You are Your Own Worst Roadblock

Okay so maybe this title is not always true but whether in the writing world or outside of it, it can be true for a good portion of the time. I’ve just about finished a manuscript. You see, I can’t even say I finished because I’m not sure if it is completely done (I’m not including editor/publisher run-throughs) and ready to be queried. The truth is I’m not sure it will ever be done in my mind though. Why? Because I am my own worst roadblock.

I admit it. I’m scared to death of sending my latest manuscript out. And the weird thing is that it isn’t completely the rejection because I’ve been rejected both in the writing world and outside of it and it really isn’t a big deal. My biggest fear is sharing something that will be picked up and published before I feel it is of sufficient quality to be shared with readers. At least I can say my concern has good intentions. I do worry a lot about the readers and whether I am setting my best foot forward. The truth is that I know that no matter what I send out “there”, there will always be someone who will most likely love it and someone who will most likely hate it. That is the nature of humanity.

So why do we do this to ourselves? A tendency to overanalyze? Most likely. A need to please? That’s a good bet. Fear? A definite to the umpteenth degree. I can sit here and asking myself what I have to fear but the only thought that goes through my mind is what do I not have to fear! But then I remember I’m a writer and that deciding to write in itself is taking a huge plunge. I think about all the roadblocks I’ve overcome just to get to this point and all the roadblocks I will still need to overcome.

All right, I’ll stop stalling. What am I waiting for? Beats me… I’m off to start my querying. Wish me luck! Oh, and happy writing to all of you this week.

 

Filed under: Toni Kelly, Writer's Life