Wednesday, July 2, 2014

On Tenterhooks



First—it is the first Wednesday of July and Alex has dared to include me as one of this months Insecure Writer’s Support Group Hosts, so WELCOME to this fabulous supportive monthly event. Nothing makes us insecure like writing, sharing our writing with others or trying to sell our books, but it helps a lot to have this supportive group to remind us we aren’t alone.

My co-hosts this month are:

Our Fearless Ninja Warrior Leader Alex Cavanaugh
Krista McLaughlin
Kim Van Sickler
Heather Gardner 

(Go see them)

But FIRST!!!

We are also trying to get the IWSG on the Writers Digest Best 101 Websites list!

Please email them at writersdigest@fwmedia.com, subject line 101 Websites, and suggest the IWSG - http://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/


And then, at the BOTTOM is the list of other IWSG participants, so be sure to go help a couple people feel less insecure!!!


You're saving me from this...
So for MY Insecure Topic Today: WAITING...

Becoming a writer involves a LOT of waiting. We share with beta readers. And we wait. We query agents. And we wait. Our agents query publishers. And we wait. We enter contests... And we wait.

And in that quiet space between submitting it to whomever is looking our imaginations become giant DEMONS that devour our confidence. We are SURE they must HATE IT or they would have gotten back to us sooner. Maybe we read a good book and think Holy PANTS, what was I thinking? (pants is a swearword if you are wondering—about the worst thing there is, so avoid pants) Or maybe you read a BAD book and think, “I'm going to humiliate myself like this, aren't I?”

And I'm here to say... Probably. Not because YOU in particular are so horrible but because we ALL send out something too soon at some point. It can take a while to be able to distance ourselves enough from our own work to be objective. But isn't the fact that WE ALL do this at some point a little reassuring? It is part of the growth curve.

It took me about five practice books before I sort of GOT IT. Now I may be slower than most, probably am. But the persistence has paid off pretty well.

But here I find myself WAITING again...

You see... next Monday they announce the finalists to the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Contest. And what's MORE... in the wee fine print there is a line that says they will be calling the FINALISTS toDAY... So my phone is leering at me doing NOTHING and there is NO WAY I will be concentrating any time soon, so thank HEAVENS I have YOU PEOPLE to keep me distracted!

Because otherwise (in fact maybe ANYWAY) I am sitting here, a puddle of insecurity. In any case, I am Schrodinger's cat... alive or dead, and by the end of today, I will know, and you won't. Sorry.


PS: If I hear, I'm not allowed to say. If I DON'T hear, I'm not allowed to say. It is my way of sharing the anxiety... You're welcome.

Now be sure to go visit my fellow hosts and several more insecure friends!


In side news for regulars:  I succeeded in BuNoWriMo, though for the trilogy, it is only 2 acts of 9. In July and August I intend to write act 3, edit What Ales Me, Polish (again) Kahlous, and Polish Mediums Wrong, so I can jump out STRONG in September with READY stuff.

57 comments:

ELAdams said...

Thanks for co-hosting this month!

Ah, the waiting game. It feels like I've been stuck in that frustrating between-stage for months, if not years! Waiting to hear back on queries, waiting to hear on my latest manuscript from my publishers, waiting for critique feedback... Right now, I'm in the calm-before-the-storm stage before a bunch of editorial emails come down on me, so I definitely sympathise!

Best of luck with the contest! :)

Shah Wharton said...

Patience certainly isn't easy, especially when waiting for possible criticism or competition news. Best of luck with that BTW! :)

shahwharton.com

Cathrina Constantine said...

Good Luck, Hart! And waiting is the worst!!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

So either way, you're not saying?
Thanks for co-hosting!
And waiting drives us all crazy. I have to distract myself with music when I'm waiting.
Good luck, Hart!! Hope you get the call.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

So exciting! Good luck, Hart! Fingers crossed for you.... :)

Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption

T. Powell Coltrin said...

You are a writing machine.

Waiting makes me twitchy, but it must be done.

Dean K Miller said...

After raising three children (ok...I helped my wife who did most of the work!) one would think I would have more patience. At times I am able to dive right into a new project, but sometimes I sit and stew. When this happens, I take a fly fishing trip and settle my mind. Often I get a new idea and/or inspiration.

