Prepare. Pause. Patience.
I’m
currently sitting at a round table in my campus Starbucks, sipping a hazelnut
latte, and watching for my coffeehouse crush to stroll through the main door. I
love my college. I love Nashville and the opportunities it offers. I love meeting
new people, learning about the publishing industry, going to concerts, and dressing
like a hipster without shame or reservation.
Although
my social life has gained a needed boost from my move, my writing schedule has experienced
a major blow. Not a bullet ricochet; a nuclear bombing. The schedule is so
meager it consists only of short fiction-writing assignments for my publishing
class, blog posts, and the occasional tweet.
So what am
I doing now?
School?
Exercising at the gym? Drinking lots of coffee?
Yes. Yes.
Yes. And more.
I’ve
dedicated this school year to querying agents and building my author platform. As
of now, I’ve queried fifty agents and am awaiting responses. YES—that’s the
word I need to hear.
My odds
seem decent at the moment.
For me, the
most difficult aspect of the process has been the wait. I trudge through my day
and courses, not working on another book, not organizing author events, just
doing my student duties and praying that God will open doors at the right time.
I have accomplished what I can accomplish at this point in time. Now I must
wait. And waiting is hard. Especially for an overly determined person like me.
Since many
of you are facing a schedule change, I’d like to offer some advice.
1. Don’t
lose sight of your dream.
It’s
easy to shift focus when you’re in a new place, surrounded by new people, but
you can’t forget your dream. Never forget.
2. Remind
yourself of that paused part of you.
The
dream you’ve placed on hold is a slice of your identity. Forgetting it is like forgetting
a part of yourself. Talk about your dream with others. Place a visual reminder
somewhere in your room to keep that part of you present.
3. Take
a step forward every day, even if it’s small and seems inconsequential.
Make
choices daily that will draw you closer to your goal. Practice your talents.
Contact people who might be willing to help you reach your dream. The small
steps you make will be what carry you to success.
If
you are encountering a situation similar to mine, tell me about it!
If
you have any questions about the publishing industry, college life, or my
coffeehouse crush, email me! I’ll post interesting questions and my answers on
this blog.
Also, send me a review
of THE PRIME WAY PROGRAM and I’ll send you something in return!
