Books & Writing: Waiting

I've been a writer for a good many years and one thing I know is that I don't know it all. There's always something new that comes along, something I thought I understood but realize I really don't get. 

BUT one thing I do know for sure is that writing is all about waiting. We wait for story ideas to formulate in our minds. We wait for guidance from readers and writers, hoping for word back that the brilliant idea we have is truly story worthy. And once the writing begins there are long gaps of time filled with everything but writing and we wait for time to jump back into our story. 

After the writing is done we wait to hear from critique partners, agents and editors. Is the work worthy of publishing? Once it is ready to send off to a publisher there is the agonizing wait for word from the senior editor and then the committee (most story proposals are accepted or declined by committee). Upon acceptance there is the process of pounding out a contract, followed by the editorial journey, which can take several rounds of changes. While all this is taking place a cover is being created and a writer waits to get the first glimpse of the cover that will introduce their story to readers. And finally we wait for the release date. 

But that's not the end of it. We also wait for reviews and to hear from readers. Is it a smash hit or a dud?

I'm not good at waiting. It can be excruciating. And the most painful wait for me is the wait to hear from publishers. Do they like it or do they hate it? Do they want to publish it? Waiting through this phase is agony.

That's the place I am now. The clock is ticking. I'm waiting. 

I don't know how I'd manage these kinds of waits if not for my faith in God. He supports me, stands with. He knows the beginning and the end of all things. He even knows about my book, the one I'm waiting to hear about. 

He knows. 

He's in control.

And so, I take a deep breath, entrust my work to 
Him . .  and I wait.

What is the hardest waiting place for you? And how do you manage  the wait?

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

Quiet Moments With God -- Listening & Waiting

Good morning.

My day started early. Uncharacteristically, I woke at 4:30 AM. With my mind and heart full. I finally climbed out of bed at 5:15. Some days are just meant to begin early.

God was speaking to me. That's why I'm up. I tried to shut out His voice. I wanted to sleep. That sounds awful, I know, but I am SO human. But here I am, working out what God had to say to me. Often times, working on my blog posts is a place where I wrestle with God or try to get whatever it is that He's saying to me.

This morning when I woke up, my mind went directly to some new and exciting plans that I have. But as I thought on them I realized that I really hadn't spent much time talking to God about MY plans. The joy and anticipation of them had swept over me before He and I could talk about whether or not they were something He wanted. Again, I had decided to step out on my own.

I have a familiar sense that I may be going off half-cocked, which was brought home to me when I went to God's Word for direction and my Bible "just happened" to be open to Proverbs 2, which says, "My child, listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. Tune your ears to wisdom and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasure. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God."

And so I am doing my best to "tune in". The ideas I have are not necessarily bad ones, but the question is are they what God wants for me, right now? I can't know that for sure until I've taken some time . . . to listen. So now, I'm taking a deep breath, stepping back, rethinking and praying. And then I will wait . . . on Him.

There are things that I can do in preparation, steps that can be taken. But I'm not going to dash off down the path I've set, not until I know that its the same path God has chosen for me.

I do know that no matter where He leads I can count on surprises and adventure.


Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie