The Reward
By Kimberly Smith

The gateway introducing a new year, tends to revive hopes and dreams cast the year before to return to center stage; allowing resolutions and self-promises to once again top our priority lists.  If your past endeavors have dampened the light on your ambition, toss out the toasted bulb and refresh your goals with new strategies. 

In the writing world, rejection is an integral part of your eventual success.  Though it may feel like a sledgehammer wailing on your aspirations—it’s really just a prepping phase for perfection.  As I’ve said before, this business is very subjective.  Just because it receives a “thumbs down” by one publisher, doesn’t mean that it’s going to receive the same response from another publishing house. 

Yes, patience is a necessary evil in the writer’s waiting game.  And trust me when I say that I’m a bad player with that excruciating, time ticking, required sport.  Shoot…I have a hard time waiting for my coffee every morning! 

But…I have seen the light, as well as the reward.

During those long months of nail biting, seize the painful wait as an opportunity to perfect what you’ve written.  Get friends and family--other writers even--to critique your work and give constructive advice.  If you receive an undesirable response from an editor, give it a little time and then resubmit your new and improved manuscript. 

Just don’t give up! 

A book is never really finished.  We can always improve on what we’ve decided to present to the world.  Many authors continue to revise their manuscripts until someone makes them stop!  Okay maybe that’s being a little dramatic, but minor changes can lead to major plot changes, and in essence, a whole new story. 

So with the hope of a triumphant new year, tighten your seat belt and get ready for a wild ride!  You may experience some slight turbulence, but don’t let the rocking rattle you; it’s all part of the way-too-long process. 

I wish you luck (because it takes a dash of that, too) and the gift of patience for the fruitful year ahead.  But try and remember this:  If whatever you create comes from the heart; no one can put a price on it’s worth because it is a part of you.  And that, my friend, makes it absolutely priceless.