The waiting game: the bane of every writer’s existence. Maybe you’re waiting for edits from your editor, or a response on that query, maybe you’re waiting for your cover designer to get back to you with those mockups that you’ve just been dying to see. Heck, maybe you’re waiting for your critique partners to give feedback on your work—or just plain waiting between drafts so you can revisit your manuscript with fresh eyes. Whatever it is you’re waiting for, writing is ALL about waiting. It is literally the story of every writer’s life. It can drive you stir crazy if you let it. You’re either constantly checking your inbox, or you’re stalking who you’re waiting on via social media. It can be bad. I am guilty of it. I’ve been in the query trenches many times before. I’d constantly check the Twitter account of agents I submitted to for any shred of a hint. Did they say they just read the best query of all time? Was it me? Did they say they read the crappiest query? Was that me? It can all leave you spinning by the time you’re done.
Why not find other ways to be productive? I know you just want to know, but worrying over it isn’t going to help. There are better ways to use your time. So, I’ve come up with a list of things you can do to occupy yourself instead of driving yourself mad over what it is you’re waiting for.
1. Work on something else.
This is probably the most useful tip. You don’t only plan to write one short story, right? You aren’t going to just write one novel or one poem. Chances are, if you want to be a writer, you probably want to make a career out of it. At the very least, you probably want to keep producing work. If so, might I suggest staying busy by doing just that? While you wait, you can work on other projects. If you’re a novelist, you might start drafting your next book, especially if it’s a series. You might also try writing in a different category or genre if you’ve been working on something specific. For example, I love writing short stories —especially flash—and I often write them when I’m between novel projects, or need a break from a project. That can help to reinvigorate your creativity. Instead of spending the time wondering how so and so is doing with your current project, produce something else. You’ll be ahead of the curve and ready for the next opportunity.
2. Read.
Reading is an important part of being a writer. Why not pick up a book in your genre? Again, this is a great way to study the craft. I have another writer friend who reads four books a month, including a New York Times Bestseller, and she does case studies on them. It’s actually kind of fascinating the way bestselling books are structured. In addition to learning the craft while you read, you’ll be escaping to a new world. Isn’t that the reason that we read in the first place? Reading a book will help you take your mind off the waiting. Last, if those reasons weren’t good enough, you’ll also be supporting a fellow writer by reading their book. It’s a win all around. By the way, we have lots of book recommendations on the Writer’s Atelier Bookshop.org affiliate account.
3. Research for a future project.
Maybe you might not be in the right frame of mind or the mood to write another draft or write in general. How about doing a little research on your future project? If you happen to be a bit dried up for ideas, what about some market research? This can be beneficial to both traditional and self-published authors. Knowing your industry will help you market yourself and maybe even sell more books. Plus, you never know—inspiration might just strike.
4. Outline or plot another project.
This is similar to #1 on the list, but this suggestion is more so for those who don’t feel totally ready to start another draft. If you’re not much of a plotter you could use writing sessions to brainstorm general things you want to happen in your creative piece. Or you can generate a list of ideas for future projects. The idea is to keep your mind off the current project and this way, even though you’re not writing a full-out draft of something, at least you’ll still be ahead when you sit down to write.
5. Take a class or attend a conference.
I like to think of myself as a life-long learner. And honestly, I think if you want to keep getting better as a writer, you should continuously challenge your skillset. I love learning about writing and I make it a point to attend several writing conferences a year. There is always something to learn. I also consider classes and conferences to be an investment in my career. It’s a great way to distract yourself from waiting, while you also work to improve your writing. We have a few to choose from in the WA online school or you can join our online accountability and group coaching program, Write Gym Program, to get access to our backlog of masterclasses—they’re exclusive to our group Write Gym members. We also have a few free classes on the Writer’s Atelier YouTube channel.
6. Relax.
Yes, it’s okay to take a break every now and then. Spend time with your family or other writer friends. Go to the beach or the park. Visit a museum. Do things that are outside of writing. Not only will doing other activities help you keep your mind off the waiting, but it can also inspire you. Sometimes we need to get out into the world and experience life in order to get fresh ideas to create. Think about this, how well do you create under stress? Plus, a relaxed mind and body does wonders for your creativity.
Waiting can be tough. It’s probably one of the most difficult parts of the writing and publishing industry. In fact, I’m waiting for lots of things to happen while I type out this blog post. (See what I did there?) It can take months to get a decision or get feedback. Whatever it is you’re waiting for, learn to embrace it. Rumor has it, all good things take time.
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Racquel Henry is a Trinidadian writer, editor, and writing coach with an MFA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She is a part-time English Professor and owns Writer’s Atelier. Racquel is also the co-founder and Editor at Black Fox Literary Magazine and the Editor-in-Chief at Voyage YA. She is the author of Holiday on Park, Letter to Santa, and The Writer’s Atelier Little Book of Writing Affirmations. Her fiction, poetry, and nonfiction have appeared in various literary magazines and anthologies. When she’s not working, you can find her watching Hallmark Christmas movies.
