Thursday 31 May 2012

Keeping on… and on


That’s it. You’ve researched and written and re-written and edited and re-written and proofed and, oh damn it, re-written again until you realise that your re-writes and edits have become changes  rather than improvements and you realise it’s time to stop. It’s time to submit.

Trawling through the internet and the Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook is actually more exciting than it sounds; so many of those agencies have your name all over them. General fiction they cry? Yes! With a thoughtful edge, a bit of Maggie O’Farrell thrown in? Yes! Open to submissions, looking for debut authors. Yes, oh yes.

And then it starts. The wait. The constant ‘just checking’ the in-box, the racing to the letter box which you know is counter-productive because anything sent by the post these days is only going to be a rejection so why make the moment come any quicker? The ‘no news’ starts to ache but it’s tinged with just a frisson of expectation. There is the smallest of chances that it’s your book being read and discussed at that moment. Why not? you ask, when you’ve just poured yourself that umpteenth glass of self-belief, every writer starts somewhere.

Then comes the right hook, square in the centre of your self-confidence. It’s back to business as usual; more hours spent submitting when you really should be focussing on the day job, or helping your children with their homework, taking the dog outside for his ablutions, spending time with the person who does actually earn some money for the daily bread, seeing friends...

It’s time to pour another cup of self-belief. I do this with a glance at my list of authors who achieved double figure rejections. It’s a salubrious list. I remember RJ Ellory at the York Writers’ Festival who said that the difference between a published and unpublished author was that the unpublished author gave up. I remember how I feel when I’m writing, that there are parts of my novel which make me smile, characters I love and that the ending always makes me cry. And then I think about how I’d feel if I didn’t write, if I wasn’t trying to get a book published. And the answer is that I’d feel bereft, that nothing makes me feel alive like committing a story to paper or that response from an editor, even when it’s a rejection.

I’m addicted to writing. Resistance is futile. I’m trapped and I love it. I’m writing my second book.

I wrote this in response to a question on Twitter about our strategies for coping with rejection and holding on to a semblance of a positive attitude. Currently I'm just waiting... and waiting... which, personally, I find even harder! So, what about you, what keeps you going? I'd love to know your strategies.

And to my non-writer readers out there with *proper jobs*, thanks for holding our hands on this roller coaster of a ride.

20 comments:

  1. I can't imagine not writing - it's the core of who I am. But the round of submissions and rejections - I could live without that roller coaster.

    But I was lucky. I had a mentor who told me, very clearly, that my travel book would have found a publisher ten years ago, but not now. So I should do it myself. So I did - it's a whole new experience, with its joys and tantrums, but I did it.

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  2. Brilliant Jo, is it out already? Where are you travelling in it? I think the idea of submitting is very exciting when you're writing but it's such a time and energy sap when you get to it, the novelty can wear off very quickly. Keep us posted on your book!

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    1. The book is called Over the Hill and Far Away (it's a joke - 'Over the Hill' is a euphemism in the UK for 'past one's usefulness) - and it's available as Kindle and Print book, on Amazon - on the UK and US.

      And I went to Australia and New Zealand, Nepal, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia ...not something older women usually do on their own.

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    2. Brilliant, Jo. Very best of luck with it. By the way, you're not THAT old, are you??

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  3. I think this is something that all writers struggle with. Just recently I've been having coaching sessions to help with personal motivation and self belief. Since starting the sessions I've had 2 stories selected as winners and two published online, which has given me an enormous boost.

    I guess that as a writer you have to be very persistent as well as creative. Asking for support can help and even thought writing is a solitary profession try and recruit some cheerleaders every now and again!

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  4. Thanks AmsterD! And congratulations on those winners. I bet your coach is pleased, that's a great result. Is it that you wouldn't have dared to enter before or that confidence has spilled into your writing?
    I do generally manage to remain upbeat with my writing, I think having fingers in lots of pies helps as I don't have too long to dwell and do get instant feedback, and small successes, from other sources, including the blog. I'm very choosy about who I submit to, as well which means I haven't had many form rejections, generally there's always been an encouraging word and a pointer or two so it's rare that I haven't been able to take anything from a rejection.
    Thanks for reading - and for your support!

