Writer friends: is there anything more frustrating than waiting? Waiting for a response…waiting for an acceptance–even waiting for a rejection, just so you can move on. Is an auto response too much to ask?
C’mon!
I’ve met the deadlines, and satisfied the requirements for word count, double-spacing and font. I double-checked, wrote the 50-word bio, hit send, and now… I’m waiting.
Not just waiting, but that’s how it feels some days.
After years of keeping track by hand, I created a spreadsheet to chart what I wrote, where I sent it, and when. At the moment, I have a number of question marks where responses should be.
That column isn’t completely full of question marks. There are a number of entries that show a publication date. But the “nopes” are winning at this point.
So, what do you do while you’re waiting? Write blog posts that are tinged with your impatience? Write other stuff that will add to your long list of things you’re already waiting to hear about? Plan to make it to a few more happy hours for inspiration?
I looked up the old Mr. Rogers song. Remember this one?
Let’s think of something to do while we’re waiting
While we’re waiting for something new to do.
Let’s try to think up a song while we’re waiting
That’s liberating and will be true to you.
Let’s think of something to do while we’re waiting
While we’re waiting ’til something’s through.
You know it’s really all right;
In fact, it’s downright quite bright
To think of something to do
That’s specific for you.
Let’s think of something to do while we’re waiting.
So, fellow writers, how do you deal with this? Is there something specific for you that’s liberating and true that doesn’t involve compulsive e-mail checking, eating food-like substances, and staring out the window? I’d love to hear about it.
On the other hand, here are the Kinks: