Cares:
Revising. Talk about slow-motion. I don’t know if it’s because I know more this fourth time around, or if I’ve turned into this psychotic perfectionist, or what. I sit down for my hour of revising before work, and I get through 2 or 3 pages. Seeing as my novel is 388 pages, this makes for very slow going. I’m currently on page 92.
Concerns:
You know that feeling you get in the beginning of February? That restless, impatient, slightly-deflated feeling? The one where you just want it to be warm already? That’s exactly how I’m feeling. Only not about the weather (okay, a little about the weather). I’m feeling that way about being out on submission, and it’s only been two weeks. For all you folks out there waiting for an agent….here’s a heads up: The waiting doesn’t get any more bearable on this side of representation. It’s still the same. Write. Wait. Check email. Write some more. Wait some more. Check email some more… I wish the writing groundhog could come out of his hidey-hole and tell me what to expect. Do I have another six weeks of winter spanning ahead of me? Or an early spring? I feel Jesus whispering, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Only instead of listening, I’m too busy trying to convince Him that maybe my timeline is better than His. Oh, what a silly person I can be.
Celebrations:
My husband. God’s been doing some amazing work in his life these past couple weeks. It’s like watching a growth spurt in fast-forward. My heart’s always been blessed as his wife, but especially so these days.
Reading another great book. The Shape of Mercy, by Susan Meisner. I’ve been on this wonderful roll with fiction lately. Seems like every novel I pick up sweeps me away, which is rare. I tend to be very picky when it comes to fiction.
Question to Ponder: What are your cares, concerns, and celebrations today?
I love "A Shape of Mercy" – what a great book!! 🙂 enjoy!
I've heard good things about Shape of Mercy!
I'm sorry the revisions are going slow, but at least you're making headway. 🙂 That's a really good thing!
And your hubby, wow, what a blessing. 🙂
Things are going good in my life right now. Kiddos are better, hubby made some money. *grin* I guess I just need to finish this stinkin' book of mine. I'm telling you, the love is just not there right now. *sigh*
Hope you're having a nice weekend!
Hi Katie,
Just wanted to peek in after seeing a comment you made on another blog. I am also a teacher (1st grade), mom (2 daughters, 7 and 2), and aspiring writer. It's always wonderful to find someone in similar shoes! Best of luck!
Lindsey 🙂
Hi Katie,
I'm coming over after seeing your comment on Amy's blog (about The Call). It's nice to meet you here…and I'm grateful for the advice you are offering writers, published and non-published, agented and non-agented alike. Thank you!
I heart you Katie. I pray you hear great news very soon. I'd much rather be in your shoes than mine.
Cares- that I can shed the right words from my over bloated manuscript.
Concerns- that it won't make a difference.
Celebrations- It's DH's B-day tomorrow. We celebrated with family tonight and will watch movies all day tomorrow.
Happy early Valentines Day! XOXO
I just found your blog on another blog that I'd been recently blog stalking. Loved your post today. I haven't started querying my YA MS yet, but I'm ready to. I'm just procrastinating at the moment.
I'm very new at this blogging deal, but I've been stalking around and I love that all of the writers that I am finding are so much like me. It makes this world of writing not so isolating when you can find moms, teachers, and full time impatient writers just like yourself!
I'll be adding you to my blogs to follow and I'd love for you to stop by and check mine out. Us writers must stick together… 🙂
After spending time plotting, I began writing today. After a frustrating hour, I have 360 measly words and an urge to hit the delete key. Sigh.
We're supposed to get a major snowstorm any minute.
On the plus side, I enjoyed a productive week and quality time with my mother.
Blessings,
Susan 🙂
So I'm going to jump right into the celebration part today since I am!! I finally got the go ahead and went to see my office today and fill out the rest of the paperwork. Praise God I start on MONDAY!!
Hang in there, girl! You've totally got what it takes!!!
LOVED the clean, concise yet poignant writing in Shape of Mercy!
Cares: A friend's heavy heart over the terminal illness of her mother
Concerns: Kinda the same
Celebrations: Planning for my Saints world champion party
I'm also reading The Shape of Mercy! I'm moving pretty slow with it though, probably because my life is insane right now. I've heard it's an amazing book, so I'm determined to finish it.
