Is it just me, or does it seem like life involves a lot of waiting? I feel like I'm in a kind of 'waiting stage' of life, where I'm waiting for...a lot. I'm waiting to finish up things with this dumb jaw surgery so I can move to Oregon. I'm waiting to hear back from all the jobs I applied to so I know if I'm going to starve or not once I do move. I'm waiting to have the space and money to buy a puppy. I'm waiting to not be single anymore. I'm waiting for January so I can apply to the University of Oregon MFA program, and others, after which I will be doing more waiting. I'm waiting to be accepted for publication in The New Yorker, or some such. I'm waiting (and working) to finish my novel so I can submit it to agents, so I can do more waiting, so they can submit it to editors, so I can do even more waiting.
Frankly, my dear, I don't care a whit for waiting. I hate it, despise it, and am very, very bad at it. Its amazing how bad a waiter I am considering how much practice I have. (That's another kind of waiting I might end up being good at, depending on the job market in Eugene). See, what really bothers me, is that no matter how hard you work, no matter how much you market and write and submit and apply, there comes a point when you are forced to wait for someone else. Waiting for them to accept you for publication, representation, a date or a job, waiting for them to follow your blog, watch your YouTube video or buy your book. You can work and work and work, but it just leads to waiting and waiting and waiting.
So you keep working. Work while you wait. Its better than doing your waiting sitting around. It still sucks, and I'm still very bad at it, but at least it takes the edge off of the antsyness of not doing anything. Books, movies and good TV shows also help de-drearify the waiting period. Especially when all the waits for everything in your life seem to converge. But keep working and keep enjoying. Waits always end eventually. I hope.
Sarah Allen
Wow - I feel totally the same way. I'm also waiting for a lot of things - and bet that many others are, too.
ReplyDeleteWaiting sucks, no doubt about it. But you know what? Waiting always brings out the best results. It's when we rush into things that things go pear-shaped.
I know exactly what you mean.
ReplyDeleteThey say that everything comes to him (or her) who waits. Good luck while you wait.
ReplyDeleteDitto!
ReplyDeleteNew follower! gigglelaughcry.blogspot.com
we all do a lot of waiting, even subconsciously and even in our dreams. like you, I sometimes hate the waiting but there is nothing to be done. I do hope patience doesn't run out on any of us.
ReplyDeletehave a sweet day.
Hi Sarah, first off thank you for visiting my blog so I could find yours! I am so excited to follow you on your journey.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with your post and what a wonderful topic for W-day. I use to do one thing then wait and wait to see if the thing I did was liked, picked up, bought, sold, accepted. Now I do different things that bring me joy so that while I am in the waiting stage of one, I am in the stage of change, creating, morphing in others. Sounds like with all on your plate you are doing the same. Have a great day.
Waiting is bad enough but the uncertainty that comes with it is sometimes worse! I'm currently waiting to see if the contracts' over and it's time to move - again!
ReplyDeleteNew follower liking your blog! nomadic-mumblings.blogspot.com
I know what you mean. I've enjoyed the buzz during the AtoZ April challenge but I'm still 'waiting' for my humble 77 followers to hit the 100 mark!
ReplyDeletea great W word. waiting definitely sucks. especially waiting for those query responses. ugh. work while you wait is my motto.
ReplyDeletenutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
As long as you continue writing - thats a form of action on its own. For me when I am engaged in something, I feel that I'm waiting for nothing. :)
ReplyDeleteMe too - I'm always waiting because I arrive anywhere earlier than everyone else (I'm like that). So I wait. I usually take myself off for a walk while I wait but when I get back, there's still no-one there. I was born early.
ReplyDeleteOh yes - I can so second that !! I despise waiting, too. On the other side - as artists, we need a lot of patience, because our "stuff" is mostly not done in a second. Funny ... being patient while quilting is not hard for me. Waiting for an answer or so IS hard !!!
ReplyDeleteLike the Tom Petty sonog, The Waiting is the Hardest Part.
ReplyDeleteIt sucks, but, there it is. We can do what we can do, and then.. gotta wait.
Good luck on all you are waiting for.
You hit on one of the great frustrations of my earlier writing life: writing my heart out and then waiting for a stranger's approval. I've had agents, but searching for them and for publishers takes up too large a chunk of life. Now if I want something published, I publish it myself.
ReplyDeleteI am not a good waiter either, although I am a pretty good waitress when I have to be. I'm supplementing my writing work with it and private consulting. I decided to bypass the agent and go with self-publishing but now that I want to take it to the movie level, I will probably need to wait to learn how to write a screenplay and then find an agent. Keeping busy with a lot of projects keeps me out of trouble. I can relate!
ReplyDelete*tapping foot*
ReplyDeleteGreat post, and great word for W.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest problem in the past was that I thought I needed to wait until I got to some perfect place in life to begin something. I finally realized all I was doing was holding myself back, and there was no need to wait.
Great advice about working while you wait, so true!
During my times of waiting, I usually end up with a new hobby. I also need to learn patience in the waiting.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting me at A Season for All Things. I'm your newest follower. ~ Ellen
Whistle while you work.
ReplyDeleteWork while you wait.
Therefore, whistle while you wait. Theory has it that you look less suspicious.
Lucy
P.S. No need to wait for me to follow anymore. I did. While whistling.
I have done a lot of waiting lately and absolutely hate it. It's not just the waiting, it's the inability to plan for the future because you are well, waiting. Fiddle dee dee, this waiting thing stinks.
ReplyDeleteI have enjoyed catching up on your blog btw. Your writing really speaks to me.
You guys are all so great :) Thank you so much for your kind words, support and commiseration. I appreciate it more than I can say.
ReplyDeleteSarah
I'd like to tell you that – WAIT – hold on (sorry, couldn't resist). Anyway, I'm still waiting – for recognition – for validity – for a pat on the back – for an atta girl – for my night in shining armor (I wouldn't even care if the armor was a bit rusty) – the point is I too am waiting and I know that if I got what I've been waiting for, I'd be waiting for something else. As you said though, you just keep working through the wait. Eventually (hopefully), it will pay off (while we're still alive to enjoy it ;) Please find my latest A-Z Challenge here: http://myheartblogstoyou.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteWaiting is very frustrating! I had to wait just to get into your comment section, but it was worth it! You're smart to work and keep busy. Hopefully, the good news will come soon. Thanks for visiting me and I look forward to stopping by again. Julie
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ReplyDeleteOh, it's so true and I'm very impatient. Working while waiting is key. As they say, a watched pot never boils, and it's true for life. Whenever I look back, I can always see more clearly how things were aligning in their own due time.
ReplyDelete