Sarah Ahiers said...

Aww what? You can't tell us? I think you should come up with some sort of code word.

Like "i just saw a panda!" means you got in. So then those of us in the know can celebrate with you in secret.

Holy crap i don't envy you today

Diane Burton said...

Thanks for hosting this month. At least you have something to do today while glaring at the phone and daring it to ring. Best wishes.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Man do I understand where you're coming from. I've been waiting for 31 months. Thanks for hosting, Hart. Hope you win!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for co-hosting!

I definitely sent out my story way too early. I wish I'd had the support system I have now before I did. Hopefully I'll know better later. lol

Chemist Ken said...

Hey, I can be impressed with anyone who can make a reference to Schrodinger's cat. Good luck on the phone call. And thanks for co-hosting the IWSG this month.

Loni Townsend said...

Thanks for co-hosting. Best wishes on hearing, and hearing positive news while you're at it!

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Congratulations on bunowrimo. You always sound so enthusiastic and full of energy. I picture you living next to a Red Bull plant.

SittieCates said...

I know how you feel. I wrote about this for my IWSG post last month. Hang in there. Take care.

Thanks for co-hosting!

Mary Aalgaard said...

The theme song for today's post: The Waiting is the Hardest Part. Good luck on the award. I hope you get it. And, I know, I HATE sitting there WAITING for the phone to ring!
Thanks for co-hosting this month!
Play off the Page

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michelle Wallace said...

You are such a prolific writer. I really hope you win... (fingers crossed)
Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG this month!

Unknown said...

Holy Toledo! Look at that hop list! There are a lot of insecure writers. I'm an insecure person, but when I write I feel like Master of the Universe!!! (Or maybe more like She-ra? Nah, Master.) That's why I like it so. Good luck! (I'm re-reading for any tell-tale sings that you've received the call and just can't say, but if that's the case, I certainly can't tell!)

Juneta key said...

Wishing you much luck, and hope the hope ends soon with wonderful news.

Happy Writing
Juneta at Writer's Gambit

Juneta key said...

Oops I meant hope the waiting ends soon

Crystal Collier said...

PANTS. Bwa-ha-ha-ha! Leave it to you. *wiping a tear* Whether or not you get the call, you are epic and your writing is epic. Here's some cheese to distract you. It doesn't even wear clothes. Seriously.

Unknown said...

I totally hear you about the waiting... best of luck !!!!!

Huntress said...

*fingerscrossed4U*
Thx for hosting this month!!

Author of Wilder Mage at Spirit Called
Facebook Wilder Mage

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I always feel tons of insecurity when I have to wait to hear. I'm doing a bit of nail biting about a project right now.

Unknown said...

Here from Alex's blog. I can soooo relate to your post. So much so that I think my post echoes your sentiments. I hate waiting and that seems to be all we do as writers.

I like your blog so much I'm now following. Wishing you all the best on the Amazon contest. Please keep us posted.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

First, congrats on BuNoWriMo! Yes, I so do empathize with the waiting game. I'm there right now, waiting to hear back from the editors but perhaps using this waiting time to start other projects or helping other writers succeed? Best of luck on your Amazon thing--I lost last years. O well. xD

Thanks for dropping by, girl!
((Hugs))
♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥

J.Q. Rose said...

Ooh, what do you do when waiting for a call like this? Bite your nails, load up on carbs, run around the block? And now you've got me wondering when you'll get the call and what will the caller tell you? Thinking of you and all the waiting and anxiety. Go eat a bag of chocolates!

cleemckenzie said...

I'm always amazed at time. It never behaves the way I'd like it to. If I'm waiting for something important, it's slow as cool lava. If I've got a nasty engagement ahead, time sprints like a greyhound.

If I were that naked girl, waiting for my laundry, I wonder how time would behave. And what's wrong with that guy next to her? Is he breathing?

Toi Thomas said...

I get what you are saying. Waiting is pretty bad, but for me, editing is worse. In any case, I realize that I have to do both.
Good luck and hope you hear something positive even if you can't tell everyone.
Thanks for co-hosting today and sharing your insecurity.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Good luck, Hart!!!

