Wednesday, September 5, 2012

IWSG: The Green Eyed Monster

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who stopped by for the GUTGAA meet and greet! I am still making my way through everyone's posts. It's been great meeting new writers!

Now for this month's Insecure Writer's Support Group. I want to talk a bit about jealousy. I've seen a lot of other posts out there on the subject and, well, here's mine. :)

I've had a lot of writer buddies get agents, or publishing contracts in the last month. And I can honestly say I have not been bitten by the green-eyed monster! I am so completely happy for these people! And I think there are three reasons why I have (so far) been safe from the green-eyed monster.

First, these are all amazingly talented writers. Most of them are blogging friends, and one is an actual real life, in person friend I met at a writer's conference almost three years ago. They are all writers whom I admire, and from whom I have learned a lot!

The second reason is that seeing their success gives me hope. It really does happen! For real people! Real people who work hard, learn all they can and keep on trying. It makes me feel like somewhere down the road, if I work hard and don't give up, it can happen for me, too.

The third reason is that I can see my progress. As I said, one of these newly agented writers is someone I met at a conference three years ago. At that time I knew almost nothing. I had written and queried a few picture books, (they weren't good) and I had an idea for a YA zombie story, but didn't think I had it in me to write something like that.

The woman I met was in the process of querying a YA contemporary romance. (She let me read the beginning of it after the conference and it was awesome! I loved her sense of humor!) She had, at that time, gotten some partial and full requests, but that was it. I remember being impressed. Surely she would be picked up soon.

She ended up trunking that novel and writing another. Now, three years later, she has an agent! I literally yelled, "Yay!" when I found out. :)

Okay, I said something about seeing my progress. See, three years later, I have learned so much more about writing! I have written two middle grade novels and one YA (zombie) novella, (turns out I could do it!) And now I have had several requests for partials and fulls. (Some have turned into nos and some are still out there.)

It's a process. A long process for many people. I'm okay with that. If I was still getting form rejections, not making any progress, I'd probably be ready to give up by now. But I'm doing what I can to learn, improve, and keep moving forward.

And that's why I am able to be 100% thrilled for those who I see doing well. I know they worked hard to get there, and they deserve it! And I have hope that in the years ahead, I will be able to join them. :)

24 comments:

  1. Rachel, that is a great attitude! And yes, if it happens for others, it will happen for you as well - just hold on to that hope and belief.

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  2. What a fantastic outlook! I wish you every success and I won't be jealous, honest! ;-)

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  3. I actually feel the same way as you. I thought I'd get jealous, but honestly, I just feel a sense of pride that I am lucky enough to know these awesome people!

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    1. I agree! I know I can't wait to be able say I knew Cassie before she was famous! ;)

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  4. I second and third what the others have said. What comes around goes around, including success, agents and good attitudes!

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  5. It is encouraging seeing people you know be successful. Instead of being jealous, you can think that maybe it can happen to you too!

    Allison (Geek Banter)

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  6. That is such a great attitude! I admit--I TOTALLY get jealous whenever I hear of another's success story! But I'm happy for them at the same time. :)

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  7. What a great way to be, yes I agree that it is very good to see our fellow authors getting ahead. Good for them!

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  8. How positive and lovely to hear ;)

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  9. So glad you haven't been bit by jealousy. I totally agree with you that seeing others prosper brings happiness. It does for me too. I'm so happy you've been submitting and getting responses. Good for you. Never give up and you'll get there.

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  10. You're right that it's a long process. I'm not sure it ever stops - maybe that's a good thing?

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  11. That's great! I also managed to avoid the green-eyed monster thus far, although that might change once my query rejections start flooding in. :-D

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  12. I agree - seeing other people succeed gives me hope too. ;) I hope to be reading your success story soon!

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  13. Well said! There's always someone a little ahead of you on the road to publication, and there's always someone just behind - those are the people saying 'Next year I'll be where Rachel is now', and you of course will already be where the next person is today!

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  14. I think one of the things that keeps me from going green is that all of the writers who have been given a contract in some form or another, are all great people (and talented writers) and I know any one of them would help a fellow writer out. SOOO...if they succeed, I just made a connection that I can use in the future. (here you thought I was going to be noble and gracious, huh?)

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  15. Rachel,
    I agree. I think what helps me is the fact that for the most part, the writers I've been talking to have honestly been so willing to encourage, offer feedback, critique, and cheer each other on. It isn't a snipey (sp?? lol) "I'm not helping you because then you might get 'my' contract" attitude. I've only seen a few people that seemed to think that way..that didn't want to offer feedback to other writers because as they themselves said..they felt they were in competition with these people, and so they wouldn't do that.

    I've LEARNED SO MUCH from other writers. (It's funny, I just kind of blogged about that just today!) =)

    I wish you the best of luck...you're going to get your own contract...I believe it!

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  16. This is a really great attitude to have, 'cause like you said, it is a long process. Energy should be used on writing, not jealousy! I've never really felt jealous, but I do sometimes feel dejected when celebrating another's success, since I've been querying on/off for years and have never received more than a form rejection, if that much. It takes a lot to thwart discouragement like that and to just keep on writing....

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  17. Here I am late again! But I'm here, anyway:)

    That is so fantastic about the requests for your partial and your FULL. I hope you hear a yes soon:)

    And best, best wishes this month:)

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  18. Yes, it's hard to be jealous of someone who is both hugely talented and hard-working. I'm one of those that-gives-me-hope kind of people. It's not a competition. We're all headed in the same direction. And hopefully we'll all get there!

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  19. Good for you, girl. Don't give up! :)

    Sorry to be so late in visiting. I've had a crazy-busy couple of weeks.
    IWSG #170 ...until Alex culls the list again.

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