Thursday, October 2, 2014

Insecure Writer's Support Group: FEARLESSNESS


Hi guys, this is my first IWSG post (jeez…and my first blog post since July!).  Sorry, it's a day late.  I've read a few of the articles on the IWSG site, have actually been silently following/rooting for several of the writers on here for a while, and it seems like a great community.

So, here's where I'm at in my writing journey:

My agent and I have recently gone our separate ways.  It was a very hard decision, especially after all the time we'd spent subbing my manuscript.  It was coming up on 2.5 years that we'd been on sub (3 years with my agent), got some great responses/comments but no definite bites.

*FYI if you haven't been on sub, just know that if you're not one of the lucky few who get an offer immediately, the silence is a terrible thing.  Awful, the worst, it sucks.*

Anyway, it took me three years and three manuscripts to find an agent--which was tough, I remember--but I don't think I ever felt as craptastic as I do now :(.

I remember when I was in the pits of querying hell with everyone else.  There was a sense of camaraderie.  We were all suffering the same form R woes and slogging it out day after day.  Everyone celebrated together when someone got a partial or full request or--hit the jackpot--got The Call.

I used to bounce back after a day.  Get a rejection?  (and man, I got a TON of those)  Just get back on that horse.  Send out 2 more queries so you know the story's at least out there.

But rebounding this time has been a lot tougher for some reason.

I think it may be because when I signed with my agent I thought I was signing for the long haul.  And also I thought, "Here's someone who believes in your work.  It's only a matter of time before we find the right editor..."

I've still got so many book ideas floating around in my head.  And really I would love to see the 4 manuscripts I've written published.  I just need to find that fearlessness again.  That courage all writers whether they are looking for representation, indie or self-publishing seem to have.  I want that back.  Badly.

Got any ideas on how to get that writer-ly mojo back?  What would you do?

Have a great one,

Ninja Girl