My writing life is starting to read like a novel. One of the key components of a good plot is Goals, Motivation and Conflict. My goals are to sell my novel as that is what God seems to be calling me to do and glorifying Him in the process, see my work published, give others pleasure by entertaining them with a good story, and grow in my writing ability through the experience. I'm motivated to do this by many of these goals, not to mention that an additional "pay check" would be nice :-). The conflict is there through the many times I've had to rewrite, accept critiques that aren't as praising as I had hoped, and receiving redirections and rejections from editors.
** SIGH**
The latter is what happened yesterday. With lightning-fast speed, my manuscript was reviewed and returned. I won't go into the reasons that were stated, but without having to say so, it was a very disappointing day for me. Especially after spending the past two months reworking the story from first person POV to third person.
But after a lengthy conversation with my crit partner who knew all the right encouraging words to say :-) as well as with a few other writing friends and non-writing friends who love me, I'm ready to get back in the saddle with this thing.
My crit partner thinks my first-person version is better and I am inclined to agree. But before I can propose it anywhere I need to also rework that. Add at least 20,000 words to meet word count requirements of other publishers, include some plot changes I came up with on the third-person project that work better, and take into consideration the comments made in the rejection letter regarding some pacing issues. Rather easy fixes. I hope this won't take as long as it did for the other rework. It'll be ready to pitch at conference in Dallas in 38 days.
God is teaching me a lot and He doesn't waste a hurt, as stated in Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life. He has provided me with several scriptures. I keep coming back to a scripture from Hebrews 10:35-36. In the New Living Translation it says:
"So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you. Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that He has promised."
God knew long before I sent that puppy in what would happen. These past two months haven't been in vain, but a time to grow and to endure. Patiently endure. As I said the other day, He is my ultimate editor, agent and publisher.
I feel a song coming on "I'm back in the saddle again. Back where a . . ."
1 comment:
"...friend is a friend!" *hug* Bless your heart. It always hurts when one of our "babies" comes back with less than an A+ on the report card. But, hey, at least you have an idea now of how to improve it and help it to grow the extra 20,000 words it needs before sending it out. It always hurts less to hear honest comments from a good crit partner than to hear them from an editor! Hang in there, keep writing, and know the Lord is pleased with you for persevering! (Now I have to go repeat the same thing to myself, leaving out the crit partner bit.) ;-)
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