Be Thankful

Being an aspiring novelist is not always fun: there’s the anxiety of searching for an agent, the feeling that I’m not good enough, and the constant wondering if publication will ever happen. But hey, it’s not always bad news. The best thing about being a novelist is the actual writing-- typing at home, on my own time, taking tangents and running in my own direction.

Writing freelance is way different, and can suck, no doubt. I’ll pitch ideas that I don’t really like, just so I can get the job. A story is assigned, which is usually my least favorite of my many pitches, and then I’m spending hours researching some topic that doesn’t interest me. When I’m writing a novel, there is no creative disconnect like that, I’m always interested, and better be, it’s all mine.

I guess what I am saying is, I’m lucky. It’s Thanksgiving time, so count my blessings, and maybe it is good that my novels are unpublished. Once I am published, things might change. My agent or publisher could say, “Hey do this”, or, “Can you take more of this direction?” or “Cut this part,” which is probably the best part. Then I will be sitting here typing and complaining, feeling like I’m working for them and not me.

I must savor the opportunity to hone my new, foundational ideas, those gems especially found in the early stages of a novel when there is a slight lean towards certain plot points, but otherwise it’s all bliss and flying blind, soaring on creative wings. And later reading it back, laughing, and cutting out all the random crap, that’s fun too, it’s a release, letting go, it’s therapy.

So again, writers, be thankful, even if your novel is not published, that’s okay. You are your own boss, with no judgments and no expectations. Being unpublished brings independence to your creativity like it will never see again.