Ignorance really can be bliss

I don't know many writers (or anyone really) that say they like waiting. Whether it's waiting to finish a story, waiting to hear back on queries, waiting to hear back on submissions - the list goes on and on and on and on when it comes to what we wait for. BUT. Waiting can be good. Ok, I know, I know this sounds a little crazy. Hear me out.

Tonight when I was outside enjoying the incredible full moon I got to thinking about things. Of course since I'm currently waiting on something major my mind went there. Instead of telling myself to quit dwelling on it or to think of safer things that didn't involve doubting my writing and other destructive pointless thoughts, I went with it.

And it stopped. Instead I started to realize that this in between phase, a place where I can enjoy the fact that I've come far enough to warrant agents attention but without suffering the heartache of rejection. See? Not so bad! It's actually a pretty sweet place to be. The problem is we usually don't realize the bliss of such places and phases until we pass through them. Like being a teenager or waiting for a big promotion. The wait for what's to come can be absolutely consuming. And the closer you get the more intense the waiting becomes.

So here's my little piece of advice next time you get totally absorbed in waiting. Stop and take a deep breathe and remind yourself to enjoy what's happening right now. Bask in the glory of what you have accomplished, whether it be finishing a chapter or accepting an offer from an agent, enjoy it for what it is at that moment. It doesn't always make the whole unknown part any easier but it sure makes you grateful for the fact that you're in a place you weren't yesterday and may not be tomorrow.

Me, I'm honestly loving the thought that today, right this second, I'm a girl with two agents reading my full and that's two more than I had a week ago. Tomorrow I could be a girl with no agents reading my fulls. Hmm, see what I mean? Today is looking pretty damn good!