Tomorrow is the January ORWA meeting (Ottawa Romance
Writer’s Association). I joined in
November because I know I’ll need help if I ever want to be actually
published. I’ve been enjoying the
meetings and found everyone to very welcoming and supportive.
However, it can also be a little intimidating.
There’s often an informal dinner after the meeting at a
local restaurant. I went last time and
found myself seated with six other women, all of whom seem to have at least three
novels published. And here’s me without
even a short story to my official name.
One of them asked me if I had my PRO status. I had to confess I wasn’t even sure what that
was. If I understood correctly, you
become a PRO when you submit your first manuscript. It can be accepted or rejected but you have
to have submitted.
My first instinct was to feel ashamed. What right did I have to join a professional
writing group if I hadn’t even tried to submit my novel yet? (And to be clear, this is entirely my
reaction, not the impression of the group’s reaction.)
But since then I’ve been knocking some sense into
myself. I have my first manuscript
finished. That was a requirement for
myself before I would consider joining the group. And that’s something. I have my two fan fiction novels but this was
the first serious attempt at creating a publishable novel in my own original
universe rather than something written to amuse myself and my friends.
That’s a big deal.
I’ve submitted the first three chapters to the local
critique group. Another big step for me
and a necessary one on the road to publication.
I’ve done a major rewrite based on their suggestions. And I resubmitted.
I may not have sent the manuscript to a publisher or agent
as yet but I don’t think I should be ashamed of that any more. I could have sent something I knew wasn’t
ready, wasn’t the best it could be. Then
I’d have my first rejection.
But I’m taking the time to polish my work. To be brave enough to subject it to outside
opinions so that I can make it better.
Maybe it will still get rejected but at least I’ll know I’ve done
everything I could. And frankly, there
are more novels and ideas clamouring to get written in my brain. If no one likes this one, I’ll be a little
sad but I’ll keep trying. And so far,
people have liked what they’ve seen.
There’s a lot of work ahead of me but I’m going to do
it. And I’m going to do it right.
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