by Cindy Sproles @CindyDevoted

We live in a world of instant gratification. Pop a card in a machine and out comes money. Carry a phone and never miss a call or a social media post. Order a meal online or a ride to the airport—pay your bills…immediately. It’s a world that pushes us to do things “right this second,” and it’s spoiled us into an “I deserve it” mindset. But what do we do when we work in an industry that moves at a snail’s pace? The answer is simple—we learn to wait.

By the time 2015 came and went, I’d already been in the writing industry for nearly 15 years. Perhaps I was different than most because I wasn’t sure I was vaguely close to publication when I started. There was no question that I had talent, but I did not have the skill. I didn’t know the craft of writing. That said, publication wasn’t on my radar for several years, but by the time 2015 popped into existence, I felt sure I’d gained enough knowledge to at least be on a publisher’s radar. Nope. Didn’t happen.

I’d waited 15 years. Wasn’t that long enough? My first novel was completed. I’d gotten an agent on the coattails of a friend I’d written a romance novel with, yet every publisher returned the same verdict—not today.

When the last hope for a contract turned me down, I stood at this very conference and told my friend, “I’m not sure this is for me. I’m not good enough to get a contract. I’ll never be published.”

I know, sob story. We all hit that wall at some point. You know, the pity party karaoke song. My friend put her finger in my face and said, “Is that really what you believe?” That was enough to help me see the error of my ways.

When the conference ended, I went home, buckled myself into my desk chair, and started a new novel. That was the moment I realized that publishing is an incredibly slow industry. And that realization gave me a new perspective. If I were going to be published, I couldn’t dwell on “the one.” I needed to move on to the next one. The more I wrote, the more I refined the skill. The more refined the skill, the more apt I was to receive a contract. And so, I wrote. And wrote.

In mid-2015, a dear friend called me, one whom I’d met at my first conference. She had published three novels through Tyndale. “How’s the progress on your novel?”

 “I’ve moved on. Halfway through the next novel.”

“Then you’ll publish soon. Once you can loosen your grip on the work, you’ve accepted you’ve done your best. You’ll publish soon. You’ll see,” she said. And she was right. In December 2015, I received a contract for that first novel. One year later, the book hit the stands, and here’s the kicker. Ten years later, that book is still in the publisher’s top twenty-five backlist and is advertised in almost every Books-A-Million ad.

The point is, publishing is slow.

The process of physically producing a book is painstaking and lengthy. Four to six weeks for editing, 3 weeks for return edits. Another 3 to 4 weeks for a second editor to look over, then 3 more weeks for edit returns. Book cover, PDF, marketing. These things take time, and despite our desire to move the clock along, time is time.

Here are some things I’ve learned over 25+ years in this industry. Read and study them. Think about these little tidbits and then apply them to your writing career.

Learn the craft

I feel like a broken record. If I’ve said this once, I’ve said it a blue-zillion times. You will not reach publication until your work is “publication ready.” This is where writers can get in trouble with self-publishing. They rush through the process and turn out a substandard product. If you’re going to self-publish, do it right. Hire the people you need to help you deliver quality work. Hire a publisher who offers the help necessary for your book to reach the level it needs to be. Will you pay for that? Yes, but when done correctly, the investment will give you a product you can be proud of.

You can’t rush quality

It’s true in any industry. That adage, “You get what you pay for,” is so true. Put the time and effort needed into your product. Don’t let the world sidetrack you by saying, “God wants me to do this book now.” I never doubt a calling from the Father, but I also know that when He calls us to a work, He calls us to our best. Don’t cut corners. Use your publisher’s knowledge and suggestions. Give your best to the Lord.

There’s something to be said for bloody knees

This is a two-fold thing. First, you should be on your knees praying over every word you place on the page. Pray for discernment, for focus, for good words. Pray that God will knock away the temptations of the world to succumb to a lesser quality of writing or a worldly quality of writing.  Give the work to Him for His guidance and His glory.

Secondly, rejection is vital in the learning process of writing. Learning that a publication “no” doesn’t mean forever, rather it means not now. Not yet. No is not a reason to come up swinging. Instead, it’s a call to work harder. Bloody knees from the falls of rejection are your strength when you stand. This is part of learning to be a published author.

Play nice

When that contract comes, and it will eventually. Play nice with others. The process is long and tedious. Edits can be trying, but practicing being gracious will always work to your advantage.  Don’t allow self-entitlement to take you down a path where you burn bridges. Rarely are those bridges able to be rebuilt.

Remember, you are not the only book in the pipeline. This is not to say you can’t ask questions, but being patient when you do ask is vital. Editors juggle multiple books at a time. This stacked layer is unavoidable if a publisher is to publish more than one or two books a year. This layering of work, unfortunately, slows the process down, so when you’re given a deadline, meet it or exceed it. It behooves you in the long run.

My mother always told me that anything worth having requires hard work, multitudes of effort, and time. Publishers turn out beautiful books each year for which they require us, the authors, to help them market. The more time and effort you put into your book, the better the outcome.

Publishing is slow. It can’t be helped. From the writing process to the final product, time is two-faced. It works for us and against us. Be patient. Be kind. Be excited and grateful. The payoff is well worth the wait.

Cindy K. Sproles is an author, speaker, and conference teacher. Having served for a number of years as a managing editor for Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas and Ironstream Media, Cindy now works as a mentor, coach, and freelance editor. She is the co-founder of Writing Right Author Mentoring Services with Lori Marett and the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Cindy is also the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries and www.christiandevotions.us, as well as www.inspireafire.com. Her devotions are in newspapers and magazines nationwide, and her novels have become award-winning, best-selling works. She is a popular speaker at conferences and a natural encourager. Cindy is a mountain girl, born and raised in the Appalachian mountains, where she and her husband still reside. She has raised four sons and now resorts to raising chickens where the pecking order is easier to manage. You can visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com or www.wramsforwriters.com.