In Waiting

by Rainbow Rowell

What happens to characters waiting to be written?

Anna is waiting. She's fully developed. She has personality, depth, a supporting cast—she even has a cat. But Anna has been stuck here for years, watching far lesser characters get called into their own stories.

James is new. He's still taking shape. His backstory and motivation are changing every day. But James is so detailed, so crisp—so beautifully written—he must be destined for something great...He might even be a main character.

They both know it's only a matter of time before they're separated—but they don't want to wait for an unseen author to cast their fates. Drawn together and longing for more, James and Anna dare to build a narrative of their own.

A fan-favorite from her Scattered Showers collection, "In Waiting" is a new short story by Rainbow Rowell—written with her trademark wit and heart—and an uncanny, unconventional romance.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Short Stories, Fantasy, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

48 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2023

About the author

Rainbow Rowell writes all kinds of stuff.

Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS, LANDLINE, SLOW DANCE).

Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK, FANGIRL) .

Sometimes — actually, a lot of the time — she writes about lovesick vampires and guys with dragon wings. (THE SIMON SNOW TRILOGY).

Recently, she’s been writing comics, including her first graphic novel, PUMPKINHEADS, and the monthly SHE-HULK comic for Marvel.

She lives in Omaha, Nebraska.

More at rainbowrowell.com.

Reviews

[❁ lilyreadsromance ❁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welp. That was a unique one. I think we need a full-length book about Anna and James. Stat.

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 out of 5 stars

Why am I full on sobbing over a short story?

This was something I never read nor experienced before. It felt like I was reading about characters from 'The Sims' instead of playing them, but with more raw and surreal emotions. The concept of this short story in unlike anything I've ever read.

I want to read more about Anna and James!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great short story! Very unique and creative. Maybe even a peak into Rainbow Rowell herself?

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

89 pages of adorable. Fun premise, and I love Rowell’s writing. (This broke my reading slump so thank you for that, too!)

RR, if you’re already writing that full-length novel with Anna and James, consider me sold. 🫶 (Of course, I wouldn’t complain about more wizards and vampires either.)(Maybe the unused vampire!)(Ok I stop.)

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I really hope Anna & James get there own book I get to read.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the most charming short stories I’ve read in quite a while.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in Rowell's Scattered Showers collection earlier this year, but it's a fabulous short story everyone should read, especially writers!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stop it this was so cute and meta and bookish and emotional for such a quick short story!! I need more more more!!!

[Sara Santos · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,75

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was okay. Didn't blow me away, and the ending was just...ehhhhhhhh.

[Vilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Previously read in Scattered Showers ; In Waiting: 4/5, read 9. nov. 2022

[han · Rating 4 out of 5]

so when do we get the full story of anna and james?

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so sweet, but Rowell is KILLING me with the fade out of the story. DID ANNA AND JAMES MEET IN THE BOOK. The world may never know.

[alisonwonderland (Alison) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful short story about the existence of characters, in varying degrees of development, who are waiting to be called into a writer's piece of work. I'd love to read the book where James and Anna end up!

Profanity warning for gentle readers.

Alison’s Summer Reading 2025 16/33

[Briana Kane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing a story as a character that lives in an author’s head was very fun to read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ir was so good, I read it twice & cried both times

[Gracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise is brilliant and I couldn't wait to dig into this story. Loved Anna and James right away. They had great chemistry and I wanted only the best for them. The execution was great all the way up until the ending...that left me hanging :( Overall, I really enjoyed this story and am hungry for more of Anna and James. Maybe RR will have mercy on us fans and continue the story.

A side note, In Waiting made me look more closely at how I create and utilize my own characters, especially the ones in my rare horror and scifi-horror stories.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This makes me feel bad for all the characters I made in my head.

[Janny Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, cute, and so emotional 😔 I need more of Anna and James!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun unique read

In Waiting by Rainbow Rowell

I loved this story, right up until the ending: which ended appropriately but I wanted to learn more about where they ended up. This is a fun unique read about the life of characters who haven't yet been incorporated into an author's stories. The main character is Anna who was conceived of by the author early in her career but never used. Into Anna's world comes new characters. Many don't stay long because they were conceived of for the author's current story. Some characters are rejected by the author and forgotten which means they just fade away. Others stick around for a while but then are selected for a future work. Some are just an idea, just a blurred face. It was fun watching the characters as they went through changes in personality as the author worked through a story.

Another character, James, came into her world, and she formed an emotional connection with him. He was well fleshed out to be the lead in a romance so she knew he wouldn't stay for long. He's worried that he won't be picked to be in a story. All the while she's been wondering for years why she was never picked.

Spend a pleasant afternoon reading this. You'll be thinking about it for a while. It was an insightful mini glance into a writers process.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely should have read the page count beforehand but for a short, and I do mean short, read, this was packed with a lot of heartfelt emotions which I'm used to when reading a Rainbow Rowell book.

I love the concept of this and to read the actual changes a.characterngoes through as an author makes edits and tweaks. Until now I never saw this concept from a character perspective and that originality had me hooked and then shouting "nooooo" as I got to the end because I I, didn't realize it was a short story. That's on me.

If there was ever a chance to come back to read about Anna and James, count me in!

[whisperedsigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rainbow did it again! OMG another unique story, this makes room for wonder if the Main character that we know is really the subconscious of the author instead of just an imaginary character as a writer, and that our MMC is actually a real person not a conjured up love interest for a future book. awww, i need a full story on this. but sometimes things left as they were was better(talking about some unique concepts on some books I've read before, that really became boring and just moneygrab when they created sequels) anyways. I missed reading Rainbow's writing, and this one is so good.

[Kierstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had so much trouble getting into this story even though the concept is really interesting. The ways he kept changing as he was being worked on was cute. I wish that we followed them into their new book to see what she had been saved so long for and whether or not they remembered the before time. But I guess she was leaving that up for us to decide with that open ending.

[Alycia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun idea! Loved this and it was so unique. The idea that all your characters are up in your head hanging out, waiting to be put on the page. For such a short story, you really got to know Anna and feel for her.

[MoniReadsOn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely unique, creative, and I’m still processing. There are moments that are very emotional but I’m not sure how I feel at the end. It feels I’m left wanting more but also not sure if I want to know.

[Zainab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting concept. This is my first time reading a "man vs. author" type of story.
The characters (well mostly only Anna and James - iykyk) are lovely, the plot is captivating,the writing style is (as most of Rainbow Rowells books usually are) witty and easy to read.
Great story.

[Erin Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love this concept. In some ways I think this is what I wanted Between the Lines to be. Maybe we aren’t meant to ever know where these characters end up but that won’t stop me from wishing I knew.

[Giovanna Tufano · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It better be a long and heartwarning book very soon!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun, a bit if a brain twister. I shared it right away with a friend that is a writer. Short and sweet.

[Anastasia]

This short story gave me major Extraordinary You vibes✨