Hello, friend,

Before I dive in—today marks 22 years since the horrors of 9/11.

For me, it’s become a time to think about how people are treated and have been treated the world over and to understand that making a difference happens right here, with me—and you—and how we behave toward the people in our lives.

Our friends.

Neighbors.

Coworkers.

Waitstaff.

Store clerks.

Family members.

We don’t have all the power, but we do have some.

Okay. Hopping off that soap box and onto …

I don’t know what passion you’re pursuing.

Maybe, like me, it’s writing.

No matter what it is, have you ever hit a wall in your pursuit?

I have.

Banging my head against that wall right now, as a matter of fact.

I’m not talking about writer’s block.

I’ve read enough articles and read enough author biographies to know that writer’s block isn’t real.

It’s an excuse.

The way you deal with “writer’s block,” according to these writers, is to put your behind in a chair, look at your outline, do the next thing, and write.

If you want to be published, if you want to complete a novel or whatever the writing project is, you really don’t have the luxury of being blocked.

That’s for people with Plan Bs, for people who are fine with not finishing.

Dabblers.

Hitting a wall is different.

I’ve written several novels and tried to put three of them out into the world.

But I’ve gotten little to no feedback from the Gate Keepers (literary agents), which means I need to do something else to get through that wall.

I’ve had my novels read by critique groups and by actual editors.

I’ve had them read by coaches, my husband, my kids.

I’ve made changes, heard good things from editors, critique-ier things from others, made more changes, put my head back down and queried more Gate Keepers.

And what do I hear from them?

Lots of crickets and, if you know me, you know crickets are not my favorite.

I’ve heard, “Sorry. Not a fit. Good luck!”

My favorite, because it was the most encouraging thing I’ve heard from an agent, was “Intriguing idea. Not for me, but good luck.”

My least favorite: I heard from one agent twice.

He must have forgotten he already rejected me, so he sent me, yes, another rejection.

He really didn’t like my project.

I know that JK Rowling was rejected dozens of times.

I know that Stephen King was rejected dozens of times.

I know.

I know.

But something is amiss.

I’ve hit a wall.

So what to do?

Re-educate myself. (Isn’t education always the answer?)

I’m going back to the basics.

Maybe not as far back as Creative Writing 101, but, maybe, 201?

Plus, I’m in a course on how to write query letters (they’re that important).

I’ve chosen my battering ram.

This is how I’m going to bust through that darn wall.

When I shut my eyes at night, I swear, sometimes I see my characters wandering around in my mind.

They want out!

I want them out, too.

So, if you ever feel as if you’ve hit a wall, decide what you’re going to do.

Are you okay with dabbling?

Will you move on to something else?

If the answer is “no,” then find your battering ram to get through that wall.

Maybe it’s as simple as going back to the basics. (And maybe a little to do with the alignment of the stars.)

Until next week,

~gail

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