“If writing is in your blood, if you have to write every day to feel alive, to feel like you didn’t waste that day, then you were BORN TO BE A WRITER!” –Chrys Fey
Getting published is not easy! There will be days when
you will feel depressed because you have a stack of rejections. There will be
days when you will think it’s pointless. You will long for the days, long ago,
when you wrote for the love of it and hadn’t thought about being published.
Even though you still write for the love of it, that
dream of being published will always be there in your mind, at your
fingertips, just out of reach. Sometimes you will feel defeated after having
your query letters returned with scribbles that read, “Sorry, not for me.” in
the corner. And let’s not forget those form rejection letters that begin with, “Dear
Author”.
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| Me and my mom. <3 |
While I waited and prayed for my first short story to be
accepted, I felt like a failure. The trick is to go one baby step at a time, as
breaking into the publishing industry isn’t easy. And no matter how much you
think you can be the next Stephanie Meyer, publishing your debut novel and
skyrocketing to the bestseller list is unlikely to happen. The rest of us have
to begin small (with poems and short stories) to build our credentials.
But whatever you do, don’t say getting published is
hopeless! It’s not hopeless; many people have done it, more are doing it, I am
FINALLY doing it, and so can you! If you keep a positive outlook and start
small, you will receive success.
Nothing is hopeless! Least of all getting published!
Congrats! May Hurricane Crimes blow the readers away!
ReplyDeleteThank you, David! :)
DeleteVery inspiring, Chrys. Congratulations on your book publication!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lisa! :)
DeleteThanks for the encouragement. And congrats on the book!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Dawn! And thank you! :)
DeleteI'm querying again so my spirits are not as high as they usually are. But I'm trying to focus on the positives. I got a full request on the second query I sent. But while the first query was a polite pass, it still stung. I keep telling myself to cross my fingers over the full request and keep querying with that positive mojo.
ReplyDeleteRejections do sting, no matter where you are in your career. I had gotten so many rejections that I started to expect them, which isn't a healthy outlook but it did help to soften the blow when I did get a rejection and also made getting a rare acceptance sweeter.
DeleteBest of luck to you, Kelly! You'll find another agent. I just know it! :)
It takes dedication and tough skin to not only write but to also share what you've written with the world. As long as we write because we love it (and have to), we'll get where we want to be.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Quanie! :)
DeleteWhat a sweet picture of you and your mom! And an inspiring post - so true.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Julie! It's one of my favorite pictures of me and my mom from when I was a baby. :) Thanks.
DeleteHey Chrys. Great thoughts on publishing. It is hard work. Lovely snap of you and your mum. Will pick up your book Chrys. You have me intrigued.
ReplyDeleteDenise
Have it in my kindle !
DeleteTHANK YOU SO MUCH, Denise! I hope you enjoy it! :D
DeleteI think people who worry that their writing efforts are hopeless and they might never be published are people who can see the flaws in their own work. And that's a necessary quality needed to succeed at the writing game. So if you are getting discouraged it might be a sign that you have a good chance to succeed!
ReplyDeleteNissa
Very true! Those who are discouraged a lot are some of the best writers with stories that need to come out into the world. :)
DeleteIt isn't hopeless, indeed. Thanks for the encouragements and congratulations on your ebook release! (A nice coincidence: I've been writing about a hurricane lately, too. A typhoon, we call it here. :) )
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome and thank you very much! :) That is a wonderful coincidence. In the beginning of next year I will be posting blogs that may help/inspire you with your typhoon story. :D
DeleteYou're right, it isn't hopeless. Every book in the shop or library, every story in a magazine was written by someone who used to be unpublished.
ReplyDeleteExactly! :D Thank you for your comment, Patsy!
DeleteWahoo! That's right. It's a long journey, but your travels prepare you for the tougher road ahead. We have to grow into the role, eh?
ReplyDeleteWe certainly do!
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