Staying On The Journey

Getting from beginning writer to published author can be a long, slow journey.  This has become obvious to me in many ways the last few weeks.
 
One indicator was the date on an old story I am revising now.  It is hard to believe I wrote this story back in 2006.  Looking at the story now, I can see how much my writing has progressed since then.  I would like to think I no longer write stories with characters who are not fully developed.  The poor heroine in this story has been waiting a long time for me to show her full potential.  Also, the exclamation points!  I know I do not use them nearly as often – if ever – in my stories now.   I am still not sure what prompted me to go back to this story now, but I am glad I did.  Not just because it deserves to be fixed, but also because it is encouraging to see how far I have come since I first wrote it.

---

Though, apparently, I have not come far enough yet.  I received another “good” rejection recently.  While I am happy it was by and large very positive, I am waiting for the day I advance from a good rejection to an actual offer.  All of my recent rejections said essentially the same thing.  My writing is strong, but not quite strong enough to break into what is currently a very competitive historical romance market.  This is a good mile marker, but not the end destination.  So now I must figure out what lessons I need to learn to get me to the next level with my writing.  I guess I still have some miles to travel on my journey to being published.  But I know I am getting closer.
 
Some other romance writing friends and I were discussing this topic last night.  We all want to be published, and are willing to put in the work to get there.  But no one can tell us exactly what it is we need to do.  In fact, sometimes we get conflicting messages from experts in the industry.  We had a good laugh about it last night.  It’s too bad there isn’t a crystal ball for writers in our situation.  But since there isn’t, we will all keep moving forward, perhaps taking a detour or two, until we finally end up at our destination. 

---

It may take some time, but I have no doubt we will all get there.  I am convinced we all have the necessary skill and determination.  It’s just a matter of perseverance now. 

I may not end this journey as quickly or in the story vehicle with which I started the trip, but someday I will reach “The End” on my journey to published author.
 
I am glad you are along for the ride with me.  If you want to see some of my previous stops on the journey, you can find them in earlier blogs on my website:  http://www.karenmarcam.com/

---