Well, it’s been a rough week in the writing trench. I waited with baited breath for the phone to ring with news of my making the semifinals of a writing contest – nope. Didn’t happen. Didn’t make the list. The next day I heard from an editor that “our team decided to pass” on my book. He’d had my proposal for 7 months. Ok, maybe I should have followed up sooner…blah blah whatever. All my leads have dried up. There is no wind in my sails. I’m dead in the water.
And while I await my scores and critiques from the contest (oh joy), I have to ponder my expensive trip to a writer’s conference last Fall to meet said editor and agents (who also turned me down). Was it worth it? At this point I want to say no. The hardest part is knowing that God wanted me there. I gathered up all my courage, pulled out all my professionalism from my former career, and went in there with my guns blazing. I did the best I could. And in retrospect, I did get an agent and an editor to request my stuff. Not bad I suppose for a first try. But really, what was the point?
And where do I go from here?
I feel kind of like Tim Tebow. Cut loose from the NY Jets, he doesn’t have a clue where he will be playing football next year. And he’s gotta play football. But here’s what he said: “I don’t know what the future holds, but at the end of the day I know who holds my future.”
I feel for you, Tim. I’m right there too. And thanks. I needed to hear that today.
From Psalm 34:
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
