On the precipice...

I've spoken to more than one writer friend lately who feels like something is just about to happen--but we don't know what. Just that feeling that energy is building and things are lining up for a push. What is weird is that publishing rumors make you think the whole industry in the tank--so why now are we feeling this shift on the horizon?

I know for me, I've had a lot of activity and interest in my writing lately. I feel like I'm in a good place to make the next move up. Yesterday, I got a Revise and Resubmit response from an agent who had requested to read my full manuscript. The thing is...it didn't make me sad at all that she passed for now. It was an awesome response with concrete things that needed to happen in the manuscript in order for the agent to pursue and partnership with me. And all the suggestions were spot on--I could see how they would make my book better, stronger.

But then I started tearing it apart last night and realized that this book is not even my best work anymore. I finished it last year, well--not even a year. I love the premise, but reading through it has shown me that I've already grown so much. The book I'm almost done with is so much better. And while that is disheartening in the way of "it's going to be a lot of work", it is exciting to know that I am improving. And if the agent liked the book I wrote last year, I bet she will love the book I wrote this year.

I've decided I like this new attitude though. From now on, I'm treating life like a Revise and Resubmit when things get a little wonky. Sometimes life is a lot of work too--but when you step back and say "This isn't working because...." and then you take the time to fix and try again, you end up better for it, stronger.