Don’t Waste the Wait

Patience has never been one of my biggest strengths. One the pro side, this makes me great at decision-making. I have a strong bias to action and once I’ve figured out what to do, I’m your person for getting things done. On the con side, this can mean that I sometimes move forward without all the information I need in my rush to hurry up and get it done, already. It also makes me incredibly frustrated when other people, or circumstances, prevent me from moving forward.

Right now, for example, I’ve started a project to remodel my kitchen. It’s not a full gut-renovation, but involves appliances and counter tops and tile and paint and things like that. And now that it’s started, I want it done. Like, yesterday. Instead, at present, there’s a giant hole where an oven is supposed to be and tile samples all over the place. It’s making me… twitchy.

As impatient as I am to have this home repair project done (and we’ve barely started), I’m trying to see it as great practice for the writing process. In both, there are so many things that are simply out of my control. Sure, it’s on me to pick the counters and the backsplash, but once I do, I’m dependent on the schedules of installers. I bought a new oven, had it delivered, didn’t like it, returned it, and now have to go buy another and then wait on delivery, again. I’m going to be living with a mess for a while. I’m impatient.

In the writing journey, I’ve finished the manuscript, gotten feedback from beta readers and editors, and sent it out to a number of agents. Will those agents respond? Maybe, maybe not. Will those who’ve requested pages like what they’re reading (and respond)? Maybe, maybe not. Will those who closed to queries before the holidays ever re-open? Maybe, maybe not. Will anything happen to this project, or will I ultimately have to shelve it? I’m impatient.

The reality is, while it would be easy to sit back and worry about all this, there are so many unknowns and so many variables out of my control. Even if my writing is great and my project is strong, it just might not be what someone is looking for right now. They might have another project that’s too similar. They might just not like it. And, most frustratingly, I may never know these things, since a big part of the process is “if you don’t hear from us in X amount of time, consider it a no.”

As I go through this, I’ve been reminded of a phrase a good friend taught me a few years ago: Don’t waste the wait. Don’t waste the time you have waiting for a response that may never come. Put your time to use. Because, whether that response comes or not, time is going to pass. Why not put that effort into writing, instead of simply waiting? And so, once I started sending out those queries, I began the next project. I returned to the writing. Found something else to get excited about.

I’m always going to be impatient, but I’m learning to focus on the things I can control and let the rest go. It’s a process, and some days and weeks I’m better at it than others. And in that way, this writing journey has actually been really good for me. Now, if it could just help that kitchen project move along…