Thank you, Samantha, for inviting me to visit Chick Lit Plus today! I’m thrilled to be here.
I spent a lot of time thinking about what I’d like to say, and then I remembered a blog I wrote four years ago in which I said writing is about doing the legwork. Well, four years later, writing is still about doing the legwork, even though much has changed for me during that time.
I took a break from deadlines and promotion to watch my two-year-old grow into a beautiful, funny, and smart six-year-old. I shopped two new series proposals, neither of which sold. After thirteen contracted books, the rejections were tough to swallow, but did they stop me? No.
Writing is about doing the legwork, but it’s also about shifting tactics when you hit a wall. Writing is about coming up with Plan B when Plan A doesn’t work out. It’s about brainstorming Plan C when Plan B falls apart.
Writing is about never saying, “I quit.”
Writing is about believing your dream is worth chasing. It’s about dusting yourself off and trying again each time you face an obstacle in the road. Writing is about reading how-to books, favorite authors, and market news. Writing is about learning pacing, plotting, and story techniques. Writing is about writing—first drafts, second drafts, third drafts, and more. It’s about starting over time after time simply because you refuse to quit, and because the need to write is part of who you are.
Writing is about setting the alarm to wake up two hours before your family to steal time in front of your computer. It’s about staying up far too late—or early—because the story in your head won’t take no for an answer.
Writing is about setting free the words and characters and places in your mind that form so clearly and purely you couldn’t ignore them even if you wanted to. Writing is about creating worlds into which readers might escape for an hour or two or three.
Writing is about accepting that those same worlds won’t appeal to all readers. Some readers will love the story worlds you create. Some readers won’t.
Writing is about believing in your work enough to take the good with the bad. Writing is about moving forward.
What did I do after taking a career break and facing back-to-back rejections? I pulled out the book of my heart—a manuscript my agent liked but didn’t love—and dusted off the story. I watched friends and acquaintances dip their toes into the self-publishing pool, and I thought, “why not?”
I studied the market. I designed a cover. I networked. I planned. I edited and polished. I had my book professionally formatted. Then, when the book was ready, I published.
For me, self-publishing has been a career changer—utterly and completely. CHASING RAINBOWS became a Wall Street Journal and USA TODAY bestseller. I’m about to sign a new two-book women’s fiction contract, even as I make plans to self-publish a new suspense trilogy.
Did I get lucky? Heck, yes!! The self-publishing and e-reader revolution could not have come at a better time for me as an author, but what if I’d stopped after those rejections? What if I hadn’t believed in my story enough to show it to the world?
My parting thought for you all today? No matter whether your goal is New York or Indie publishing…or both, do the legwork.
Believe in yourself. Keep writing.
And never, never quit.
**Everyone who leaves a comment on Kathleen’s tour page will be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card! If you purchase your copy of Chasing Rainbows before March 12 and send your receipt to Samantha (at) ChickLitPlus (dot) com, you will get five bonus entries!**
Connect with Kathleen!
Web: www.kathleenlong.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathleenlong
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KLWords
Thanks for everything, Samantha!