Float Exercise

Do this for about 5 minutes every day (or as much and as often as you feel is needed).

Sit in a comfortable position and let your body "float" as if you are in a swimming pool, completely carefree and weightless, the sun shining down on you and warming you up.

Now let go of everything.

Unstitch your dreams and greatest desires.

Let them float away so that they can become real.

As long as you clutch them to your chest, nobody else will see the treasures.

Feel that they are gone and there is only happiness and fulfillment and sunshine.

You already are and have everything that you need.

I love you.

You are wonderful, and brilliant, and shining brighter every day.

Let Your Writing Be Another Person

Raise your hand if this is what your relationship with your writing looks like:

You beg, beg, beg your writing to get published.

You tell your writing, "You're great!" one second and the next, "You're getting burned this afternoon!"

"I don't know why I bother with you, there's so many other things I could be doing!"

"I'm naturally talented. Why aren't you turning out the way I had it in my head??"

"I don't have time for you today, but let's pretend I did."


Seriously. Think about it. If you were treated like that, would you stay in that relationship? Why should your writing? And if it does stick around, how is it supposed to flourish under those conditions?


Treat it like any relationship you would have with a person.

Give it the time and the patience to grow and develop into your initial vision.

Be patient.

Be kind.

Be gentle.

But mostly, just be there. Show up and be supportive.

That's all you need and that's all your writing needs.

There Is No Rejection

That is the lesson. That has been the lesson all along.

There is no rejection. 

There is only what matches and what doesn't, what works and what doesn't.

You wouldn't want an agent who doesn't completely love your book so don't even be disappointed. Be glad and thankful that you're getting closer to the agent that will love your work.

Let things be. Let things go.

The Universe is constantly working with you and has much bigger plans for you than you can initially imagine.

Listen to your intuition, your gut feeling. Let yourself be guided....

To the right agent....

To the right editor....

To the right novels to write....

Let yourself be.

Let yourself be guided...

in your first draft and in all your editing and revision:

plot

character

paragraphs

sentences

flow

rhythm


Let the Universe in. It is working with you, gently lighting up the way for you. And whenever anything feels off, it's because the Universe is showing you how to make it even better, not because you're not good enough.

You Used to Be Afraid

You signed up for a writer's conference!

You'll be able to show your work and talk to people and have lots of fun, writer-style!


You used to be afraid of approaching people.

You used to be shy.

You used to be obsessed with what they'll think of you and if you'll be good enough.

You've let that go.


And I am sooo proud of you.

You've changed your entire mental dialogue.

Without fear, you are now free to be excited!


You can't wait to meet other people in the field. You're going to hear all kinds of speakers and learn stuff and laugh at some jokes!
You might even get to touch an agent or editor! (Like a handshake, nothing creepy.)

You've been reading a lot about agents and editors and they're really cool and lovely people.
And the best part is, that just like you, They. Love. Books! And they want to help writer's books be the best they can be!

You like that. You really like that. You're not sure why you saw them as scary before at all because they're more teachers and guides than anything else.

You decide you want an editor and an agent. You want these people on your team and you're going to go out and find them with full confidence and love for your work.

I love you.

You have really arrived at a peaceful state of mind.

Let Go of Your Fears

Be giving.

You have so much within you, but you are keeping it trapped.

You're afraid of a little embarrassment or that 100% of the world won't agree with you.

They won't.

Get over it.

It would be boring otherwise. 

I love you.

You are wonderful. 

Persevering is a success in and of itself.

Happy writing!

It Shouldn't Hurt

"If querying hurts, you're doing it wrong."

--Me

Just like exercise or anything else, it shouldn't hurt.

If it does, you need to change the way you're thinking about it.

Don't think of it as finding an agent for yourself, but for this novel right here. The question should never be are you good enough. Take the pressure off yourself. The question isn't even if the book is good enough. In fact, there are several questions:

Is the book written well for the audience it's trying to reach?

AND

Is it marketable?

AND

Is there an agent interested in representing it?

You already are doing exactly what you need to be doing.

Keep writing! I believe in you!

Expect Good Things

Expect good things to happen in your life and to come to you.

Expect good news in the morning...
even if it's just that the sun has come out again and that the world is still spinning.

Expect good things throughout the day...
even if it's just a yummy meal or a phone call from that special someone.

Expect to hear good things...
even if it's just the sound of children laughing or the wind strumming tree branches.

Expect... that your dreams are coming true.

That the blocks are falling into place and that everything is coming together.

I love you.