I'm more thankful than ever for my husband since he's out of the country this week. On top of sinus issues, I'm struggling to keep up the household on my own.
Hoping to have a celebration this weekend after the Colts win the Super Bowl. lol
Celebration – I have found a couple of options for my daughter besides homeschooling. That doesn't mean I will definitely stop homeschooling, but it's good to have a choice. I'm definitely going to homeschool her when she hits middle school — too destructive for girls–but it wuld be nice if she could have a little time in a good elementary school before then.
I'm revising, too. Slow going, as is the submission wait. Hang in there!
Thanks for your comments on my blog- Wow to know your agent can't put your back down makes my heart skip!
I loathe that I'm not writing as fast as I want. I long to spew out a couple of thousand words a day!
Katie, you are so right about waiting for the writing ground hog to make its appearance!! That's too cute!
I'm with Robyn. I celebrate all of the wonderful and supportive friends who lift me up in so many ways! Thanks for being one of them!
Katie, you KNOW how much I enjoy reading your posts. They truly bring joy to me. Thank you! You and Jody are my life lines right now as I prepare to submit to agents.
I am thankful that the Lord is truly working in your hubby's life too. Isn't it super to see prayers answered and the wondrous things that the Lord does?
I needed this post today. It gives me hope and hope springs…, well you know. =)
My cares as always are for my sweet Christopher. And the agent hunt. That I choose the right ones. There are SO MANY! =)
I celebrate my blogging friends. I am truly blessed to have all of them. =)
Beautiful post! Just what I needed to hear today..Be still and know that I am God. I've been feeling so down lately with my writing and the future. I'm feeling that perhaps I shouldn't be writing…I"m in the revision process of my WIP (my first one) and am questioning my skill/talent. Yesterday as I was reading my bible, God lead me to John 14:12-14. Isn't it awesome how He knows what we need and when we need it? So, that is my concern and my celebration in one!
Any recommendations on self-editing books?
My care is that you keep reading books I've been wanting to read. When are you gonna send them my way? 😉 Talking to the Dead and The Shape of Mercy…nice! My kids hide books from Meissner. Fun little game.
Great news about the hubby. I hear ya on the editing. I'm going at a snail's pace b/c I have so much to chop through.
Cares: Potty training #3 who is now 3!
Concerns: A letter I recently sent is received well.
Celebrations: Learned of another story to be published. Watching my kids grow more into their skin and learn more about God is a daily celebration. I think I discovered a purpose for the current trial I'm enduring…rest in the confidence of God and His love. As always,trust Him.
~ Wendy
I always love your posts!
Cares: Very excited about starting my book, I am not too far along, but at this stage I am just making sure everything I want is on the paper, revisions can come later.
Concerns: My writing as well, it is both exciting and nerve-wrecking, I notice that I often psych myself out before I even started, so I am slowly working up to the confidence I need. I know I am a good writer, I just need to show myself at times!
Celebrations: It's fabulous Friday! I have an evening with my sister and mom for drinks and a chick flick! Then the weekend with my husband, I am very excited!
Cares: Started a NEW book. SO very excited about it… and trying to find time to actually work on it!
Concerns: Yours are about write for me too. Waiting is difficult at times, but necessary. But maybes are better than nos!
Celebrations: It's FRIDAY!!!! and at work we're having a VERY rare jeans day. Celebration indeed!
Celebrations? The scanner came back after a year and a half of not working! The machine is possessed and I don't care. The scanner's back! Have a great weekend!
I am with you on the revising. I'm editing my first wip and maybe it's because I've learned so much since I started, but I have so much work to do. I think I need to revise in layers, instead of trying to find everything all at once. I know I am missing a ton of stuff! lol Very slow going for me!
Yay on God's hand on your husband! How encouraging to see God at work. I'm sure God has fitted you with your heart's match. 🙂
You always right such beautiful posts. There's a writer's groundhog? We really need to track him down! 😉 I hope you don't have to wait too much longer.