Home   |   LCS Prints Store   |   About Me   |   FAQ   

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Loaded and Almost Ready





It's a new month in a new year and time for IWSG.  Happy New Year to you all.  To read posts from other participants, click here.


For as long as I can remember, I’ve been what you’d call a late bloomer.  I failed to gain any confidence of note until I entered college.  Still lacking self-assurance, post graduation I jumped from one under-challenging administrative role to another. 

Five years into this merry-go-round, a boss in the national corporation I'd joined, offered me a promotion.  This put me on an unexpected growth path and a rhythm developed.  I’d work in my new role for three or four years and though I wasn’t looking for it, they’d promote me again.  I’d be scared to accept the new responsibility...in truth once to tears, but each time I stepped into the new position, I’d come to understand I already knew how to perform in the job.  After repeating this cycle a couple of times, I actually sought out a promotion.  That time, an offer was extended to an external candidate, and of course, that hurt.  But when she left within the year, they popped me into the vacancy and progress continued.  After a long period in this steady growth environment, I ended up in a solid, middle management position in which I excelled, and a message sunk in.  Put your head down, work hard and success will come.  Ask for it though, and it might not.

So here I am today.  For the last four years, in my methodical way, I’ve written my brains out.   One novel sits in the proverbial drawer.  After several reader critiques, the revision process on my second novel is nearly complete.   Currently, it undergoes extensive editing by someone whose opinion I value more than any other…my husband, Mr. AP English.  Once I input his changes, the manuscript will be as good as I know how to make it.  I’ve written a solid draft of a query letter.  I’m digging through Publisher’s Marketplace.  

In short, I am pretty darn close. 

This time however, it’s up to me to muscle myself up to the next level.  No one is going to come looking for it.  The book is never going to get out there unless I take steps to make it happen.  Like the little engine; I think I can, I think I can, even though my stomach turns inside out when I contemplate the size of the hill in front of me. 

Metaphors aside, it’s getting close to trigger time. What has it all been for, if I don't try?  

That's why I'm calling 2013, "The Year of the Risk."


 

33 comments:

Elsie Amata said...

You're exactly right, you have to try! I love it, "The Year of Risk." Best of luck to you.

PR said...

Good luck, I'm sure all your hard work will pay off :)

Anne Gallagher said...

Go you! We're all behind you! And it is true, if you work hard, dreams will come true.

Misha Gerrick said...

Good luck! I know exactly how you feel. Publishing is the one place in life where you'll have to go after your successes with a club.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Yes, lets go after it with a club!! The Year of the Club. I'm with you, Liza. It takes a lot of courage. Maybe this will be the year of the query, the year to begin it all.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Take aim and shoot - you can do it!!!

glnroz said...

,,,just from my Old Country Codger's viewpoint,,,I think,,believe it is less of a "risk" than reported...reckon?

mshatch said...

If you never take a risk, you'll never get the prize. Go for it, Liza! I'll be rooting for you :)

Dianne K. Salerni said...

Good for you! I'll wish you the best of luck and also share some advice: While you're querying, start another novel. It serves two purposes. 1. Distraction and 2. A plan B. It's easier to take that risk when there's a plan B.

Tonja said...

If it's as good as you can make it and you've gotten feedback from everyone you know that can help, it's time. Go for it.

J.B. Chicoine said...

Liza, this is a huge step! I can't wait to hear about all your progress. I'm just so proud of you! :)

J.B. Chicoine said...

Liza, this is a huge step! I can't wait to hear about all your progress. I'm just so proud of you! :)

Unknown said...

Here from Alex's blog. YOur post really resonates with me in every way. seriously, I see life parallels from your job experience to the writing.

I really like your attitude and approach to it all. You can't get to first base if you're too afraid to go up to bat, and Home will always be dream. Guess it's time to get out there and hit it out of the park. May this year be your Lucky Thirteen.

BTW, like your blog, am now a follower.

Words A Day said...

Good luck in your year of risk! Go for it:) I wish you all the best:)

Johanna Garth said...

Good for you. Jump off that diving board! Take that risk :)

Suzanne Furness said...

Take the risk, make those final edits and press the send button. It's a roller coaster but the ride can be fun just hang on tight!

Clay said...

Inspiring post Liza with great advice. Pull the trigger and see what happens. Best of luck with it. Cheers!

Cherie Colyer said...

You'll never know what could be if you don't try. Best wishes!!

Ciara said...

Go for it. You finished a book, had critiques, now all you have to do is send it out into the glorious world. Good luck!!

Nicki Elson said...

Here's hoping 2013 is also the year of the payoff. ;)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

And we'll all be here cheering you on during your big risk.

Unknown said...

Yay! You can do it! I love your positive kick-a attitude! I believe your "I think I can" mojo will take you all the way to print! I'll be following you all through 2013 to see what happens next. Happy New Year! :)

Anonymous said...

Good for you! Risks are scary, but they also sometimes bear the most amazing fruits. Enjoy 2013 and any and all benefits of your risks. Great IWSG post!

Nancy Thompson said...

That's exactly right! You are your best and only real advocate, so you have to put yourself out there. I wish you all the success in the world! Happy New Year

Annalisa Crawford said...

As everyone else has said, that's exactly right. It would be nice to think someone would knock on your door and ask if you have a great manuscript for sale, but writing is unlike anything else... which is why we love it so much :-) Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Wishing you all the best.. go for it!

Anonymous said...

I've used Publishers Marketplace on a couple occassions. Good luck to you with everything. I hope you reap from all the hard work you've sown over the past four years!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

You've made it too far to not go full-speed ahead, with fingers crossed. Good luck to you.

xoRobyn

Unknown said...

I'm so proud of you! A year of risk sounds just right for you. I think I'll try for a year of growth....

Unknown said...

Good luck! Hope 2013 will be a great year for you!

sjp said...

Year of the risks I like that, Im sure it will pay off ten fold :)

Kittie Howard said...

What a fantastic name for 2013. I totally love this. YES! Go, Girl, Go!

Mimi said...

It's amazing that I'm reading this today, as I just said to some students in class today "whether you think you can or you can't, you're correct" and went on to explain it to them, and tell them to have more confidence in themselves!
I love this line " the manuscript will be as good as I know how to make it. "
Go for it!