Alretha Thomas's Blog - Posts Tagged "patience"

My mother said when she was in labor with me, I flew out of her womb like a little person being shot out of a cannon. The doctor and nurses had to scramble to catch me before I landed on the floor. Talk about hit the ground running. I’m sure if I had been able to run, I would have— straight into this business we call life. I’ve always been raring to go, chomping at the bit (forgive me for the idioms) — but they’re so true. I remember when I was in grade school I looked at my mother pointedly and asked her “How will I get a job, an apartment, a car…?” I was dead serious. At the age of ten I wanted to start planning, creating a to-do list, getting organized. Like the lightning-fast newborn that had come into the world a decade prior to that moment, I wanted what I wanted right then and there. Wait, hold on, take a minute, step back, and the dreadful be patient, were not words or phrases in my vocabulary. Where I get this need to keep it moving, I’m not sure, and I’m less certain if it has served me or hindered me thus far.

As a writer, lack of patience can definitely cause one consternation, especially when pursuing the Literary Grail—a top agent, a multi-book deal, and a bestselling novel. The publishing industry by nature is a slow business. And with the advent of e-books it’s pretty much come to a grinding halt, and during the holiday season it’s pretty much nonexistent or rather, responses and replies or nonexistent. To be fair, I can’t fault those who make a living in the literary world—the agents and publishers. I can imagine after sorting, sifting, and reading, countless query letters and manuscripts, throughout the year, they welcome the holiday season with open arms. After all, contrary to some disgruntled writers’ opinions (present company excluded), they are human and need and deserve a break. On the other hand, eager beavers such as myself are still making moves, strategizing, making lists like Santa, and checking email, not once, twice, but a hundred times, hoping to receive a reply from that dream agent, telling us that they absolutely love our latest work and that they want to talk to us about representation!

With the aforementioned in mind, I have made an early New Year’s resolution. I am going to BE PATIENT and squash the vision of book deals dancing in my head. I am going to enjoy this holiday season, spend time with my family, eat until I burst, and have a jolly good time. The New Year will be here before I know it, and I’ll have plenty of time to continue chasing my dream.

Have a safe and blessed holiday season.