I share the feeling of staring into the abyss. In fact I have been thinking about stopping trying, but that would also mean stopping caring, which I don't think sits well with my conscience. But bloody hell it's hard
Thank you for this piece, Wendy (and this series). I wrote a novel manuscript 20+ years ago and 'shopped' it to agents. One asked for more...and then, politely declined representation, despite comparing my work to a New York Times' best-selling author popular at the time. Surreal.
I set aside my manuscript (for decades) and I'm currently re-writing the entire novel.
Your advice is spot-on. As the wife of an artist and the mother of a furniture-maker, I live in a household of creative-confidence ups and downs. Absolutely no project has ever been completed that we don't have our 'meltdown' moments and need to re-group. I think it is an important and necessary part of the process--it helps us examine (and re-examine) our desired outcomes as we move through the work. It doesn't mean the obstacles faced by us aren't sometimes devastating but I think it makes 'getting there' all the more appreciated in the end. ♡
This is a brilliant take - the idea of those dips and rises in confidence having a necessary part in the process, a way of evaluating whilst creating. Yes.
Sage advice, Wendy. I’ve not run the gamut of submission yet, despite several completed manuscripts. Having already had an acceptance from a publisher (for a non fiction) which then fell through really put me off the whole thing. Thankfully, I’ve had work published since - poetry and short stories - which boosted my confidence, but I’m thinking of putting my energy into other ways of finding an audience for my work rather than the tradition route. We’ll see. I think it’s definitely worth reminding people that just because a publisher rejects your work, doesn’t mean it isn’t a good story. I have a friend who tried for 8 years to get her story published before being successful and then she had 2 books accepted in the same year!
I think by writing smaller pieces and getting one or two published. My unfinished wotk sits waiting but I build my confidence in the meantime. I just have to know when the time is right to pick up and finish the novel.
I do this too. I keep a bank of small projects on the side which have a quicker turn around, which means more chance of receiving some sort of acknowledgement/publication.
Thanks for this helpful post Wendy. I liked - No one can maintain a high level of any confidence in any project. For me, I like writing and my particular projects. I like it when I learn something new. I like the stories of success if they’re grounded in my sort of reality such as you describe. I know people do it - one novel a year - but sadly I don’t relate to that.
I share the feeling of staring into the abyss. In fact I have been thinking about stopping trying, but that would also mean stopping caring, which I don't think sits well with my conscience. But bloody hell it's hard
It is hard. And yes, the counterbalance for that difficulty is the love for the work.
I’d settle for ‘like’ for the work, honestly!
Thank you for this piece, Wendy (and this series). I wrote a novel manuscript 20+ years ago and 'shopped' it to agents. One asked for more...and then, politely declined representation, despite comparing my work to a New York Times' best-selling author popular at the time. Surreal.
I set aside my manuscript (for decades) and I'm currently re-writing the entire novel.
Your advice is spot-on. As the wife of an artist and the mother of a furniture-maker, I live in a household of creative-confidence ups and downs. Absolutely no project has ever been completed that we don't have our 'meltdown' moments and need to re-group. I think it is an important and necessary part of the process--it helps us examine (and re-examine) our desired outcomes as we move through the work. It doesn't mean the obstacles faced by us aren't sometimes devastating but I think it makes 'getting there' all the more appreciated in the end. ♡
This is a brilliant take - the idea of those dips and rises in confidence having a necessary part in the process, a way of evaluating whilst creating. Yes.
Sage advice, Wendy. I’ve not run the gamut of submission yet, despite several completed manuscripts. Having already had an acceptance from a publisher (for a non fiction) which then fell through really put me off the whole thing. Thankfully, I’ve had work published since - poetry and short stories - which boosted my confidence, but I’m thinking of putting my energy into other ways of finding an audience for my work rather than the tradition route. We’ll see. I think it’s definitely worth reminding people that just because a publisher rejects your work, doesn’t mean it isn’t a good story. I have a friend who tried for 8 years to get her story published before being successful and then she had 2 books accepted in the same year!
It is definitely a roller coaster.
👍🏻
Deep in the editing mire this winter. Thanks for this sage advice, Wendy. Best of luck getting your manuscript over the line - it is good winter work.
I think by writing smaller pieces and getting one or two published. My unfinished wotk sits waiting but I build my confidence in the meantime. I just have to know when the time is right to pick up and finish the novel.
I do this too. I keep a bank of small projects on the side which have a quicker turn around, which means more chance of receiving some sort of acknowledgement/publication.
I love this series :) Tenacity, yes. That's the one. xx
❤️❤️❤️
Thanks for this helpful post Wendy. I liked - No one can maintain a high level of any confidence in any project. For me, I like writing and my particular projects. I like it when I learn something new. I like the stories of success if they’re grounded in my sort of reality such as you describe. I know people do it - one novel a year - but sadly I don’t relate to that.