The Waiting Game – Part Deux

It’s been a busy week here in my household, with plenty of work and online schooling driving busy hours. But in the little spare time that I had, I began mulling over the topic of waiting, which I just wrote about last month. You can read the first part here. It didn’t take me long to come up with some more reasons writers wait, and also why we shouldn’t, or better yet, what we should do instead.

Waiting for Praise

Writers like most people on the planet are hungry for praise and can wait incessantly for that elusive acceptance or even higher-tier / personal rejection. But this is an exercise in futility. Instead of waiting for it, praise yourself. I’ve mentioned this before. Make a list of your achievements and go through it every once in a while, or if you’re feeling low. Praise yourself – you deserve it!

For story to be published after acceptance

This is rare but it happens some times that even after your story is accepted you have to wait for a long time for the lit mag to publish it because they have a schedule to adhere to it.

This is one of those pleasurable waits, though, and it gives a real tingly feeling when the piece finally appears. Even so, a paranoid writer (not me!) might spend those intervening months on tenterhooks. They might imagine the editors reviewing the piece and wondering why they accepted it in the first place, and then who knows – maybe they dash off a rejection! Just kidding, that’s totally my imagination. It is, isn’t it? Isn’t it?

For someone to buy you stationery that you don’t really need but you crave

Here’s a secret about me – I’m a stationery freak, like most writers! I own loads of pretty notebooks and pens, some of which I feel are too perfect to use, so they just sit in my desk drawers gathering dust. Add to that, there are tonnes of stationery shops and online venues out there. I recently discovered a homegrown India one called The Messy Corner. I love the look of their products and have totally promised myself one! This is not a sponsored post by the way. I just loved their stuff and felt quite proud to buy from young Indian entrepreneurs who recently started this business. I am pleased to report that with a few nudges and delicate hints sprinkled here and there, my husband ordered a personalized notebook for me. Here’s my pride of joy:

I’m sure there are many milestones and responses writers wait for, but these three have ranked top of my mind recently.

But what are you waiting for? Stop waiting, start writing!