The Rocky Dance

After a long and winding road (and I do mean LOOOONG.  And WINDING.), the moment finally arrived this week.  Ahem.

I signed my very first publishing contract!!

I don't know how many details I can reveal yet, so I'll keep things vague for now.  But the main reason for this post is to inspire those still in the trenches, still struggling to get their work seen or read or published.  I've been there.  I understand.

For years, I wrote and studied the craft.  I attended writers' conferences.  I researched and submitted to agents.  And got rejected.  Then, one agent said "yes."  But unfortunately, things went sour and I ventured out on my own, agent-less.  So, I started submitting directly to publishers and had some bumps along the way.  More waiting, more rejection.  And then, some bites, some hope!  And it all led up to this point, this moment.  And though the experience is surreal, this joyful feeling makes the long and sometimes-heartbreaking journey worthwhile. 

If you have that dream, pursue it.  If publication is something you want, go get it.  It won't be an easy road, but it can happen.  I posted awhile back about why I want to get published (link here), and those reasons still hold true today. 

So, if getting published is important to you (and it's perfectly fine if it isn't) -- don't give up.  Keep plugging along, keep trying.  Because when you reach the tip-top of that enormous, steep staircase, you can finally launch into your triumphant Rocky Dance.