10 years later . . .
Worth the wait? I think so.
We (generally) start a journey with the destination in mind. Dorothy was just trying to get back to Kansas. Harry Potter had dreams of being a wizard. And me . . . I just wanted to see if I could write a book.
It’s a funny thing—how dreams evolve. The first dream was the book. Then, after it was written, I dreamed of writing a good book. (First drafts tend to make you feel that way. 😜)
Later, I started dreaming about other people holding my book in their hands.
This past September marks 10 years since I sent out my first batch of query letters1 for my first novel.
I was 23 back then. I also knew (like in any good adventure story) that the odds were against me (as they are for any aspiring author).
But I had been raised on underdog stories. From Stanley Yelnats in Holes to Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit.
So I knew that underdog was just a codeword for overcomer.
Except . . . when it isn’t.
Sometimes, the army really is too big. The mountain too tall to pass. The obstacles undefeatable. And that, I’ve learned (very painstakingly) is where the real story lies.
What do you do when your journey suddenly seems to come to an end? Or has a bad ending? Or you miss the destination?
When you lose the dream job . . .
When illness makes you feel betrayed by your own body . . .
When the person who was always supposed to love you stops . . .
Spoiler Alert: My first book didn’t get published.
And if you had told that 23-year-old back then that it would be 10 more years before she had another book ready to query. Well, to be honest, she might would have stopped.
Because it’s hard to keep going. To get back in the arena.2 To try again . . . especially when success is not guaranteed.
Sweet friend, I’m not sure what delay or denial has you disappointed right now. But I want to encourage you that we’re not at the final page of your story. And frequently the long way round is actually the most beautiful.
I could resent the last 10 years. I could count up the hours spent. The words logged. I could call it a waste.
But this is what I did instead. I set a table with flowers and my best cutlery. I made some of my favorite foods. And I invited people into my unfinished ending.
And as we gathered around the table, blessed our food, dined by candlelight—we talked. We talked about the long journey that each of us is on. And we remembered God’s faithfulness.
In the midst of the unanswered prayers.
In the midst of the waiting.
In the midst of wrestling with the hard.
We chose to remember what God has already done, so that we can hold hope for what He might one day do.
Some people call these “Ebenezer Dinners.” In the Bible, Ebenezer is a Hebrew word that means “stone of help” and refers to a memorial stone that was set up to commemorate God’s help to the Israelites. (1 Samuel)
They would serve as physical reminders of God’s faithfulness to His people.
I think we still need those reminders today. Especially on long journeys. Especially when we’re uncertain of the outcome.
I’m not sure what you need to be reminded of right now. Maybe it’s simply that you’re not alone on the journey. That others are there—waiting for their breakthrough—just like you.
If that’s the case, you can pull up a chair to my table.
And together, we’ll remember.
Together, we’ll keep journeying.
—Rachel ❤️
A query letter is a one-page pitch of your story that goes to literary agents.
The Man in the Arena by Theodore Roosevelt. This is a short snippet from his speech that’s worth reading if you haven’t.
September felt like a world-wind month. I didn’t get as much writing done as I would have liked, but I’m also reminding myself that slow progress is still progress.
Draft 3: 20%
I would love if this draft was finished before Thanksgiving. (Not sure yet about the viability of that—October is also looking like a full month!)
By and large, I love modern literature. I love the fast pace. I love the relatability. But every now and then, I try to sneak in a few classics.
So I’m currently reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte for (gasp!) the first time. I also started a Book Club—so I’ll have to quickly pivot to October’s murder mystery before we meet next.
Want to read along? My Book Club is reading How to Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin for October.
Here’s a mini snippet:
For fans of Knives Out and The Thursday Murder Club, an enormously fun mystery about a woman who spends her entire life trying to prevent her foretold murder only to be proven right sixty years later, when she is found dead in her sprawling country estate.... Now it's up to her great-niece to catch the killer.
So many house things going on this past month!
I met with an electrician to get quotes. (Three of the rooms in my house have no lighting—trying to figure out what it would cost to fix that. Stay tuned!)
With the holidays right around the corner, I decided to also get quotes for Christmas lights. (Y’all, my heart was not prepared.)
The estimates all ranged from $1,000 - $2,000 for starter packages. I’ve decided I’ll need to DIY some exterior festivity.
But in exciting news, I’m getting some design help from Havenly for my living room. Havenly is a design company who’s mission is to make interior design services attainable for everyone. (They ran a special in September that I decided to jump on!)
I uploaded images and videos of my space, sent in inspiration pictures, shared my home’s mood board, and selected a designer to partner with.
My initial consult call is later in the month but I’m excited to have some help dreaming up what this space could be and how to get it over the finish line.
Embarrassing admission, my living room’s been largely empty for the past year. A sofa, a rug, some knickknacks above the mantle. That’s it.
But I can envision the movie nights, sweet conversations, and cozy mornings this space could host.
Curious of the vibe I’m going for in my house? Here’s my mood board for the home:
Okay, that’s a wrap on September. Hoping you all have a happy October. 🍁
So glad you took time to celebrate! And the mood board looks fantastic!!
This newsletter is awesome!! 🙂