Welcome to IWSG Day. The goal of this blog hop is to
share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of
appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer
assistance and guidance. It’s a haven for insecure writers of all kinds. IWSG
is the brainchild of our ninja leader Alex Cavanaugh. Thank
you to co-hosts for this month: Shannon Lawrence, Olga Godim, Jean Davis, and Jacqui Murray! For links to all
contributors, click here.
Confession. While I’m good at putting appointment reminders in
my phone, I rely on the email prompt administrators typically send out a week
before our monthly IWSG posting date. This morning I walked three miles, ate
breakfast and started reading the news before realizing today is the first Wednesday
of the month. I checked my email and found the reminder that arrived yesterday
afternoon. Oops. So what you are getting here is a totally off-the-cuff post, published
prior to noon, instead of my typical 6:00 am.
This month’s optional IWSG question: Is there anything in
your writing plans for 2026 that you are going to do that you couldn't get done
in 2025?
As it happens, I’ve known for two months about a class focused
on creating novel submission packages. It’s going to be offered once in 2026,
for five weeks during January and February and the deadline was December 31. To
bring you up to date, I started querying my novel last summer, got my first
round of rejections and decided to rewrite my query. I got no further than that.
The objective me thought this might be a good time to take
the class.
But the subjective me (read that as, the chicken ****
me) kept finding excuses not to act. It’s by Zoom and I hate online classes. There
will be a follow-up class offered in March and I’m going to be away. Money isn’t
really an issue, but I wondered if it was a good time to spend it right after
the holidays.
But here’s my real reason for delaying.
I’m scared. Taking it will mean I’d have to follow through
and I’m afraid to find out my query stinks, or worse, that my book, the fourth
one I’ve written, stinks more. Yes, I’ve had readers and editors, but still, I suffer
from a mega case of imposter syndrome, posting like a writer here on IWSG for
so many years. The truth is, I’m terrible at marketing myself, great at giving
up, and suspect I may be a half-good writer who’ll never publish a novel.
Chances are this fourth novel is my last.
Say that ten times fast. Chances are this fourth novel is
my last.
Thankfully, that particular phrase circled in my brain as I sat
down at my laptop on New Year’s Eve and remembered the deadline for signing
up for the course.
Nothing like backing up against a proverbial wall.
I made it with a few hours to spare.
Class starts Saturday.
Wishing you all a happy and successful 2026.
12 comments:
Congratulations! You did it! Last year, I made a decision to hire a coach (a former agent) for my manuscript, that included a critique, him writing a query letter for me and a synopsis..plus giving me a list of all agents who would be interesting in my novel. It's taken some months because I had to read several books on writing scenes and dialogue, marketing, plus many conference calls. I've sent out dozens of query letters and have gotten back ten declines but I'll be querying again next week.
The old adage still hold up: Nothing ventured. Nothing gained. Good luck!
I'll be waiting to hear how it goes.
Another chicken**** waving at you from over here! I signed up for a class, and now of course, I'm rethinking it. But no! We can do this! We've got this! :)
All the best with this. We all fear failure and don't want to hear anything but good about writing that is close to our hearts. You can do this. Just remember we are all in this together.
Good luck with your class. Hope it helps.
We all suffer from imposter syndrome. I did as an attorney in court too. I'm really glad that you signed up for the class. You might get helpful feedback on how to make your query letter better. Good luck on Saturday.
You did it! I agree with Natalie. We all feel like impostors. But I'm sure this class will give you some structure and accountability to move forward.
The class will help you - take it. And btw, I HATE teaching Zoom classes. They are so impersonal.
My heart stopped a few times during this post and then...hooray...a happy ending. Or should I say...a happy start for progress. It's scary and you have to stay tough. Have faith in your words, your style, your tale. It's a good one and I truly hope it resonates with the right agent. It's a tough world, but think of all the folks who even say they are going to write a book and don't. You are brave and have done it. Carry on and absorb whatever. I'm very proud of you!!!
Bravo, Liza! I am SOOO proud of your courage to do it. I, also, am the "chicken me." I need to commit to marketing my college memoir, Determination: A Mother of Five Conquers College. I just need to buckle down and do it. You give me inspiration!
Well done Liza - as the others have said ... that's great - and you've given yourself a chance and you'll learn so much from the course and from the other participants. Good luck and all the very best - cheers and Happy New Year!! - Hilary
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