8 Stages of Waiting to Be Published

I’ve had a blast these past few Wednesdays creating 8 Stagesof Writing a Novel & 8 Stages of Procrasti-writing.

For my last 8 Stages of…I’m going to tackle the big bad beast of WAITING.

As with grief, when we wait we often feel like things are out of our control. Especially if we’re trying to get published traditionally waiting can become excruciating. But as with all things, it can also be what we make of it. Today I’m making a little fun with it. It’s what I do. Laugh to stay sane.

Quick review of the stages of grief:

Denial & Isolation
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

Now for the 8 Stages of Waiting to Be Published:

Blessed Naivety

No idea how long this will take. But I’m good at waiting. I’ve got this. No biggie. I’ll just keep busy and the time will fly. (Any published authors laughing yet?)

Denial & Isolation

This is what I like to call the fanciful denial stage. I tell myself I’m not waiting. I get all wrapped up in some massive project. But at some point, likely when the project is nearing an end, I’m sure to bump up against feelings of isolation. I come down with an Eeyore bug. “I’m all alone in the world.” (*See* Frodo in spider’s lair before he finds the Elven light, Phial of Galadriel). “Everyone else is getting published.” Ho hum.
 
Anger
 
What the hey? Why is this taking so long? I get all Sally Field on myself. Like me…somebody like me! And then I get all Cheap Trick on myself. I want you to want me! Dagnabit.

Bargaining

What can I do to speed this thing along? I’ll write more. I’ll build a platform so impressive it rivals the Taj Mahal. I’ll sell my kidney. No, no I wouldn’t do that…unless…

Depression

Woe is me. Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, why don’t I go eat worms.

Stubborn Persistence

Yeeha Grandpa. Hop back up on my saddle. Remember why I’m in this. Fall back in love with writing. Doin’ my thang.

Acceptance

Here’s where I experience the “Alladin” moment. You know, when Alladin is chillin’ on the magic carpet outside Jasmine’s palace balcony. He holds his hand out to her and says, “Do you trust me?” Pretty sure I’ve heard my agent utter those exact same words to me. (Like how I made you Alladin in this example, Rachelle?) J

Between my own skill, my agent, and my God, I need to find the courage to leap off the balcony (sounds crazy, but we’re writers, we get it.)

Elation

Well, would you look at that, they offered a contract! Go figure. Waiting is over. Ha! (Laughing harder now, published authors?)

And somehow we fling ourselves through each stage over and over again. We do the Maytag merry-go-round as we cycle through these all too familiar emotions.

Notice how similar the Stages of Waiting are to the Stages of Grief? Hmm…Which stage do you feel like you’re in right now?

*photo by stock.XCHNG

8 Stages of Writing a Novel

Likely you’ve heard of the five stages of grief, yes? Well maybe you didn’t know there are eight stages of composing a novel. (Making this up. But let’s go along with it for the sake of this post.)

Quick review of the stages of grief:

Denial & Isolation
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance

Now for the universal stages of writing a novel:

Brilliance

The birth of the idea or character.  You are pure genius.

Enamored

The characters, the plot, the setting…all of it. You’re in love with all of it. Words spill out of you. The sun shines brighter. Bluebirds land on your windowsill, serenading you with a song you’re pretty sure you can interpret as “You are made for this writing gig.”

Frustration

Ack. You’ve hit a stale patch. What to do here? Invent a nemesis? Stop writing? Delete everything you’ve written? Create a new story? You slam your hand in the window while shutting it to block out the jabbering birdie. Ack!

Confusion

Wait, you thought you were born to write this story. What’s going on? Why the lull? Why the lack of tension, or characters weaker than tea that’s been steeped for mere seconds? Why? Why? Why?

Doubt & Fear

You’re only halfway in. Not sure you can do this. Bit off entirely more than you can chew. No one will read this. No one will buy this. No. No. No.

Perseverance

Suckin’ it up. Getting back on the horse. Cantering. Shoving the words on the page with the effort one might use to smash a bullfrog into a thimble. I will do this. I must accomplish THIS!

Shock

The End. Typed. You stare, scrunch your nose, then reread the words. Me, you think. I did that? Why yes, you very well did.

Release

After a good scrub, shake down, declawing, shave, bath with stringent soap, and 182 other ways to edit your work, you find a way to let it go. Into an agent’s hands. To the Internet. To a publishing house. Take your pick. Find your way. But no matter, you release it and watch it soar.

Which stage resonates with you most?

*planning to continue with these 8 Stages of ____________ over the next few Wednesdays
**photos by stock.XCHNG