Monday, October 21, 2013

Patience - Part 2









Growing up in the city meant waiting for buses and trains. To guarantee myself a seat and ease the boredom, I'd often walk several blocks to another bus stop. We didn't have Kindles or Nooks back then, and carrying a library book added too much weight to my school bag.

All through life, we wait:

-  For our birthday
-  For a big holiday
-  For graduation
-  For our soulmate
-  For a book contract

Waiting doesn't have to be a passive activity. It took me eight years to get that elusive contract and agent. While I was in that season, I:

-  Blogged and built relationships with other writers
-  Joined Facebook and Twitter
-  Wrote a second book
-  Wrote, submitted, and received acceptances for non-fiction pieces
-  Learned all I could about the publishing business and writing
-  Went to workshops and met publishing professionals at conferences
-  And...prayed that God would open the right doors.

Did I get tired, discouraged, and want to quit? Yup. Did I? Nope. Preparing for the time when a contract became a reality kept me focused on the goal: getting my work before readers.

Writers:  What methods do you use to keep your eyes on the goal while still living in the present?

Readers:  How do you keep a balance between the present and the future?

Photo Credit:  Thoursis

2 comments:

Jeanette Levellie said...

I'm so glad you didn't quit, Susan!

I keep my eyes on the goals I have by writing them down and looking at them often. I also pray over them, asking God to lead me. If I have a goal that is not His, but mine, I want Him to show me a better course to take.

Third, I confess the Word of God over my life. I like the "in Him" Scriptures in Romans, Ephesians, and Colossians, and love all the encouraging verses in Psalms.

Thanks for asking!

Karen Lange said...

Waiting, though it seems hard sometimes, is always a good time to prepare for what's ahead. Good post! :)