As the New Voices entrants find out who made the Top Twenty today, there is very likely to be a great deal of disappointment for the majority who did not advance to the next round. I've already seen some comments about quitting, which quite frankly shock me. I've said it on the NV Facebook page more than once: you can't let one contest define your career as a writer.
But if you do, if you wave the white flag and say, “This is not for me, I quit,” then thank you for leaving the field of battle to someone else who will, one day, find victory. Harsh? Maybe, but that's exactly what you're doing. If you quit, you're making it easier for those who remain because you will not be there to compete. More chances for the others if you give up.
You might think it's fine for me to sit here and be all snarky and superior when I'm a published author because, really, what do I know about it? I have an editor, contracts, books in the pipeline, books in stores, and books translated into other languages for people the world over to read. Lucky me, right? Oh yes, lucky me.
But you know why I have those things? Because I ultimately did not quit. Oh, but I did quit for a while — eight years to be exact. That's right, eight years.
One day, many years ago, I decided I wanted to write a romance novel. I loved historicals, so that's what I decided to write. I researched for a year. Wrote for another year. And then I submitted it. I had a little bit of interest — requests for fulls from agents and editors, contest wins — but in the end, the book was rejected. I couldn't get an agent, and I couldn't sell the book.
I was upset, of course. Because everyone (critique group & husband) told me it was a great book (it really wasn't, but I believed it at the time). I was destined to be a writer, so why couldn't I sell this book?! If only they would really read it. If only they would wait until I explained everything and the story got seriously interesting on page 100.
But they didn't, so I started another book. I never submitted that book. I started a third book, which I never finished and never submitted. See, I'd begun to believe it just wasn't worth the effort. If I couldn't sell that first brilliant (snort) book, what chance did I have of selling anything?
So I quit. It hurt too much to keep flinging myself at the gates of publishing. I decided to go back to school, finish that pesky college degree, and then go on and get a Master's degree. I moved to Europe with my husband and got busy traveling and going to school. It was fun! Who needed writing?
I did, because in truth I never quite stopped. I kept writing shorter stories, and of course I wrote a ton of college papers. But I just knew I'd never get published. It wasn't for me. I wasn't good enough to get past those gates.
But then one day I got an idea for a contemporary romance and I started to write. I just wrote the darned thing for fun! And I never did submit it. By then, the bug hit again, and I started to get involved with my work. And this time, I decided I wasn't quitting for anything.
So I did come back, and I did keep trying — and I won a contest and sold a book. If I'd quit for good, I wouldn't be a multi-published, bestselling author today. Don't you think I ask myself what would have happened if I hadn't quit? Would I have sold sooner? Would I be farther along in my career today? I'll never know that, will I?
If you've suffered defeat today, hugs. You have two choices facing you right now.
1) Hang up the keyboard and the pain that comes with it. Live your life and have fun and think about writing every once in a while. Sigh wistfully when you remember that story you never finished. Think fondly of your writing pals and be amazed at how successful some of them have become. But you're happy because the pain is over and you never would have gotten published anyway, right?
2) Don't stop. Get mad, get sad, wail and rage and cry. Eat some chocolate, drink some wine, or run ten miles and collapse. Watch your favorite shows, indulge yourself for a few days, and then perch yourself at the computer and type onward. Finish the story you started, or start another if you can see it's too flawed. Though, really, it's ONE chapter — how flawed can it be? Rip it apart and start again if need be. Just keep writing. Never give up. And one day, you might be a bestselling, multi-published author too. That's the only way to get there. Never give up.
So which choice is it going to be? It's up to you, though I hope you'll go with option 2. 🙂
Yes, you can’t quit.. Oh you can nurse that hurt. Curl in a fetal position, even suck your thumb for 24 hours then get your butt out there again. Life is too short to stop. Live that dream. Build it big and like that mouse trap… they will come.
I’m clicking my heels and saying “I believe, I believe, I believe”.
Hugs to all that had the guts to try for New Voices.
Nan
@Nancy O’Berry: Good for you, Nan! 🙂
Great post Lynn! Personally I think NV has been a great competition – how often can you get feedback from readers and published writers when you aren’t even published? I also think that we have to remember that writing is, at the end of the day, a job and it takes hard work and dedication to succeed – you wouldn’t expect to go into any other profession and be promoted to CEO the first day would you?! Criticism can be hard to take, and so can rejection and failure but from what I can see they are part and parcel of being a writer even when you are published. I have gained lots from New Voices and am so glad I entered. I’m glad you didn’t quit for good – really enjoy your books!
