Daily Archives: November 20, 2007
A long-awaited decision
The answer is “no.” And I’m okay with that.
Here’s a recap. Back in May I pitched a nonfiction book idea at a writers conference. I got a few nibbles, but only one real bite. An acquisitions editor enthusiastically requested the full proposal. After polishing it a bit, I emailed it to him. That was June. Less than two weeks later he contacted me again. He liked it! 
By July my proposal was with the editorial director awaiting a board decision. Since then I have been trying to acquire patience.
Here we are, five months later, and I have neither patience nor a contract. (Not a good match for their current editorial plans.) I do, however, have contentment.
Maybe contentment isn’t the right word. I expected to be upset, but I’m not. I’m not even surprised. I’m not sad; I’m actually relieved. As I’ve gone over my proposal the last few months, I’ve seen so many weakenesses. The idea is great, but it needs to be refined, polished, perfected. My writing needs to improve. So is this vacant feeling happiness? Opportunity? I don’t know. Maybe I just hate waiting more than I hate rejection.
One thing I do know: God is in control. Of that I have no doubt. He has a plan and He has equipped me to fulfill it. Now if only I knew what that plan was!
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” — Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
Please pray with me and for me. I’m not discouraged, I’m just uncertain. I know God wants me to write, but what does He want me to write? Where? For whom? And how much of my time and energy should be devoted to this? Or is there something else He really wants me to do? I don’t know. So … prayer is my only option.
