Fortune Cookie Friday: Not the End of Times

So, with everything going on in the world, I was completely distracted from my writing duties. I missed scheduling my October Fortune Cookie Friday post earlier this month.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by how fast the months slip by, and I shouldn’t fret. The month isn’t over yet, and there is always another Friday. In fact, this ties in with the fortune’s subject—fear of endings.

There have been plenty of endings in 2020 so far. Seasons change, businesses close, and yes, people have passed. I had to deal with this personally, and it is difficult to struggle with the loss or change. One thing I have learned over the years is that the past is just footprints. It shows us where we’ve been and the choices we produced, but it doesn’t control us. We can learn from our past. We have the power to start again and try something new.

I recently finished editing one of my books, and now I’m querying various agents. Querying is a daunting time for a writer. Publishing is a slow industry, and waiting for replies to queries can weigh on writers. We spend months to years pouring our hearts into a manuscript, and now, we are sending it out into the world. Rejection or acceptance is around the corner, and I am personally terrified to peak around it.

Rejection means I have to keep querying or go back to editing. Acceptance means my work is “finished,” and I am left waiting until the next phase. The waiting is the worst. There is a fear of the unknown that comes with waiting. Luckily, when faced with the unknown, it helps to have a plan—always have a plan.

My book is finished, but that doesn’t mean I stopped writing. On the contrary, I have been working on other projects right alongside the first. With two books waiting in the wings, I can bring one center stage while waiting for the critics to review my previous work. When one door closes, another opens. Since I already did a little work on those other projects, I am fully dressed and ready to step through that new door.

Yeah, it takes some planning, but planning doesn’t have to take up that much time. I created characters and scenes, worked out some plots, and spent some time researching. I took a little time here and there to collect the various parts. It’s like setting aside some extra funds for a rainy day.

So, what does one do if they didn’t plan? Start now. When we find ourselves at a point in life, questioning what to do next, we need to focus on moving forward. We can brainstorm ideas, save a few dollars, or make connections with others. The worst thing we can do is remain stagnant.

Remember that the past is behind us. Every place we’ve been, everything we’ve done, everyone we’ve met has all made a mark in our lives. Now is the time to turn our attention forward and make some more.