Writing Update: We’re Back!
A couple nights ago, as I was brushing my teeth and staring it a blindingly bright full moon through the windows above the tub, a feeling came over me that I can only describe as divine. I literally stopped what I was doing to stare. To listen. And I know many will think this sounds crazy or woo woo—and maybe it is—but in that long stretch of silence, I heard something deep within me that said “it’s time.”
I’ve been feeling a call back to meditation and intention lately. Somewhere along the way, I’ve fallen into a rhythm that’s been little more than getting through the day. I’ve still tried to find small moments of magic in my every day life, but I think with all the chaos of the world, I’ve retreated a bit into myself. I’m sure the return of my Myasthenia Gravis is playing a part as well, since it drastically impacts my overall energy levels and ability to concentrate on things, but it’s more than that. 2025 has been a challenging year, both globally and personally, and as someone who’s always found it difficult to separate myself from the energies around me, it’s taken its toll. So when I found the moon asking me to pause the other night, I was already in the mind space to stop and listen.
I’d gone ahead and sent out some WSD queries earlier in the week, and was feeling good about that. I recently finished a complete revision on that project, and I won a query package review from a contest not too long ago and implemented those suggestions for my query letter, so I feel like I’m putting my best foot forward. But when I paused under the weight of that strange sensation the other night, I stood in the moonlight, overcome by a deep knowing that something had shifted. I swear I heard the universe say it was time—that this time, I’m ready.
I hasn’t yet been a week, so I’ve only gotten one query response, and it was a rejection. I can’t tell if it’s a form or slightly personalized one (because they did give more specific reasoning than I typically see in a form response), but either way, this one was a bummer. They were one of my top tier agents on my list, and I really felt like my work matched their MSWL and other interests. Those ones always sting a bit more than the others.
I’m grateful for that experience in my bathroom, because there’s a peace that’s remained ever since, even as I know more rejections aren’t far off. That’s just how this goes. I know that. And honestly? Most of the time, I hardly feel the rejections. That isn’t because I’m not invested in the outcome of all this. I obviously am. But I also know that things happen in their own timing, and I trust that. If I’d gotten an agent last year, this year would have been even more difficult, if not impossible, because I would have had the pressure of the entire preparation and submission process, and my family needed to be the priority. Timing wasn’t right, no matter how much I wanted to get my work out into the world. It feels different now, though, and that’s why I’m excited rather than nervous.
I’m approaching querying differently this time, too. Instead of a bunch of small batches and waiting in between to hear back, I’m just going to send as many as I can every day over the coming weeks until my list is exhausted. Either an agent is going to be interested, or they’re not, and I don’t think there’s more I can do to make my query package stronger at this point. So I’m all in. And I’m trusting that it’ll happen if it truly is my time. If it’s not, that’ll be incredibly disappointing, but I’ll move through it as I always do. I’ve got great projects already in progress to keep my mind moving forward, and I can get those query-ready if I have to.
Aside from the querying part of things, I’ve also received several really nice messages from people over the past month or two that have helped remind me that I’m on the right path. I’m able to look at my analytics and see that, although I don’t have a huge audience (yet), people are visiting my website and reading my blog. Even when I don’t hear from anyone, that’s helpful to see, because sometimes it’s nice to know that our work is reaching people in some way. So the messages I’ve received about my book recommendations and reviews, my writing tips, and invitations to contribute to writing communities, have definitely made me smile when they’ve popped up in my inbox. I think most writers would keep writing even if nobody is reading—I know I have. But it’s also immensely rewarding when it moves beyond me and I get to hear about it.
So that’s where we’re at. I’m confident that timing is aligned, and that I’m moving in the right direction. I have a really good feeling about things in general where my writing is concerned, and I’m soooooo excited to get back to drafting ECHO while queries are out. The fact that it’s stuck so much, regardless of all the distractions in my life, is more than enough to make me confident that’s the one I need to be working on. I have to see this come to life! Hopefully it’ll flow out easily while I await responses.
Until next update, happy reading and writing!
