Someday I will look back at these last 20 months with a fond chuckle.
I’ll laugh at my daring self for finally FINALLY having the audacity and tenacity to sit down and pound out my first novel. I’ll laugh at the fact that I wrote it on my husband’s hand-me-down laptop. While curled up on our couch. Under a blanket to keep warm in January.
I’ll laugh at my naivete and all the things I didn’t understand (and perhaps still don’t!) about the writing and publishing process. About how I didn’t know the difference between a synopsis and a query. Or a beta reader and a critique partner.
I’ll laugh at my first tentative forays onto Twitter and my paralyzing fear of “doing it wrong.” My first writer’s conference where I nearly hyperventilated from nerves. The way I sobbed in the ladies’ room when I received my first full manuscript request from an agent. And how I wanted to sob just as hard when I got my first rejection letter.
I’ll laugh at my tiny little makeshift “office” in the basement — which, truthfully, is just a table in my laundry room. How I allowed my children to watch endless reruns on Discovery Family and PBS Kids while I wrote “for just a few more minutes” or “one more time through this section.” At the little mistakes I made. And the big ones.
I’m hoping that I’ll laugh because I’m hoping that soon I’ll turn the corner in this exhausting process and possibly, just maybe, land myself an agent. And if this doesn’t come to fruition (a possibility for which I am fully prepared), I hope to laugh at myself for getting my hopes up yet again today.
In the meantime, I’ve been busier with freelance assignments than I ever expected to be. I’m so grateful for the overwhelming love and support from the Green Bay Area Moms Blog writing community for welcoming my quirky (and sometimes sarcastic) writing rants to your webpage. I post this badge proudly:
I also have nothing but respect for the editors at Door County Magazine who took a chance on me and gave me free reign to write this little article on cherry and apple farmers. Family orchards will always be near and dear to my heart!
It is a continued blessing to write regularly for Women magazine as well as YOU magazine Green Bay. I learn something with every assignment.
Onward…
LB