The Winter Olympics and My Book

Like 95% of the nation, I have been dealing with a nasty cold over the weekend (okay, I just made that percentage up, but it certainly describes my household). I've been doing a lot of sitting on the couch, staring at the TV (yes, it's been tuned into the Olympics since Friday night) and wishing my head would stop floating away from the rest of my body.

But just because I haven't been writing doesn't mean I haven't been working on my next WIP. I've done some serious thinking about what I should work on next, and my writing career in general. I can't say that I've made a decision, but I'm getting closer to making one.

(Hey, I've been dealing with a cold, remember? Making decisions is really hard when your body would prefer to take a nap.)

But it's amazing how, in those few lucid moments, you can get a clear picture of where your future lies, and the path you need to take to get there. And my vision was incredibly strong. I now know where my life is supposed to be headed.

Yes, I now know I am meant to become a Gold Medal winner of a Winter Olympic sport.

Okay, so maybe that was the cold talking.

But in all seriousness, I did find quite a bit of inspiration from all the Olympic spirit going around. And the one I'm clinging to the most is the idea that there are always those who emerge from the ashes of defeat in previous Winter Games and go on to find a place on the podium.

I'm feeling a little bit like these Olympians. No, I'm not in the best shape of my life and plan on heading out to the slopes or the skating rink any time soon. But on a writing level, I'm right there with them. Though I really haven't had any defeat (I'm still on submission, so it's like I'm still right in the middle of the competition), but I see all these other writers getting a book deal (and in many cases, their second or third or fourth deal) and it's hard not to think that it means there is one less place on the publisher's list for my little book.

But I do believe that someday, somewhere, I'll find a place on that podium, too. It may be the smaller in stature but larger in surface area Podium of Published Authors and not the elite Podium of NYT Bestsellers (though, confession: I do have delusions of grandeur everyone once in awhile), but I plan on getting there someday. Someday soon.

And by soon, I mean this year if things fall nicely into place. And if not, in the next year to two or three or four--since that's still soon in publishing terms. I'd love it to be the little book on subs now (and, editors, if you're reading this, so would a lot of other complete strangers who have read the first page on my contest win--I'm just sayin'...) but I'm ready to write another one and another one and another one until one of them clicks.

So, published authors everywhere, save me a little corner of the podium, okay?

Thanks. I'll be joining you soon, relatively speaking.