Wendy's Writing World
“We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” ― Anais Nin
I will soon board a plane for a long stay in England. The primary reason for my trip is to spend lots of time with a very dear friend, but I also plan to use the opportunity to move forward with two writing projects — perhaps even three. Being based in London allows me to go to the British Library, the Lambeth Palace Library and other places that will help me expand the research I am currently doing for my next book for Pen & Sword Books. I also plan to map out the Elizabeth I novel I want to write and check the imagined movements of my main character in Shades of Yellow, my next published novel. Yes, Shades of Yellow will be my next published novel. There is no doubt in my mind about that.
But I am trying not to feel low about my lack of success in finding an agent or publisher for this work. While the number of encouraging rejections I have received makes me believe it has come close to finding a good home, I am becoming resigned to the thought I will end up self-publishing this novel next year. Not that there is anything wrong with self-publishing. I just hoped to find a reputable publisher, a publisher that gets their books into bookshops. Truly, and I confess this sometimes feels a biggie, the only thing that frustrates me about being an Indie author is the fact I am not likely to see my books stocked by bookshops.
So, today, after receiving yet another nice rejection for Shades of Yellow, I needed to re-read something I wrote a long, long time ago:
Samuel Beckett once wrote: “Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better”.
I used to be terrified of failure. Years ago, I wrote in my first novel that it was easier to roll up and play hedgehog rather than face what you fear. I think that line birthed from receiving another rejection for that work. Nowadays, I remind myself that failure is not to be feared. What is to be feared is allowing fear the upper hand to navigate our lives. The years have taught me that failure is a powerful learning experience. Sometimes, it seems my particular personal life quest – to unpack an experience of failure and come out stronger for it.
Writers…must learn to deal with failure, or perceived failure. To be a “practicing writer” means to put our work “out there,” in the public realm. Subjectivity will always make its judgement; for a beginner writer, that judgement often means work is returned, rejected. But rejection is something writers with a publishing record go through, too.
What a writer does then sorts out the stayers from the wannabes. A true writer does not give on their craft. Work rejected? All right — that means revisiting it, looking it over with critical eyes once again, maybe even doing a total rewrite. A writer’s skills as a craftsperson are honed and developed through engagement with text – through interrogating their own writing and through interrogating the writing of others.
Want to be a writer? Don’t give up.
So, I’m not giving up. If I self-publish this new novel of mine, so be it. I will do it well.
I will do it not only for myself, but for my wonderful beta readers who have taken the time to read this work and given me the feedback I needed to push it on its journey to publication. I will do it for all those who encourage me.
I will do it because I am well aware of my life’s blessings. I am amazingly supported by friends and family. I really couldn’t write without their support and belief in me.
And I will do it for Val, my darling soul sister, who I plan to dedicate this novel to.
One other thing that has come clear to me in this long writing journey of mine is that committing to this road is committing to the hero/ine’s journey. It’s not easy - but nothing worthwhile in life is easy. But following this road has not only given me an authentic life, but a life of adventure - intellectual and physical.
Looking forward to sharing with you stories of my adventures in England.
Here’s to all of us living lives full of glorious memories!
And what else have I been doing since my last newsletter?
I went on an important ‘artist date’ (time off from creating to be inspired by other creatives) by going to the Melbourne book launch of Lauren Chater’s fourth novel.
Lauren is not only a wonderful writer but also a wonderful human being who I had the joy of sharing accomodation in London during my first weeks there, ticking off the research for All Manner of Things, in 2019. Amazing Lauren was working on three book projects during her time overseas. This book launch welcomed the last of them, The Beauties, into the published world.
I am looking forward to reading it on my flight to London!
Warmly,
Wendy