I’m a competitive person. Probably that comes from being a distance runner for the last 25 years — why wouldn’t I be competitive? My husband is competitive, too. Some of our battles over family game night are epic. Once, in a game of Pictionary that my mother-in-law was videotaping, we checked the film to settle the dispute over who shouted out the right answer first. I wish I was kidding.
But writing is different than running. Writing a book, as best I can tell, is a pretty noncompetitive sport among authors. Boggles the mind, doesn’t it? I mean, there are only so many books published in one year, and only so many agents looking for new authors. Why wouldn’t the book publishing world be ridiculously cut-throat competitive?
Here’s my point — I met a woman from my town today who is also a writer of women’s fiction. I found her name and email on the website for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. She was an absolute joy to talk to — we met for a coffee date that lasted an hour, neither one of us shutting up the entire time. She was super supportive of my work in progress, just as everyone has been thus far. It again proves my point: Writers are amazing people.
I’ve also been blessed to be placed within a critique group. (Again, thank you WFWA!) This small but mighty band of authors is simply the coolest bunch of people ever. We’ve only ever met online, but one of the members invited us all to crash at his place during the WFWA annual convention this fall. Writers rock!
I did get my first official rejection letter last week. It bummed me out, but at the same time, I know I’m just one query closer to representation. I would say, “fingers crossed,” but boy — it would be hard to type with crossed fingers!
Until next time,
LB