Getting Realistic With Our Goals

You’ve got your idea: That perfect story that came to you in a dream, or rather while you were daydreaming at whatever mundane setting you were trapped in at the time. It hit you hard and fast, but, most importantly, it set your heart on fire, and that’s how you know it’s going to be a hit. You’ve got a long way to go, but you don’t care. You’re already ahead of yourself. You’ve already got a book cover in mind, maybe even an artist, and before you know it, you’re googling literary agents and publishing houses and practicing your Hugo Award acceptance speech in your mirror, certain you’ll be a best-selling author by next Fall.

And maybe you will be, but chances are you probably won’t. In fact, it could be years before that fire-setting idea of yours is packaged as a full-fledged novel and hits those coveted bookshelves: And that’s a hard pill to swallow for a dreamer. But after four years of writing my debut, Beneath The Night, I think I’m finally ready for that large glass of water to help wash down this harsh truth.

Now, I’m no pessimist. I swear, I’m a shoot-for-the-stars type of girl. A dreamer, just like the rest. I’ve simply learned that writing a book takes time, and writing a good book takes even longer.

One year ago today, I was sure my book would be out by now, or at least acquired by a publishing house with a debut date marked on the calendar. I just knew I would master everything I needed to in one year’s time—revisions, beta readers, querying—but I’ve only just sent my first query, and worse, I broke a golden rule: I sent it before finishing the final edits on my book.

See, I told you I’m just like the rest. Like any dreamer, I got ahead of myself. Not only did I set unrealistic goals, but I slowed myself down. In the process of getting this book out as fast I could, I skipped key steps like polishing and critique partners, and was forced to circle back around.

I had one beta reader get very real with me. And while I disagreed with her general opinions—especially since they differed so greatly from my other betas—she did help me. She made me slow the fuck down.

In doing so, I was not only forced to confront my goals for this book, but my goals as a writer. Did I want Beneath The Night to just be on the shelves, or did I want it to be everything I ever dreamed it to be: the start of a soul-snatching fantasy series that put ACOTAR to shame and set readers hearts on fire, like it did mine?

And just like that, a new goal was unlocked, and, like all obnoxious goals, it takes patience. It takes time.