@Susie Medwell: Hi, Susie! You are absolutely right that writing is a job and you don’t start at the top. It takes time and work to get to be a CEO! And yes, criticism is definitely part of the package once you’re published. All you have to do is go to Amazon or Goodreads and read reviews. What one person loves, another hates — and has no problem saying so!
Thank you so much for saying you enjoy my books. 🙂 Keep working and writing and make that dream come true!
Such a brilliant post Lynn and so true. Never quit, because you’ll be giving up on your dreams. I didn’t get anywhere last year in the NV competition, but I kept writing.
A year on and I have three imminent releases.
If I have learnt one thing over that year, it’s to keep on writing. The more you write, the better your manuscripts get. Keep submitting and take the inevitable rejections on the chin, act on any feedback and keep going 🙂
@Doris O’Connor: Exactly, Doris! And congratulations on your releases! You are proof it can be done! 🙂
Lynn, Great post and I feel a lot better after reading your encouraging words. I am not sorry I entered I did receive some positive feedback on my entry and afterall writing is a learning experiece. Hats off to you and the lucky person who has you for their mentor! Thanks from the bottom of my heart!
@Diane: Thank you, Diane! I’m so happy if I’ve helped you feel at all better today. Keep writing, and good luck! 🙂
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for the encouraging post. 🙁 I’m reading this from a fetal position right now. I’m going to hang up the keyboard for tonight and glut myself on some true blood and chocolate…Tomorrow is another day…
@Sri: Hugs, Sri. Yes, hang up the keyboard for the night — indulge, cry, wail, etc. Tomorrow, get back to work. 🙂 Don’t wait eight years!!!
Hi Lynn,
Some really great advice.Thank you for that. I think that when you get a rejection( and as a writer you better get used to it) it is important to pick up all the good and the bad feedback and take what you can from it and improve.. I know that when I look at my first ms to the one I am doing now the improvement is mega..
But oh boy it is so hard sometimes to keep the confidence levels up there…You have to really love what you are doing..Which I do and I know that one day with hard work my dream WILL become reality. 🙂
Thanks for posting this, Lynn! I didn’t enter NV this year – too many other deadlines (non-fiction) but I’m cheering on the winners.. I tried to quit once…it lasted about a week. A good friend of mine has a saying: Success is 70% dedication (blood, sweat, tears) 15% perserverance (crying/wailing but getting back up) 15% belief that your dream is worth the effort
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for your tough love 😉 . The moaning and groaning on the fb page about disappointment was itself disappointing. I wanted to advance to “20,” too. But before the announcement, I promised myself I would write as if I won- thinking of all the work the contest winners are committing to- write, revise, create those gripping pivotal moments. Then the lucky #1 who wins the grand prize will work even more, revising the ms with a mentor. So I am going to create a process as close to that by finding someone from my RWA chapter I can ask for help. The contest had so much to it. Among the positives- helping me develop a thicker skin and take an objective look at my story.
Appreciate the hugs,
best,
Laura
What a great post, Lynn! You said it so well. Never quit! Never give up!
I took the plunge and entered NV. I didn’t final this year, though with over 1,000 entries, finaling seemed a daunting prospect anyway. LOL! Good things came out of it. I discovered I can write contemporary. Who knew? That is, in and of itself, a fantastic eye-opener. I’m so excited about what lies ahead and I’m looking forward to moving in a different direction from this point on. There’s never a need to quit! Yes, there is a lot of talent out there, but what we have to remember is there is plenty of room in the pool. Get a life raft, if you need one right now. But eventually you’ll be swimming to shore.
Sri, I loved your entry! It was fabo! Keep writing, girl!
*cheers* brilliant!
Thank you for the much needed encouragement 🙂 much appreciated…still looking for more chocolate but I’ll survive
From what I understand, I think what a lot of people struggled with was the quality of the writing was so high this year (unlike the quality of this sentence – yikes!) and a lot of people’s favourites didn’t get through.
However, just because something is a favourite of someone’s doesn’t mean it’s necessarily what M&B editors were looking for. Nope we didn’t get through this time, but we should take heart from the fact that there were some bloody good pieces of writing on that site. To get onto a list of 21 out nearly 1100 entries is almost an impossible task. But maybe, just maybe, those that didn’t make it can do exactly as Lynn suggests here and takes their writing, improve it and try again.
Excellent post Lynn. Just the kind of tough love people need I think :0
Hello lynn,what a lovely post.I am totaly new to showing off my romance writing but i said what the heck and entered NV and boy did i enjoy maybe not in 21 but i loved the experiance,the comments and made so many new writing friends it was a wonderful journey and a personel one at that,i have polished my first chapt. wrote my 2nd and about to start 3rd,and with the support from all i will continue ,many thanks Trevor Berry/Surrey
Very good post, Lynn!