Blogger: Rachel Kent
Many writers seem to think that the only milestone worth celebrating is publication, but many milestones occur along the publishing path. Taking time to celebrate can help to keep you moving forward.
One of my best friends participates yearly in the 5K Color Run in Sacramento. The Color Run is a national event, and many different cities host the races year round. Lots of schools do this for fun or as a fundraiser, too. It’s not a very competitive race, but all of the runners wear white, and at each kilometer marker a group of volunteers pelts the runners with color packets. By the end of the race you are covered in five different colors, and you look like a sweaty rainbow. Knowing that something exciting is waiting at the next kilometer marker helps the runners to enjoy the race more, they stay motivated, and the time passes more quickly. The same friend does a fall “race” in Sonoma County (California wine country) where they give you wine at stops along the way and at the end of the race you get a wine glass to fill up with unlimited tastings. That’s huge motivation for some people. 🙂 And it’s a race where you can actually gain weight by the end, rather than lose it.
I think your publishing journey should be like the Color Run (0r the Wine Run). At each milestone–publishing an article; finishing your manuscript; putting together your proposal; writing and submitting your query letter; getting manuscript requests; finding an agent; signing a publishing contract; seeing your book on the shelf–celebrate somehow. Hopefully your form of celebration doesn’t end in your looking like a sweaty rainbow, but if that’s what you enjoy, go for it! 🙂 Building in celebrations, big or small, will help you to stay motivated and to enjoy the sometimes-grueling publishing process.
 At what publishing milestones do you celebrate?
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I celebrate finishing the story, submitting the synopsis, having a request for the whole story, getting the contract, completing each round of edits, approving final galleys and, best of all, publication day! Then there are reviews and book signings until it starts over with the next one. I have all my book birthdays on the calendar too.
This year I’ve been celebrating 40 years of writing for Christian publishing. Some of my greatest joys recently have been seeing friends I’ve coached or taught get agented and then published. Just as it’s the best feeling ever to welcome a grandchild, it’s also wonderful to be a book nana.
I try to celebrate them, and more importantly also enjoying the journey. If I found the process miserable I am not sure celebrating milestones would keep me going.
My latest milestone came this weekend – sending the “final” book proposal to my agent to share with publishers!
Getting to do so just a few days after getting to share a small piece of the concept with over 200 guys at a prayer lunch and hearing their reaction in person made it even sweeter.
Thankful for all who have assisted, encouraged – and criticized when needed – all along the way, and that group includes the Books & Such team!
What a great tip. I’ve been wanting to wrote my book for 14 years. I’ve finally put together a proposal and now reaching out to find agents. I realize how big of a deal it is to get started. I’ll definitely celebrate every step.
I will use the milestones as a roadmap for making progress.
Thanks for all the inspiration you provide. I believe I am ready to use it.