In The Grip of Fear

There has been blog radio silence from me for about a month. I’d like to blame it all on my kids, or working on the books, but it wouldn’t be totally honest.

The same is true for finishing my query letter, and working to fix the grammar in Grasslands. I wish I could just push it all off as being too busy with the rest of life. I’ve recently had to face the truth, and I don’t think I’m alone.

I’m afraid. I’m point blank terrified. Pushing on with the blog, moving onto next steps with this book I wrote… well it’s positioning me for inevitable rejection. Rejection is a totally normal and expected part of the process when you plan on querying agents. I felt like I had a great attitude about it. Then I hit the go point.

After writing this book, and it’s sequel, so much of my heart and soul have been poured in. My hopes and dreams, and big parts of who I am, are written into this book. I’m trying to develop a thicker skin, so a rejection of my manuscript doesn’t feel like a rejection of ME.

I said before I don’t think I’m alone in this. I’m positive I’m not. Fear of failure, or not being wanted, is pretty typical.

So let me call on you, my writing community, to share how you move yourself out of the fear. How do you take your next steps without hyperventilating?

Everything you want is on the other side of fear. -Jack Canfield