Sometimes, the writing journey feels like a never-ending slab of cement. Cold. Hard. Monotonous. You send out queries. Nothing happens. You get a request for a partial or a full. Nothing happens. You write and you write and you write and you wait and you wait and you wait. And you wonder.
What if this is it?
What if this never happens?
What if I stand on this cement for ever and ever?
I know those questions. Because I asked them many times. While I stood on my own personal slab of cement, not-knowing if I’d ever get off. Wondering if anything was happening.
But I also learned something. Not once I got a contract. But before. In the midst of the waiting.
God is working.
Maybe in the way we want Him to work. Maybe not. Either way, He’s working. Until eventually you look down and there, growing up from the cracks, is something unexpected. Something that doesn’t belong. Something you didn’t think you’d see until you hopped off your cement onto the green-covered hills of publication.
Maybe it’s a friend you didn’t think you would make. Or a piece of writing that revealed a truth you didn’t grasp until you wrote it. Or that person at work who asked to read your story and when you let her, it left a mark. Maybe it’s simply finding peace in the midst of the unknown. Or the joy that comes when we let go and trust.
That He’s working. He has a purpose for why you are where you are. He has things He wants to show you. Ways He wants to use you. Things He wants to give you. You just have to be willing to look past your expectations and see them.
Let’s Talk: What unexpected gifts have you found on your journey?
Perfect words for me tonight, friend. Thank you for letting God speak through you.
Simply beautiful, Katie. Thank you for sharing. xo Jennifer
Take two (blogger ate my comment)
I SO needed this! I love the fact not only is He working, but it is a master plan.
I like this post. It is so true we never know how God is working in our lives and what miracle he is creating just for us. The importance is to learn from the experience and to live in the moment. It is discouraging of course but when we recognize what is being done for us it is worth it.
Yay! This is soo true! I've found lots of friends, writers who think like me. I'm not a weird person anymore, I'm just a writer. *grin*
Beautiful post! Thanks for the reminder!
Well said. Those "what if?" questions end up leading to anxiety (which is often unnecessary). Although it may not be how we expect, God is working in the midst of everything we deal with everyday…
Such a GOOD point Sally!!
Great post, Katie. What I've found while I've been waiting is the joy I have in my family–and that waiting for my dream doesn't mean the waiting is misery. I have a fabulous husband and three great kids. We laugh a lot together; we have a great time together.
I do think the writing will come, but there's still a lot of life to be lived, a lot of things to be doing while I'm waiting. And that realization has made the wait totally bearable.
I love this =) For me, the unexpected gifts have involved writing a piece of writing that revealed a truth I didn't grasp while writing it and a person who has read my writing and it's left a mark. Also just knowing that know matter what my writing journey looks like at the moment, I know God has it all in his hands.
The unexpected friend. When I read that, I nodded. It's all about being open to those possibilities.
I must echo the others. The friendships I've made along the way have enriched my life. They've become prayer partners, as well as writing buddies.
The many friendships I've made have been one of the biggest blessings by far, one that surprised and delighted me.
Such a great post, Katie! After some recent discouragements, God used writer friends to encourage me and then He turned around and used my experiences to encourage someone else. I love it when that happens. Reminds me I'm not in this alone.
I love the thrill of expectation. I love learning new things. I love the joy in fulfilling a part of myself that could be fulfilled in no other way.
Friendship and perseverance are two that come to mind automatically.
Love those pics. A single flower in the midst of cement. Wonderful!
You wrote it better than I could -"Maybe it's simply finding peace in the midst of the unknown. Or the joy that comes when we let go and trust." This is exactly what I learned before the contract, and I'm still learning every day!
A wonderful post, Katie. I've found encouragement when I least expected it and many treasured friendships.
Definitely people. People that I met along the way are the greatest gift God has given me on my journey.
So many good people willing to take a moment from their precious time to encourage or help…and real friendships.
This is something I saw in my wait for publication, too–God working in unexpected ways. It's been amazing to watch the work He has done and how things tied together–things that I didn't see while they were happening, but in hindsight, it was amazing and beautiful.
Wish I'd been as wise as this when I was as young as you are. Yes, He is working on our behalf, every minute. Thanks for the reminder.
I've made some excellent, nourishing friendships along the path to publication. Standing on the cement together makes the waiting seem a little easier.
Have a great week! Are you counting down to end of school? All your students are going to cry, but you did the right thing, believe me.
Brogan will thank you when he's 20 or so.
I agree with everyone else. Also for me, an unexpected bible study! I've been toying with an idea of taking one of the stories in the OT and trying to turn it into a YA. I have no idea how to do it AND I need to study up on the book itself. I was feeling really defeated the other day when suddenly I saw on my church's website that a Beth Moore bible study was going to start on the exact book that my idea has come from! Who knows if my story will actually get written, but it looks like I'm supposed to be there!
I won't be original, but I agree with the other commenters. The friendships are the best unexpected gift.
I have to agree w/ Erica. It is the people.
Last year I started a group blog w/ two other writers that I met at NCWA Conference. I never thought about blogging when I started writing fiction, but God did.
In fact, last Thursday's post was titled "What matter's most?"
The answer: People!
http://www.faithchats.blogspot.com
It's the people. Def. the people.
Friendships and teachers/mentors willing to guide
My unexpected gifts are my cherished friendships I've made in the writing world. They're worth more than any book contract. These friends get me and still love me. 😉
You.
Countless gifts, but the ones that mean the most are relationship-related.
Katie, this post rocks!
~ Wendy
Wonderful friends that I've met along the way. More than just acquaintences for which I am thankful! :O)
The irreplaceable friendships; that I actually can write fiction (who knew?!?!); that truths, once considered dead, can come gulping back to life through imagined characters. Thanks, Katie. I needed this!
So many things! I've learned to have faith in myself and my ability to do this crazy thing called writing. Some days the faith isn't as strong but I then try to remind myself just how far I've come. Other days I'll look back on something I wrote and be well and truly astounded that that came out of me! Honestly, I didn't expect it to be so hard. I didn't expect to feel the sting of every rejection, and although this does lessen over time, a little part of me still wants to curl up in a ball and cry. And I know I'm going to have to grow even tougher skin now that I'm published. The biggest blessing, and totally unexpected out of my writing journey so far has been all the wonderful friends I have made along the way. I wouldn't trade that for the world.
Definitely friendships! And I love looking back every few months to see what I've learned. 🙂
Sometimes I go through life with blinders on. I'm so focused on one thing, whether it is writing, family, or church, that I forget to see God in my daily walk.
Thank you for the reminder. I needed it!