Aspiring Writer – The Snag

In this fascinating world of writing, doubts assail. Especially when our beloved book manuscripts receive one rejection after another.

The Snag

Lord, have I waited too long?

I finished my novel, this time without the niggling feeling that insisted something still needed fixing. I sent it to a published novelist who had offered to read it, and she declare it ready for publication. I then set out to find an agent … 

… only to quickly hit a snag. No replies to many query letters. A polite “pass” on every requested proposal.

Times are hard, Lord, but what’s this all about?

Fear barreled into the dark of my bedroom and hissed in my ear, “Why are you writing your next novel? No one’s even interested in publishing this first one. You don’t have what it takes. What a waste of time! What a waste of the many years you’ve invested.”

Tossing and turning, I finally abandoned my bed and turned on the light in my office. While I prayed and read my Bible, God encouraged me to continue my writing journey.

I gazed at my bookshelves, and then grabbed a book from one of them. I devoured its chapter on finding and working with an agent. The author advised writers not to feel to hurt if an agent wasn’t interested in a first novel. I sighed heavily and read further, my attention soon snagged by the suggestion that a new author might want to query a new agent.

It couldn’t hurt to try. I did have such an agent in mind.

Working through the night, I tweaked and polished both the proposal and the query letter. Would this new agent be the answer to my prayers?

I didn’t know. What I did know was that while “pressed on every side” as I attempted to market this novel, while “crushed or broken” by the current lack of response, the Lord wanted me to “get up again and keep going” ~2 Corinthians 4:8-9, (The Living Bible, Tyndale House Publishers).

God wanted me to trust in him completely (Proverbs 3:5) and work hard (Proverbs 22:29). He wanted me to keep going until I reached my goal.

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Dear Reader, have you hit “the snag”? Are you trying to find an agent without much success? Since God sent you on this journey for good purpose, Iurge you to push past each obstacle until you reach your goal. 

Until next time … blessings to you!

~ Beth

Copyright 2011 Beth Ann Ziarnik