by hatfield13

Learning to Love November

Being a writer means learning how to wait.  There have been some wonderfully honest and thoughtful LJ posts lately about the real story of what happens after a first book deal, and the truth is, there’s a lot of waiting around.  But really?  There’s waiting before that, too — waiting for critiques, waiting to hear about query letters, waiting for contracts.   There’s waiting after that first book deal…and after the second…and the third.  Being a writer means having a lot of in-between times.

At the moment, while I wait for THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z to be released next fall, I’m also waiting to see the cover of that book, waiting to find out who will illustrate OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW and MARTY MCGUIRE, FROG PRINCESS, and waiting for word on two picture book submissions.  I am excited about all of these things;  I am feeling zen-like and patient about none of them.

The very best thing for me to do when I’m tempted to check my email for the fourth time in an hour is to go outside.  Why?  Because nature can handles "in-between" with more beauty and grace than I can ever muster on my own.

November has never been my favorite month.  Where I live, it’s overshadowed by the brilliant leaves of October and the snowy magic of December.  But you don’t hear the trees whining about that.  They reminded me today to take a break from the waiting and appreciate the "right now."

21 Replies on “Learning to Love November”

  2. Cindy Lord posted about the in-between of November a week or so ago.

    I actually like November. I like seeing the lines of the tree trunks and branches, and feeling that nature is actually settling into the new season of Winter., with more days demanding sweaters, and hot beverages, and afghans. If memory serves, once upon a time there was no such thing as fall – summer gave way to winter during the Morris dance, and that was that. November feels like a settling after all the splendor of October.

    Those photos are beautiful. Particularly the second one, as I so love the lines of those pods. And Kate? You have plenty of beauty and grace. Truly.

  6. November has never been my favorite month.

    Hi, Kate!
    It’s great to know that someone else loves November.
    Dut the only thing that upsets a lot is that it becomes dark so early. I fall into deep melancholy.

    And so little snow there where you live? Well, and in Novosibirsk (West Siberia) it’s winter yet.

  7. Great photos … they make November seem lovable. But I know I’ll change my mind as soon as I step outside. 😉

    *hides in blanket and waits for April*

  11. I love your photos!

    Your post has me singing that old Tom Petty song, “The Waiting is the Hardest Part”. I was talking to someone at an author panel I was on this weekend about how it’s like giving birth with a REALLY long gestation period.

    I’m just trying to keep on working on the next idea while I’m waiting for news on all the other stuff.