Writing Frustration

I've taken a break from writing, the last two months actually. Not just because my magazine is now being published monthly...well, okay that is a big reason for my time schedule being full. But mainly because a growing frustrating has been building.

I understand a book isn't published overnight, but to quote the lyrics of a Tom Petty song...'the waiting is the hardest part'. A writer waits after submitting their manuscript, they wait for a contract, they wait for edits, they wait for a cover design, they wait for a release date. And I get this is necessary to have a product you're proud of at the end.

Truth be told...it's not really the waiting that has me frustrated with writing...even though I haven't heard my from my editor regarding revisions I returned almost three months ago. I'm questioning my writing ability. Is my writing good enough? Are my story plots interesting enough to grab a reader's attention?

My published books have received good reviews. I'm lucky to not received a bad review. But I also don't received an outstanding amount of five star reviews either. Heavy sigh...

What does it take to be a best selling author? I don't know. But then again, I don't write with that in mind. I write stories I hope readers will find enjoyable.

While my frustration sits, I get an email that one of my books has been chosen for audio. Then I receive a royalty report showing how many of my books sold. The result is okay. I don't write with expectations of making thousands of dollars. I'm a realist. However, I can't help but smile when my Christmas and Winter themed novels sells several copies in the middle of summer. Then, just yesterday I received an email that another book has been picked for audio. My spirits lift, and I think, maybe I am an okay writer.

I need to dust off the frustration and believe in my writing and my stories. If just a handful of people enjoyed a story I wrote, then my time and effort was well worth it.

Book four of my Redford Falls series will get written. And I'll send my editor another email. Persistence is beyond required as writer. Oh, and lots of patience!