Do you feel stuck in a holding pattern?
by Andy Scheer
For people in the writing business, it’s easy to feel defeated — like we’ve been placed on hold.
One skilled writer, editor, and speaker recently had several wide-open doors slam shut. His work is just as good, but circumstances have denied him those opportunities.
A publishing house well-known for novels just decided it will no longer publish fiction. Suddenly, the competition has grown even tighter. Some novelists who would have earned a contract may now find themselves rejected.
When doors shut, it’s easy to wonder why.
When doors shut, it’s easy to wonder what we’ve done wrong, why our career has been put on hold. Like Joseph in the Book of Genesis, we can feel wrongly imprisoned. This morning, I read in Genesis 40 how Joseph finally got an opportunity to ask Pharaoh’s cupbearer to put in a good word for him. At last, he had a reason to hope.
But the first verse of Genesis 41 reminds me hope’s fulfillment may come slowly. For Joseph, not until “two full years had passed.”
That’s a long while to wait. But it also affords time to work on yourself – and your work.
For nonfiction writers who’ve been facing rejection, that publisher’s policy may bring good news. If those writers were wise, they’ve been using that season to prepare.
