Monday, May 07, 2007

Perverance and Hope

This post's for the struggling writers out there. So on Saturday, I went to the monthly meeting of my local writer's group. It was a great turnout and we had lots of fun catching up, congratulating and commiserating as it fell. And hey, nobody fell asleep during my workshop!

Here are just some of the people who were there
(now guys, this is off the top of my head so if I forgot someone, my bad!):

Yvonne Lindsay, Tessa Radley, Abby Gaines, Karina Bliss, Helen Kirkman , Frances Housden, Amanda Ashby, Jane Beckhenham

You might be wondering why I'm listing all these published author names. The reason? When I first met each of these women, we were all -every single one- unpublished. I don't think even a few years ago we could've imagined a meeting where so many of us were talking contracts and deadlines.

So if you've out there submitting and getting discouraged, don't be. It might take time, but if you have a dream and the will to fight for that dream, then anything can happen. I remember that each and every time I walk into one of these monthly meetings.

11 comments :

Tessa Radley said...

Aw, Nalini, that was a lovely post. And I hope that lots of writers waiting for that call read it. There are moments when the waiting is very, very hard. Best advice: keep writing. Keep submitting.

And did I tell you that I came back from a week away, did the soccer rush around on Saturday morning, and when the family started talking about spending some quality time together in the afternoon, I deserted them? Because I simply HAD to get to the RWNZ meeting to hear your talk! And, boy, am I glad I did...

Tessa

Lis said...

Great timing with this Nalini! I've been thinking about giving up a manuscript that a few agents want to see but I just can't get it in any shape I like. But I'll give myself a little longer before I shove it aside. Thanks! :o)

Christina Phillips said...

Thanks for the inspirational post Nalini. I've just sent out a bunch of queries to agents and am feeling very slighted stressed...!

Nalini Singh said...

Tessa - you're a sweetie! :)

Lis - Glad it helped. Good luck with your ms.

Christina - congrats on sending stuff out. That's sometimes the toughest part!

Amanda Ashby said...

Nalini, it was great to see you and everyone else on Saturday and there was definitely no snoring during your talk!!!!

LesleyW said...

Thanks for posting this Nalini. :)

Sometimes I think the hardest thing is keeping going.

LesleyW

Casee said...

I'm not a writer, but what a great post for writers.

I'll definitely picks some of these books up. Thanks, Nalini.

Nadia said...

Nalini,

Thanks for the lovely post. :) It's so uplifting to read about success. :)

BTW -- You've been tagged. Check out the rules.

Yvonne Lindsay said...

That was an awesome meeting last Saturday and you gave an awesome workshop, Nalini. Due to deadlines etc I wasn't going to go to the meeting but I'm so glad I did!

And to anyone who's writing and/or waiting for news back on a submission I strongly recommend you hang in there. You won't reach your goals if you quit.

Yvonne

Abby Gaines said...

Nalini, you're right, it's amazing how hanging in there year after year after year after... will eventually produce the result! Looking at this list of names brings a lump to my throat - mainly at the thought of how high the stack of rejection letters we received between us must be!
Abby

Nalini Singh said...

Hey, imagine if we brought them all out at once!