By Emilie Haney, @emhaneyauthor
Let’s face it—the publishing industry runs a little slow. This means there are times when we as writers will face the dreaded “waiting” time. What we do with that time is important.
I’ve recently come out of a season of waiting—and I don’t mean a few days or even a few months. I mean years.
I started my writing journey young writing stories in notebooks and dreaming up imaginary worlds for my Barbies. That progressed to writing a novella for publication when I was a senior in high school and finding out just how hard publishing can be. While still writing on the side, I pursued other endeavors until 2012 when I went to my first ACFW conference and committed to getting a book published.
That’s right. It took me ten years to get a traditional contract for my book.
Before you run away crying saying you can’t wait ten years—let me say I did a lot of things during that time that helped me further my writing career. I even indie published several books under a pen name in order to hone my craft.
I was active in my waiting, and it did me a world of good. I think it can for you as well!
10 Things to Do While You Wait
- Rest
Are you burned out from editing the 9,234 version of your novel? Did you push yourself to the brink over a deadline you almost missed? Assess yourself honestly and take a time of rest if you need it. - Read
Attack that towering TBR (to be read) pile you’ve got on your nightstand. Let the creativity of others refresh and excite you. - Dream
Take time to dream of plot ideas, fun scenarios, quirky characters, and stunning settings. Take notes, start a Pinterest board, read research books. Let the blessing of time grow your ideas. - Plan
What are your next steps? If you’re waiting on an agent or publisher to respond, or perhaps waiting on edits to be returned, plan out your next steps. Consider what other ideas you have. Could you plan a standalone? Plot a series connected in a different way than what you’ve already written? Let the ideas flow. - Build
Strengthen relationships through your email list, website, and social media. Don’t wait until you have a book in your hands to expand your audience.
- Connect
Refresh yourself by connecting with other authors. Offer to beta read, critique with a partner, video chat about books and writing, meet up for coffee. Be refreshed by others in all areas of the publishing industry. - Learn
Learn more about your writing craft. Read recommended writing books, purchase a course to watch, read through the blogs on this website (for free!). Spend time working on how you write now, so that it can come into play later. - Research
What other opportunities are out there? Look into “write for hire” publishers, ghostwriting, or article writing to grow your portfolio and experience. - Write
Time is a glorious thing, and free time does wonders for a writer. Consider those dreams and plans, what you’ve learned about your craft, and then write! My suggestion for writers waiting on an agent or publisher is always to write the next book*. Be productive in your waiting, but don’t let it be the only thing you focus on. - Trust
Last, but not least, trust the Lord in the waiting. It’s hard—especially if you’re waiting on good news about your book—but trust that God has you in the right spot even when it feels like (to you) you should be somewhere else. He has you right where you need to be.
My period of waiting was filled with all of these listed things. I rested at first but then dreamed of where I wanted to go, planned, connected with an audience, spent time with other writers, honed my craft, and was ready to go when opportunities arose.
Waiting isn’t without difficulties, and it’s never truly over (even after a contract), but I’ve found purpose and peace through active waiting. I hope you can too!
“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”
– Isaiah 30:18
*I don’t usually recommend starting the second book of an uncontracted series, but instead suggest focusing on something “new”. This can show the diversity of your portfolio to a publisher or agent. Oftentimes, once under contract, the first book shifts through editing and means that the second book would shift too.
She won’t stop until she’s proven her worth.
He promised to always protect her.
EMT Andi Crawford is close to achieving her goal. She’s reached probationary status as a firefighter with the Eastside Firehouse and only needs to convince her older twin brothers—and herself—that she’s cut out for the job. Yet the daily challenges of a female firefighter fade to the background when her family becomes the target of a dangerous drug cartel with ties to a client Andi’s mother represented as a defense attorney. Andi will stop at nothing to protect her family.
Even if that means accepting help she doesn’t think she needs.
ATF Agent Jude Brooks is back in Last Chance County tasked with uncovering information on the family that took him in during his summers as a teen. It seems impossible the Crawfords are connected to a dangerous cartel leader, but Jude’s by-the-book attitude won’t let him approach his job any other way. As he wades through a web of leads, the feelings he tried so hard to avoid resurface. Andi’s as headstrong as she was as a teen, but her acceptance of him is a balm to the hurts from his childhood. He’s determined to uncover the truth—for her and himself.
If the secrets of the past don’t tear them apart.
Emilie Haney (also writing under the pen name Bell Renshaw and E. A. Hendryx) grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has a love for the outdoors that matches her love for the written word. In addition to writing, she is a graphic designer who creates promotional graphics for writers, designs book covers, and has built a thriving community around her Instagram platform and brand CreateExploreRead. Emilie writes young adult sci-fi and fantasy as well as adult contemporary fiction with strong themes of romance and suspense and believes that–no matter what–love fights for what’s right. Connect with her: www.eahcreative.com, Instagram, Etsy