Ups and Downs and Ups

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Abstract

sher I pitched during a contest the previous week, and a partial request from an agent I’d queried the previous week. These were both results of the pitch contests I talked about in my “<a href="https://readmedium.com/burnout-f9c3c4870a7d">Burnout</a>” entry, so I’m glad something good came of stretching myself so thin.The partial request came in really late Thursday night, and when I saw that I had a query response in my inbox, I assumed the worst. “Well, I was in a good mood,” I thought, opening the email to see if I at least got a personalized rejection this time. It took my brain a few seconds to believe what my eyes were telling it: Hey, dummy, this is GOOD news.And then I had to laugh. I’m someone who

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doesn’t cope with rejection well, and I’m also someone who likes stability. Unpredictability freaks me out.Trying to become a published writer is arguably the worst possible thing I could have ever decided to do given my overly sensitive, change-resistant, stability-loving personality.And yet, when I’m working on a novel or submitting a story or a query, I know that there is nothing else I’d rather be doing.I’d ❤ a recommend heart if you enjoyed this. You can find a listing of my fiction on Medium <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-handy-list-of-my-fiction-on-medium-6a77d30a330a">here</a>, and I blog occasionally over at <a href="http://nicolewillson.com/blog/">my personal website</a>.</article></body>

Ups and Downs and Ups

(Or: Life During Querying.)

So this week has had some real highs and lows. At least it seems to be finishing on a high note.

On Monday I set a personal record that I really hope never gets broken: I got two agent rejections for my current manuscript. Ouch. Don’t get me wrong: I’m thankful that they replied at all so I could update Querytracker and stop wondering, but still. That sucked.

But on Thursday? That same manuscript got a full request from a publisher I pitched during a contest the previous week, and a partial request from an agent I’d queried the previous week. These were both results of the pitch contests I talked about in my “Burnout” entry, so I’m glad something good came of stretching myself so thin.

The partial request came in really late Thursday night, and when I saw that I had a query response in my inbox, I assumed the worst. “Well, I was in a good mood,” I thought, opening the email to see if I at least got a personalized rejection this time. It took my brain a few seconds to believe what my eyes were telling it: Hey, dummy, this is GOOD news.

And then I had to laugh. I’m someone who doesn’t cope with rejection well, and I’m also someone who likes stability. Unpredictability freaks me out.

Trying to become a published writer is arguably the worst possible thing I could have ever decided to do given my overly sensitive, change-resistant, stability-loving personality.

And yet, when I’m working on a novel or submitting a story or a query, I know that there is nothing else I’d rather be doing.

I’d ❤ a recommend heart if you enjoyed this. You can find a listing of my fiction on Medium here, and I blog occasionally over at my personal website.