Writers in the Storm

A blog about writing

storm moving across a field
January 19, 2011

Mom said I’d know the One. . .

By Laura Drake

Remember when you were a teenager, about the time you got interested in dating, asking your mom, “How did you know dad was The One?”  And she gave you the most frustratingly useless answer.  “You’ll just know.”

Didn’t you hate that?  But later, when you met him (in my case, MUCH later) you understood what she meant.  You also know that if your daughter asks you, you probably won’t have any better answer.  I guess some things are so complex and wonderful that they transcend language.

I’ve been at this writing thing for over ten years.  When I can stop being antsy about it and look back objectively, I can see signposts now that I wasn’t able to see at the time.  Randy Ingermanson likens the journey to High School, where you achieve Sophomore, Junior and, Senior status.  He even breaks them into skills.  To see where you fall, visit: http://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/art/freshman.php

I’ve written three novels (okay, 2.85 novels) and at the time I finished them, I thought each was “the One.”  The one that would be picked up by an agent, then snapped up by the first publisher they submitted to.  But it didn’t happen.  Sure, each one received more attention and more requests for fulls than the one before, but who cared?  I was still unagented, and unpublished.

Now I’m able to look back and see my progress as a writer, and appreciate the journey.  Taking Randy’s test, I’m a senior, ready to graduate.

But wait, didn’t I think that before?

And my current work in progress?  Oh, it’s SO the One!

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