When Words Run Dry

If there's such a thing as "writer's block", then there's such a thing as "blogger's block".  And, honestly, when a blog's been around for as long as this one has (6 years and counting!), you're in constant danger of repeating yourself.

Hence the silence this week.  It's not a good week for an in-house critique, since our next Secret Agent contest runs next week.  And nothing has been clawing at my heart, begging to be expressed here.

So, as usual, I'm turning to the raw-and-real me, and telling it like it is.  In short, I have nothing to say.

I have no new words of wisdom this week for those of you on your querying journey.

I have no spontaneous words of encouragement for those of you who are weary in your journey.  (And yes, it really does work that way--words of encouragement spring to my heart and I share them.  I love when that happens.)

I have no ridiculous stories about Mr. A to share (though, to be honest, it wouldn't be hard to come up with one; like, this morning he was snoring while I was putting my make-up on, so I took a video of him on his iPhone.  He hasn't seen it yet...).

And, most of all, I have no good news to share.  So many of you have been pulling for me, cheering me on, offering kind, I-can't-wait-until-you-announce-that-big-sale words.  Often along the way, I have been compelled to keep pressing forward BECAUSE OF YOU.  Because you're watching, and because I never, never want to be an example to anyone of GIVING UP.

Maybe you don't realize how profound that is.  How much of a FORCE you are, collectively, in my life as a writer.

Now you know.

Apparently, it's been a strangely silent late-winter-into-early-spring for many authors.  As in, long bouts without responses from agents or editors.  Everyone knows that silence is part of the game (an infuriating part, but there you have it).  It never comes as a shock or an affront, but it does wear on us, yes?  Anyone who has ever queried or received requests for fulls or been on submission with editors KNOWS WHAT I MEAN.

At first, I thought the Extra Silence was my own experience.  But evidently it's not.  It's not a big deal--it is what it is.  But regardless of staying busy with another project (I am) and maintaining an even keel (I have been), it still nips and pulls at frayed ends of my emotions when I least expect it to.  Like a big, dark hole that I have to keep side-stepping.

"Careful.  Don't fall into the gaping hole."

You can't build a bridge over it, because then you'll just be tempted to hang over the edge and try to see the bottom.  (You won't be able do.)

You can't defy everything and jump in, because then it will SWALLOW YOU WHOLE, and you won't be able to function.  (You especially won't be able to write.)

The only thing you CAN do is to ignore it.  It won't go away (it's a big hole), but it WILL STOP BOTHERING YOU.  It's counterintuitive for anyone who's emotionally aware enough to understand that MOST problems WILL NOT GO AWAY IF YOU IGNORE THEM to do this.  Right?

But this is different.  This Silence isn't really a problem.  It's just a thing.  And we have to ignore it in order to keep pressing forward.

Anyway.  I'm busy ignoring the Big Hole.  And it seems that, in sharing this, I've ended up with some words after all.

Blogging can be so cathartic!