Wednesday, June 22, 2016

That Moment When You Want to Quit

I remember my moment well. 

It was September of 2013. I’d just given my first pitch to a literary agent at a conference. For weeks before the conference, I feverishly prepared for that pitch, watching YouTube videos, researching, and gleaning wisdom from others who have pitched before. I wrote and rewrote what I would say. I practiced a dozen times in front of my very-bored children. I walked into that room, nervous, but knowing I’d done absolutely everything I could do to make the pitch the best it could be. I’d packed an atomic bomb’s worth of emotional and mental energy into that moment.

But, bombs have a tendency to explode.


I gave my pitch, but I failed to impress the agent.

I told myself it was okay, that I’d find another way. But, after receiving nothing but rejections on my work for years, I began to spiral downward. I struck the ground hard. I went to my room and detonated. I was done. I couldn’t do this anymore.

I’ve lost count of how many writers and other artists I’ve spoken to who have experienced “that moment.” I’ve watched friends withdraw and become depressed, hopeless. I’ve seen it so many times, that I know what exactly what’s happening to them. The industry has worn them down. Their strength has given out under the constant crushing weight. Their dream to do this thing they love, feels dead.

Have you been there? Are you there right now?

That weekend in 2013, I quit for about two hours. When I got beyond the tears and gnashing of teeth, I realized that, in my quest to be published, I’d lost sight of my first love—writing. Would I still love writing even if my books never achieved publication? Absolutely. I took a little break from querying to heal and focus on my writing.

I started sending work out again, but at a slower pace. I realized that I’d been sprinting and this is a marathon industry. I also realized that I couldn’t hold so tightly to my narrow dreams. Perhaps I needed to broaden them and allow them to take shape within the realm of reality. I invested in positive friendships with other writers for much needed encouragement, shoulders to cry on, and the often needed kick in the pants to keep going.

Most writers have experienced moments where they want to quit. These feelings are normal. The question is, what will you do with that moment? Will you allow it to win? Or will you keep going?

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Melinda Friesen, author of the dystopian One Bright Future series, writes novels for teens and short stories. She is an avid collector of rejection letters.



5 comments:

Tom M Franklin said...

After 5+ years of editing and re-editing The Book and doing R&R work with 4 agents, I finally was signed by a wonderful agent who loved my book and the characters. She submitted it to a select group of editors who all really liked it, but didn't -love- it. The same happened with the second group of editors. And the third.

The process has left me angry, frustrated, and more than a little bummed out about the whole experience.

After months of not writing I have slowly remembered that I AM a writer and I need to be writing. Something big goes missing from my life when I am not writing. So I'm working on a completely different project now, hoping to fit all of those puzzle pieces together to create a new manuscript that I'm happy with.

Jennifer Lee Rossman said...

I think I want to quit most when things are going well, oddly enough. A "quit while you're ahead" mindset, I guess? But I can't not write, so I keep going.

Unknown said...

It's so difficult to be so close to achieving your dream, but to feel like it's slipping away. Keep writing!

Unknown said...

I think the industry naturally sorts those that are writing for money and those who are writing for the love of it. If you love it, then those words pour our no matter what.

J Lenni Dorner said...

I've had that moment. Perhaps more than once when other outside forces have depleted my inner strength and resolve. But I always come back fighting. Hopefully I always will.