I've been a lazy blogger recently. I'm sorry, but my life has been particularly busy. I have some exciting news to share though. I've finished book number four. Of all my books this one was the longest and most difficult to write. I originally planned to be done by the end of last year, but after many, many, many re-writes, I've just finished. I hope the result is a brilliant book that people will fall in love with.
So what's happening now? Well my agent has sent it off to about ten top notch publishers and I'm waiting. If you're a writer and you've been in this position, you'll know how unbearable it is. The waiting. Every day checking every single email that pings into my phone, hoping, praying, for good news and dreading bad. It's the exact same feeling I had as a new writer sending off my manuscript to agents all those years ago. I go through so many emotions about it; they're going to say no because the book is complete and utter horse shit, they have to say yes because I think it's my best book yet, of course it's going to be a no, who am I kidding that I'm anywhere near as good as David Nicholls, I'm going to get a ridiculously large amount of money and this book is going to take me to the next level where movie options get bought and world tours get organised - OK this last one is just daydreaming, but it's all mixed in there. The point is, it's a difficult time.
So what advice can I give to other writers who are thinking about sending off a manuscript or who are desperately trying to finish their first book in the hope of landing an agent. Just do it. You can spend so much time worrying about what's going to happen that the overwhelming fear of it can put you off forever. There's always an excuse - it isn't quite finished yet, I think I need to tweak this, put it away for a few months before reading it one last time - but the reality is, at some point, you need to send off your little baby to the big, terrifying publishers, and have them give you their opinion. And there's going to be rejections, lots of them, but that's OK. I mean it's not, obviously, but there isn't a writer in the world who doesn't get it or had it. It's all a part of the gig. That and the constant self-doubt.
I recently read a quote that's stuck with me. It applies to all things in life, but for writers it means that you just have to do it, whatever it is, stop thinking and just do. Whether it's starting that first novel, finishing your tenth, or sending off the book you've spent almost two years working on to finally, and hopefully, get a publishing deal.
"The only difference between doing and not doing is doing."
And so I wait. But at least I did it. Whatever happens...I chose to do it and it's out there, which is an accomplishment by itself.
Until next time.
Hugs,
Jon X