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  5. I used to start another book as soon as I sumbitted the last. That way, I found myself not too bothered (or not as bothered) about the rejections when they arrived. Now I don't have as much time to write, I'm no stranger to the old send/receive button.

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  6. Oh that old send/receive button. They should invent some software that means it lights up ONLY when it's news from a publisher. Stick in there Charlie!

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  7. I am so guilty of checking my email, all the time! When submission were postal, I never expected to hear back (although there were plenty of return-of-post replies), but with email, we expect everything to happen straight away. It's not a good thing.

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    1. I think you're right, Annalisa. I used to post a submission and not even give it a thought unless I hadn't heard back after a couple of months. It's too easy to imagine a publisher/ agent sitting at their desk and just idly clicking on your email because it happens to arrive in their inbox (unlikely) just when their mind is wandering (hugely unlikely). Yeah, yeah, we all know the truth but we can dream, can't we!
      I liked your blog post, great idea with the quote questions but as I couldn't answer any with confidence, I slunk away...

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  8. I can't imagine not writing either, no matter what, but after I submitted my first-ever novel a few years ago I became paralysed by all the 'waiting' things you mentioned and couldn't write a thing for AGES.

    I'm older and (slightly) wiser now (or should that be jaded?!) and make sure I plough straight on with another project to keep my mind off that in-box. Doesn't stop me checking it every 10 minutes though ...

    The other thing I do is go to a cafe with no Internet and write there instead!

    Hope you hear good news soon :o)

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    1. Thanks Karen! Keeping on with other projects is definitely the message coming through loud and clear here! And yes, coffee shops, love them, not least because I just write (and drink coffee) and that's it. They're great for not being able to put the washing on as well :)

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  9. Heya, Jackie!

    I have nominated you for The Very Inspiring Blog Award because your blog inspires me!

    If you choose to accept this award, the requirements look like this:

    1. Display the award logo somewhere on the blog.
    (image: http://smirkpretty.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/very-inspiring-blogger-award.jpg)
    2. Link back to the blog of the person who nominated you.
    3. State seven things about yourself.
    4. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award and provide links to their blogs.
    5. Notify those bloggers that they have been nominated and of the award’s requirements.

    Your writing keeps me looking up. Thank you!
    Shannon

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    1. Shannon, thank you so much! I'm chuffed and, as I said over on your blog, really happy, and a little shocked, that I could inspire anyone. The post you wrote accepting the award was really poignant, I loved your seven points. I'll check out the other blogs you've recommended and give some thought to my own post but you've set the bar high so it might take me a while :) Thanks again!

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  10. Inspiration -shame i can't write! x

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    1. Awwww, Antonia, how do you know? Anyway, you bring new babies into the world which, some would say, is almost as useful. Ha Ha! Thanks for reading:)

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  11. I took a break from 'the yearbooks' as I spent far too much time planning an strategising (eek) my submissions, and not enough time writing!

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  12. Yep, Derek, I good plan! It's tempting when another week goes by without hearing anything to bang out another submission. Except I spend days and days on each so it's a real distraction. The trouble is, if I can ignore the 'yearbook' sitting on my desk, I still have to walk away from the websites. . .

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  13. Great Post Jackie! :)
    The writing is addictive, the editing like therapy can be painful as you peel back the layers and the waiting for an answer can be painful...but Yes I would not do anything else.
    Good Luck with that second book...I too am in the waiting stages for my first and now busy on the second. It is a crazy, mad adventure this writing journey - but at the end of the day it keeps me sane :)
    - Kim

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  14. Hi Kim, isn't that so? The thing which drives us mad, keeps us sane - love it! The very best of luck to you on your crazy, mad adventure and I sincerely hope you get some good news soon. Keep us posted!
    Thanks for reading :)

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