecurities, but I keep going nonetheless.
So what are you envisioning feeling when you finally get word that you have sold a book?
Let's talk about it.
4 comments:
Hey girl. I will probably flip out when I get a contract. Take how much I flipped out when I got the call for representation and times that by a hundred. I probably won't be able to process anything beyond a general ecstatic feeling of "are you kidding!?!"
As far as the validation thing. There's definitely that. But even if I never get that contract, even if I die before I ever see a book on the shelf, I don't think any of this has been in vain. I can honestly say that through all the waiting, through all the pull-out-my-hair-because-I-can't-make-this-story-work writing, God's used it to draw me closer to Him. I've never prayed so much about anything else. Nothing else has brought me to my knees in copmplete reliance on Him as writing has. That's it's own sort of reward, ya know? Plus, I'm doing what I'm passionate about. Even if I only ever share my stories with my friends and family. It was still worth it.
For such a long time I have been banging out various devotionals etc...
I waffle between hobby and wanting to peruse it more diligently.
If you have never checked out Terri Tiffany's blog then you might want to pop over and give her a visit. She is very active in perusing her writing career and has a wonderful blog where she encourages, give advice on all different kinds of writing topics and shares her feeling about the whole process.
http://terri-treasures.blogspot.com/
Blessings
R
Yes! I had to make sure you wrote this and not me, Catherine. :) I have all these same feelings, praying and hoping that the time I've committed isn't all in vain.
Yes, yes, and yes! I KNOW it shouldn't be this way because we are writing for the audience of One, but still. Totally get where you're coming from.
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