Believe In It

Writing has been a large portion of my routine for the better part of six years now. And I can say, with certainty, that I have become more adept at the craft of writing, and at recognizing what constitutes good writing in both myself and others. Meeting up with The Plot Sisters every two weeks is the real reason behind that growth, but I should pat myself on the back, too: to keep a writing routine at all, no matter how much or how little, despite all the busyness that life bestows, is an accomplishment in and of itself.

But there's one aspect of writing that I need a little work on. Often, I read a book and I think, "This novel is published, and mine is not." And then, my mind spins into a downward spiral of self-doubt. The writing must be better. The query letter must be better. The premise must be better. A multitude of excuses for why my novel hasn't attracted an agent spring to mind.

And it's not for lack of trying, I tell you. My current WIP has been critiqued by my writing group, a published author, and a professional editor. It's been through multiple rounds of revision, and has been requested by agents. The problem isn't the book, or the feedback, or the fact that I live in southwestern Ohio and not New York City.

The problem is that I don't believe in it.

What does that mean?

I don't mean that I think the story isn't any good. I love the story and have always said, "It's a good story, dammit!" What I mean is that when I read other books and think about the fact that those authors are published and I am not, I always look at the negative, when I should be looking at the positive. Instead of lamenting the fact that my story hasn't found a good home, I need to remember that if the published book in my hand found an agent, then by golly, someday mine will, too. I have to believe in the process. In the book. In myself, really.

And that's just plum difficult to do in any aspect of life. Good luck to us all.

Happy Writing!
~Christina