Lindsay Harrel, @LindsayHarrel
If you’ve been writing and pursuing publication for any length of time, then you know an essential truth about the business: it involves a LOT of waiting.
Waiting for critique partners to get your material back to you.
Waiting to snag an agent.
Waiting for a contract (if you’re traditionally published).
Waiting to receive your cover from the designer.
Waiting for feedback from your editor.
Waiting for reviews to come in.
Basically, as an author, you’d better get comfortable with the process of waiting—and you’d better start developing the art of patience.
Easier said than done, though, especially for those of us who like to plan. We planners like to know what’s coming and what our year will look like. Problem is, we can’t always know. And that drives us crazy!
But why?
I’ve been in a season of waiting—both in my writing life and “normal” life—and have been asking myself this very question. Why does it bother us so much that we don’t know if we’ll get another contract, or get to go on that trip, or achieve that goal, or fill-in-the-blank?
Ultimately, I think it’s because we like to be in control. And when we have to admit that we aren’t—that we never really have been—it’s a hard pill to swallow.
God’s been stretching me in this season, and it’s caused me to ask myself what my motivation is in all of this. It’s also made me ask a two-part question that’s honestly frightening: Do I really trust that God has a plan for my life, and that his plan is good?
The thing is, “good” is relative. “Good” doesn’t always mean what we want it to. It doesn’t mean everything turns out perfect—it doesn’t even mean things are always fair. But it does mean that whatever happens will be something that will shape us and make us more like Jesus.
And I think it also means he will lead us toward our greater purpose, which has always been to bring hope and truth to others.
In my season of waiting, I’ve been realizing that there are things that I simply don’t have control over. However, there are some things I do—and those are the ways in which I react to my situation and the choices I make in the meantime.
If you’re in a season of waiting, you might find the following actions empowering. I know I have:
- Take time to really pray about the direction God has for your life. Remember the verse Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father through him.” Whether your words are ever published or not, whether you win all the awards or zero, consider whether you are doing all you can to commit to living out this truth.
- Work on the next thing. If you’re waiting to hear about the fate of a book or proposal, start writing the next one. There’s literally nothing you can do about Book 1, but Book 2 is just waiting to be written. If you really don’t have it in you to write just now, then find some amazing craft books and spend time learning. Work on improving your social media platform. Volunteer to judge a writing contest and give back. Staying busy does a lot to take your mind off the waiting game.
- Take a break. Going the complete opposite route, just take some time away from writing if you can. When I finish editing a book, I often take several weeks off and allow myself bucket loads of time to read and spend extra time with my family. It’s quite refreshing to remember that there is LIFE outside of my writing life and career.
Use your waiting as a time of growth—both as a writer and as a person. Dive into the unknown and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
The Secrets of Paper and Ink
As a counselor, Sophia Barrett is trained to help people cope with their burdens. But when she meets a new patient whose troubles mirror her own, she realizes she hasn’t dealt with the pain of her recent past. After making a snap decision to get away for the summer, Sophia moves overseas to an apartment above a charming bookstore in Cornwall, England. She is hopeful she will find peace there surrounded by her favorite thing: great literature.
Bookstore owner Ginny Rose is desperate to save her business without asking for help from a husband who’s decided to take a break from their marriage. Ginny never imagined she’d be solely responsible for keeping afloat her husband’s dream, but the unexpected friendship with her new renter has her feeling more optimistic. Between the two of them—and Ginny’s brother-in-law, William—the bookstore might stand a chance.
Then Sophia finds a notebook in the bookstore that contains journal entries from Emily Fairfax, a governess who lived in Cornwall more than 150 years ago. Sophia learns that Emily harbored a secret passion for becoming an authoress—as well as a deep love for her childhood friend, Edward, whose station she dared not dream to touch.
Eager to know more of Emily’s story, Sophia goes on a quest—dragging Ginny and William with her—to discover the heart of the woman behind the beautiful entries. Soon Ginny’s need to save the bookstore becomes more than a way to save her marriage, and Sophia finds new purpose of her own. Together they find that sometimes both heartache and hope can reach across the centuries.
Lindsay Harrel is a lifelong book nerd who lives in Arizona with her young family and two golden retrievers in serious need of training. She’s held a variety of writing and editing jobs over the years, and now juggles stay-at-home mommyhood with writing novels. Her debut novel, One More Song to Sing, was a finalist in the 2017 ACFW Carol Awards. When she’s not writing or chasing after her children, Lindsay enjoys making a fool of herself at Zumba, curling up with anything by Jane Austen, and savoring sour candy one piece at a time. Connect with her at http://www.LindsayHarrel.com or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.