A couple of weeks ago my family went on a last minute mini vacation close to home. It was fun to just get away, relax and be together. We went canoeing, shopping, sight-seeing, adventure sporting and Mama loved not having to cook the whole time. ;)
We spent one day at a large amusement park in the area. Since it was a weekday and somewhat late in the season, the park was fairly empty. We didn't have to stand in any lines and rode our favorite rides over and over. It was one of my best days ever.
The next day we went to a mountain resort with a three-mile coaster, two-mile slide, and an extreme zip line. It was a blast, but there were HUGE lines reminiscent of Disney at peak season and cost us way more than the amusement park did. Our assessment? It was not worth the wait and we would have rather gone to the amusement park again.
Writing, and especially traditional publishing, is composed of a whole lot of waiting. Waiting for critiques, query responses, contract offers, edit notes, release days, etc. For the average writer it takes years and years before getting published. This industry is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. It requires patience, patience, and more patience.
The question is, is it worth it? I think the answer is different for everyone. I'm sure there were people in that ultimate coaster line who'd say yes, it was definitely worth the wait. I'm just not one of them. Luckily for me, the waiting I've had to endure on the road to publishing hasn't been easy, but it's definitely been worth it so far.
What kind of waiting have you had to do in the world of writing? Do you think it's worth the wait?
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| Fifi with her pony face finishing off an ice-cream...summer bliss. |
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| Bear and Gigio getting ready for the pirate ship ride, buccaneer whiskers and all. |
Writing, and especially traditional publishing, is composed of a whole lot of waiting. Waiting for critiques, query responses, contract offers, edit notes, release days, etc. For the average writer it takes years and years before getting published. This industry is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. It requires patience, patience, and more patience.
The question is, is it worth it? I think the answer is different for everyone. I'm sure there were people in that ultimate coaster line who'd say yes, it was definitely worth the wait. I'm just not one of them. Luckily for me, the waiting I've had to endure on the road to publishing hasn't been easy, but it's definitely been worth it so far.
What kind of waiting have you had to do in the world of writing? Do you think it's worth the wait?
17 comments:
Never wait on something if it's not worth it. I went from planning to go the traditional route to putting that off until 2015 while I instead self-publish but even that has a waiting period since I want to put out my best. Glad the wait was worth it for you and that you and your family had fun on your mini-vacay.
I am back in the query trenches and the waiting is driving me crazy, but I am just happy that I am trying to do something about achieving my dream. Your vacation sounds amazing and the fact that you didn't have to cook sounds great.
When there's a long line at a park, it sucks all the fun out of it.
And as far as publishing, it was definitely worth the wait.
Amusement parks, I think I'd skip the wait. For writing, the wait is worth it. (It better be, like you said, there is a ton of it!) It does drive me crazy some times, but it's something I just have to deal with.
I'm not a fan of waiting in lines, but I'm all about waiting for traditional publishing...we'll see what I say 10 years down the road:)
Querying was an epic time-sink, but it taught me patience. :)
I'm going to parrot what my friend Rachel said above. I'm NOT a fan of waiting on amusement parks, but when it comes to writing, I've got so much more patience because I know it will be worth it in the end. (I hope..)
PS: great pictures and I'm glad you were able to get away and have a good time.
I love roller coasters almost as much as I love writing, so what I do when I'm waiting in those long lines, is I have my small writing notebook and pen ready. I can get a lot done on my WIP waiting in that long line.
I add writing to as much as my life as I can. :)
I'm not sure I'll ever be a patient person, but I have had to learn great lessons of patience again and again in the path to publishing and, even more so, in real life. Not fun, but I guess I'm stronger for it.
I think it's worth it. Besides, at least we can say waiting in the publishing industry is never boring...it's more like forever being stuck ON a roller coaster. ;)
Not for the faint of heart, indeed.
I'm glad your waiting is paying off, Ilima!
Glad you got a break and had fun. Those mini-vacations are my favorite.
Patience was not my strength when I started this journey. I'll let you know if the wait was worth it when I can see the front of the line ;)
Oh gosh... it's verrrrry difficult. Because it's so EMOTIONAL. It's so hard not to doubt our ability and whether we can even make it in this business. But I LOVE to read success stories and know that it *is* possible.
:D
I'm all about circumventing the lines by being wise. I think with writing you can miss out on building your audience while waiting in line--but that's only if your work is truly ready to go--if you've put in the sweat, blood and tears that every writer must dedicate to mastering (or at least gaining an adequate knowledge) of their art.
P.S. You've been nominated for an award on my blog today!
WAITING is HARD, but I think if we care about it enough, it's worth it! Most things that are hard to do are worth it!
Great post! I would love to do the mini vacation late in the season when it's not so crowded! Good thinking!
It has been worth it for me so far. The thing is, it never ends. You get to a point you thought were waiting for and then it just turns out there's more beyond that to wait for. That's why it's so important, I think, to not think of it as waiting. Find someone awesome to talk to in line and before you know it, you might be sad to get out of the line!
i'm desperately waiting on the wip to wip itself. is that too much to ask for??? i'm glad you were distracted with family though! your kids are so cute
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