Squirrels & Patience

I've already checked off one of my Month of September Goals: going camping with my sister. It was way fun. With my sisters help, we built our own fire (the first one we've ever built on our own). What fun, huh?! Our tin foil dinners chuck full of chicken, onions, peppers, and zucchini turned out excellent and super tasty. We've set up tents a dozen times. That wasn't hard at all. Of course I didn't sleep particularly well, even with the blowup mattress. No problemo. It was all for the fun and to have some bonding time with my sis. I will relate this to writing, so just wait. But for now, here are some pictures:

 

The campsite was infested (in a good way) with squirrels and chipmunks.

I captured this super cute picture. Pretty dang cute, huh?

Look at the squirrel photo... Okay, now that you've enjoyed my amazing photography skills, I will expound upon it. Ok, everyone can capture a picture in some way, shape, or form. It may look different depending on the camera, the skill, the opportunity, etc... But a lot about photography is patience. I waited for about ten minutes to capture that photo. I must have taken eight or nine pictures before I got it just right.

With writing, it's the same. It takes patience. Patience to plot, write, edit, query, go on submissions, and perhaps starting all over again. But the patience pays off, even if it is just the satisfaction of completing a chapter or a first draft, all the way up to getting your story published.

So be patient, my dear followers. Be kind to yourselves. And breathe. :D

So, how do you keep yourself calm while writing in order to be patient? How have your camping trips been? Or are you a Ritz Hotel kind of person?

Writing. Jewels.

Photography Copyright Julia King 2012

Writer's Woes

As a writer, I've gone through the roller coaster of ups and downs. And many times, for that matter. I know all of you writers can completely understand and empathize. Lately, I've been feeling the lows of author-hood. There are so many hats I've got to wear, so many things to do, and lack of confidence in my words that it could fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool. And by golly, my patience is waning.

Who knows how I'll feel tomorrow... Right?

I'm gonna be honest here: Writing isn't fun and games all the time. So often, I feel down in the dumps like all the hard work will never pay off. But then I write a great scene, and my confidence comes back. I smile and feel like the "King" of words again. Forgive the play on words.

I guess the point I'm getting at is I'm exhausted with all I've got to do--work, writing, social networking, socializing, sleeping, eating, etc...

But. And this is a huge-tastic BUT! (No play on words intended here)

The thing is I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP!

There has been many times I've dropped on my butt and said, "This is it. I'm caving. I'm done." 

Did I? Obviously, nope. See this is how people get published, go the distance, run the race all the way, eat all of the pie, etc...

My point here is DON'T GIVE UP! You're almost there--one word, sentence, paragraph, page, chapter, book away from finishing. When you feel like it's too hard, scratch your head, get a drink of water, and turn on your computer again. Type some words and get back into the game--the fun and games of writing. 

If Julia King (me) can do it----> anyone can!

What are your tips to overcome the woes of writing? Or friends, you can just vent out your frustrations to me. I'll listen.   

Writing. Jewels.

Writer's Patience

I have never, ever been a patient person. Just ask my parents. They can definitely attest to my needy ways. I want things. Now. NOW. NOW!

As a writer, you never get things right when you want 'em. What it's called is the awful waiting game. First, the initial writing/editing can take forever. Second, querying can take ages. Waiting for agents to get back to your query, or partials and fulls can be agonizing. It made me turn into an obsessive email checker. I'm still trying to shake the ugly habit. Your life revolves around getting the all-important response.

Getting to the point, over the past week, I've had a huge epiphany that's so against my nature. It scares me lots. I wonder who stole me and where they put my body. Well, folks, I'm learning to be patient. Not only in this area of my life but others, too. If anything, my perspective has changed to I won't get everything right away. I've decided to take a serious chill pill. There's no reason to be a stress bucket as usual. Just breathe and be happy!

I'd say if anyone wants to obtain the virtue of patience, then become a writer. It'll try you more than you could ever think possible.

Writing requires waiting for the right time for those beautiful yes's to come. It may be the hardest thing you'll ever deal with, but will help you to achieve that inner peace or zen desired in life. Embrace the waiting. Love it! Feel it! Cry for it if you must, then pick yourself up and move forward.

One thing that helped me during the waiting was writing my next book straight away. I was able to detach from the manuscript I was querying. Focusing my energy elsewhere proved extremely useful in not getting down. I fell in love with my WIP to the point I was able to cope with the rejections.

Anyway, what's the hardest part about being patient in writing for you? How do you cope with it? What's your advice?