Guest Post: "Nothing to Lose" by Clarice Wynter

Nothing to Lose

I wanted to be a published author for most of my life. I was about ten years old when I sat down with a spiral bound notebook and started writing down stories, and from that time on I spent a lot of time daydreaming about all the perks of being a full time writer. I imagined being interviewed [on TV of course], hitting the best seller lists, having my stories made into movies, having people line up around the block to buy the next installment of my world famous series. [I had no idea I wanted to be JK Rowling – and I suppose back then, she didn’t either.]

Fast forward to the early 2000s. I was now a married mother of two, and having a writing career was still just a daydream. I wrote for fun, but I was so petrified of failure that the only person I allowed to read my work was my husband, who unabashedly encouraged me to pursue my dream. Even with his support, I couldn’t seem to get past the fear of rejection. The idea that someone with any type of power in the publishing industry might read my work and shake their head in disappointment paralyzed me. As much as I fantasized about getting ‘the call’, I convinced myself it really wasn’t worth all the heartache that might accompany an actual rejection. I was certain if someone turned down my work, I would never want to write again, and I would lose the thing I loved so much. I couldn’t bear that, so I kept my work in the drawer where it, and I, would be safe.

My wake up call came when my son, three years old at the time, was diagnosed with glaucoma. It’s a rare illness in children and fortunately one that’s treatable. Nevertheless the diagnosis came with endless visits to specialists, complicated medication schedules and half a dozen surgeries in an attempt to prevent further damage to his already compromised vision.

I remember sitting in a hospital hallway waiting for a surgeon to shepherd my husband and I into a pediatric recovery room and thinking, I really don’t know what’s worse than this. And that’s when it hit me that a rejection from an editor or a publisher or an agent would be a downright pleasant experience compared to waiting for a doctor to show me into a room where my toddler was waking up from anesthesia. I realized when it came to submitting my work I had nothing to lose. If I could handle this, I could handle anything the publishing industry could throw at me.

I began submitting my work in 2003. The first story I sent off to a publisher, apparently never made it there [these were still the days of mailing your manuscript]. I didn’t let it bother me. [No news is good news, right?]  The first story I submitted electronically was accepted and published, the second won a contest and a contract and quite a few after that were bought by editors who told me they loved my work and couldn’t wait for me to produce more. The rejections did come in time, as they do for everyone – from agents, editors and publishers, and I won’t say I wasn’t disappointed by any of them, but rather than see them as a failure of my work or myself, I was able to see them as opportunities to improve and to find a better home for my stories.

Since then, between my three pen names, I’ve gotten a drawer full of rejections, but I’ve also published 50 novels and novellas, and I don’t plan on stopping any time soon. My son is a healthy 15-year-old whose illness, while not curable yet, doesn’t stop him from doing any of the things he loves. And I credit him with helping me to see that I could face rejection without losing what I loved as well.

If writing is your passion, but you’re still struggling with fear of rejection, just ask yourself what you really have to lose. The answer may surprise you.

BIO:

The third of two voices, Clarice is the alter ego of a multi-published paranormal and science fiction romance author.

Clarice lives in New Jersey with her husband of twenty years, their two children and three cats. She's been writing since the age of ten [a long, long time ago] and looks forward to bringing many contemporary romances to her readers.

To learn more about Clarice visit her at http://claricewynter.blogspot.com

 

Or you can pick up a copy of her book "Jilted in January" - the first in her Spring River Valley series.  It's free at most retailers or at Amazon for .99.

Harper Shaw is certain she’ll never live down her reputation as the jilted bride after her fiancé bails on the wedding and decides to go on the honeymoon by himself.

Grant Addison’s career depends on saving the failing catering hall where Harper’s wedding was supposed to be held. He can’t return her deposit money to her, but his business proposal could help them both stay out of the red.

Their unlikely partnership heats up the cold winter nights in Spring River Valley, and leads them to discover January just might be hottest month of the year.