Writing is a marathon

I have decided that with my writing, while I want it to be career, it is all about the long-term game called endurance.

The last week and really the last year has felt like a sprint. I’ve felt rushed to finish manuscripts, read everything I can about writing, maintain an online social presence and go to as many writing events as I can all because I know what I want, I want to be a writer.

Wendy Orr

Last week I was in a race. I applied for a dream writing-related job, I attended a book launch for Wendy Orr’s latest book, Rescue on Nim’s Island and I went to my second CYA conference. I’ve spent so many months preparing for this wonderful conference. I networked, I had three editor pitches, caught up with old friends and made new friends and I absorbed all I could from workshops. The conference was fantastic, exhausting and all over in a blink of an eye. I can’t wait for next year!

In the workshops with new and old friends at the CYA Conference

While I don’t regret any of the things I’ve done on my holidays, I need to keep things in perspective.

The plain simple truth of it is I already am a writer.   I already have a career. I already passionately love what I do.

So after a year of sprinting, I’ve decided to slow down.

I had three great pitches all of which felt like the fastest and longest 15 minutes of my life. Some of my writing group friends had wonderful successes from these and some disappointing lows. It has been a long time coming for some. While your dreams seem so close sitting in front of an editor instead of in the slush pile, writing heartbreak inevitably comes to all true writers.

But true writers remember the marathon and forge on in spite of what seem like impossible odds.

Here’s some insights I took away from the conference:

- You are allowed description in picture books.
- Each editor has preferences for layout and what they like in manuscripts.
- Remember the one true heart of your story. Don’t lost sight of it!
- Ask to resubmit. (They all said YES.)
- Turn the internet off so you can have quality writing time. Thanks Isobelle Carmody.

So here is what I’m going to do from these appointments. I’m going back to the basics to reformulate some of my picture book manuscripts:

- Brainstorm.
- Know my main character’s intent inside and out.
- Lay my action out over 32-page spread picture book dummy. I’ve already made my worksheet and begun my work.
- Follow the basic rules of writing and trust you know them, but don’t be afraid to try something new. I’m going to try middle-grade for a while.
- It’s okay to be stuck and let your work rest. Sometimes you both need a break from each other.
- Surround yourself with writing people who support you. My friends and I have been through writing highs and lows in the last couple of weeks. You need to ride the writing rollercoaster together. THANK YOU!
- There are many roads to publishing success―traditional, self-publishing, e-books and more. You will find your own way. Here are some success stories from my own writing group Write Links.
- It is okay to spend less time online to do more of what I love, WRITING.

Some of my Write Links rollercoaster buddies

I’m listening to my own advice and I’m off to write. Back to the marathon.