Carrie-Anne said...

Good luck with ABNA!

I don't know how people doing the traditional publishing thing can wait so sodding long. I doubt I could sincerely excitedly announce a release date over two years away, as though that were such awesome news. I'd be upset I were forced to wait so long.

Andrew Leon said...

I guess I haven't been paying enough attention; I didn't realize you'd gotten so far.
Congratulations and good... well, I don't want to say luck, because I'd like to think it doesn't come down to that (although I'm sure it does).

Nancy Thompson said...

Yes, everything about this industry involves waiting. It never changes, even when you are published. It's just another kind. So always have a new project to work on. Good luck with the ABNA. I hope you final!

Jeff Chapman said...

Waiting for something that may or may not happen. That's the worst. Hope you don't get a lot of false alarm phone calls today. Good luck.

Elizabeth Alsobrooks said...

Wait! I have a comment! Seriously, I relate to your blog on so many levels. Thanks for sharing, and thanks for cohosting!

Cherie Colyer said...

Sometimes, I think the waiting is the hardest part. Good luck in the contest. I hope your phone rings soon if it hasn't already.

Chrys Fey said...

Yay for hosting!!!

Waiting is definitely the hard part. I'm naturally impatient, so waiting is really tough for me.

And GOOD LUCK!!! :D

kimlajevardi.com said...

So nerve wracking. Good luck!

Thanks for co-hosting!

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for co-hosting this month! I know all about the waiting game. I can't say I like it very much, but I understand that it's all part of the process and at least I'm learning to toughen up my skin. Have a great night. Eva

Krista McLaughlin said...

Ah... the waiting period... not my favorite, but we do have it. Almost all the time. I've learned to try and distract myself, so I'm not a complete internet stalker, but I'm not the best at it. Maybe someday. :)

Good luck with your writing! And thanks for hosting today! This was a fun experience!

Helena said...

I'm STILL waiting to hear back from that one agent. AAAACK! So I can't imagine what you're gonig through, Hart dearest, with the ABNA torture! But at least either way you have made it this far which is amazing and wonderful! And you better be a finalist or I'll write Amazon some stinky emails.

Have a glorious 4th and try not to think about the waiting....

Christine Rains said...

I'm waiting right now too. Patience may be a virtue, but sometimes only when accompanied by a good read and chocolate. Good luck and thank you for co-hosting today. :)

Lori L. MacLaughlin said...

Thank you for co-hosting! I hope your phone brought you good news. Waiting is the worst.

Julie Musil said...

OMG good luck on the Amazon contest!!! We will gladly help distract you, but airing our own insecurities <3

Julie Musil said...

Oh, and thanks for co-hosting!

Gail M Baugniet - Author said...

Thank you for co-hosting today, Hart.
I love the title of one work you mentioned, What Ales Me. Do you serve cheese with that?
Happy 4th of July

Patsy said...

Congratulations on being a finalist in the ABNA! It must be a great book to have got that far.

Suzanne said...

Hope you got that phone call :) And thanks for Co-Hosting :)
Suzanne @ Suzannes-Tribe
x

Karla Gomez said...

oh dear!
the waiting game

never fun. an entertaining post came out of it though :) And congrats on being a finalist. That in itself is something HUGE :D

Doreen McGettigan said...

I have praid for patience every day of my writing life. I am trying to learn and stick to good waiting habits, like writing something else.
doreenmcgettigan.com

Anonymous said...

I'm in the middle of the waiting game, but it's with a friend, so I can bug the crap out of her all I want. MUHAHAHAHAHA! I feel kind of evil now. >8D

Fundy Blue said...

I do hope you got that telephone call, Hart! I love your voice and your sense of humor! Thanks for hosting the IWSG this month!

Bevimus said...

Here's hoping you got that call!!!

Shannon Lawrence said...

Oh man, I'm so bad at keeping my own good secrets. I would have a hard time not telling whether I won or not. Sigh.

Anonymous said...

I need an easy button! Waiting is overrated - especially when it's waiting to finish edits. Good luck. Hope the call came.

Birgit said...

It is amazing how long one has to wait and I think that is evil Good luck as well