Read on Twitter
I think, as much as it can be a bitter pill to swallow, there’s real truth to what people say about perseverance being the key to getting anywhere in publishing.
And I say that knowing Jenny-from-August would want to slap me for it.
(Sorry for this incoming thread.)
And I say that knowing Jenny-from-August would want to slap me for it.
(Sorry for this incoming thread.)
I spent from 2017 through Sept 2020 buried under rejections.
I had a book not sell on sub.
I started querying again and unlike a lot of friends, my 2nd time around was not quick. I queried 2 books I ADORED that got no traction, racking up more rejections than I care to count
I had a book not sell on sub.
I started querying again and unlike a lot of friends, my 2nd time around was not quick. I queried 2 books I ADORED that got no traction, racking up more rejections than I care to count
When you’re getting rejected on your 3rd MS queried in a year and a half, or even your 1st MS getting rejected for the 70th time, hearing everyone say “keep at it,” keep writing, can be a punch to the gut. Every rejection can feel like the last one you can handle.
I lost all confidence in myself to the point that I couldn’t take even the smallest feedback. Every suggestion was a sign that the story was bad, that I wasn’t good enough, that I shouldn’t bother.
All that self-doubt became physically and emotionally draining. I felt beat up.
All that self-doubt became physically and emotionally draining. I felt beat up.
But even as I was wondering if I was finally done trying to get published, I was still telling myself stories: characters, lines, ideas, popping into my head at quiet moments.
I couldn’t seem to let that part of me go, even if it would have been easier.
I couldn’t seem to let that part of me go, even if it would have been easier.
So I made a deal with myself. I decided I could keep writing only if I did it for ME. Not to publish, not even to share with friends, just for myself.
That’s what I did when I drafted THE MAKE-UP TEST. I’d been thinking about it for a long time, but never bothered to write it because I didn’t think anyone would care about a romance set in grad school. But I cared. So this time, I wrote it. Just for me.
That book gave me back my joy. There’s this moment in it where I laughed so hard writing it that I choked.
While drafting, I started to rediscover the strengths I had as a writer. And while revising, I noticed so many new ways that I’d grown.
While drafting, I started to rediscover the strengths I had as a writer. And while revising, I noticed so many new ways that I’d grown.
I’m still honestly floored by how people are connecting with the story. I really truly thought no one would get my weird nerdy romance where people argue endlessly about Chaucer, but here we are.
I'm so appreciative of everyone who has wanted to read this book or has loved it. I would have been lost without my friends who read and yelled and kept me going as I drafted and revised (you know who you are 
). And I am so excited to see what happens with this book next.
). And I am so excited to see what happens with this book next.
So if you’re feeling stuck, or like you can’t handle any more rejection, or things just feel like they’re never going to happen, I will tell you what everyone told me. Keep going.
BUT don’t do it for the external validation of getting an agent or a book deal. Do it for you. Because you have stories you want to tell yourself. Because you can’t help but bring characters to life. Because your brain paints pictures with words.
If you are writing for yourself, and you keep writing, then you can never fail.
