Shots Without Needles

I got a shot today.
It didn't hurt.
Not one bit.
Because it was . . .
A shot of confidence!

I have been feeling really down about my book lately due to a response I got from an agent that I submitted it to. She only read the first three chapters and didn't like what she read. My characters develop and grow as the story goes on (such as in life) but she didn't get to read enough of it to see that. What really sucked is that she said my characters "have a cliché quality" that she couldn't get past.

Excuse me, but how do you make a pirate not act like a pirate? He's going to murder, steal and lie. He's a pirate. Duh.

So her advice hit me hard and my confidence in my book sunk. My husband reassured me, but being my husband I took his opinion as a biased one and I was sure that he was just trying to make me feel better. I talked to my bestie and she swore that my book is really good and that the agent was just looking for something that she wouldn't have to ask me to fix so she can turn around and make money. That made me feel a tiny bit better, but not much. After all, best friends are biased as well.

So I called my oldest daughter, Brittney. She was the only other person who I knew that had read my book. Let me tell you about Brittney. She is stubborn and honest. If she doesn't like something, she tells you straight up. Out of everyone I know, she is the least worried that you may not like her opinion. She told me that the agent was "full of . . . " well, I won't finish that quote. She said that my characters are awesome and that the book was good enough that she was going to read it again. That was the highest compliment she could have given me. Once my daughter reads a book, she won't pick it up again. Not unless it's really good. She didn't even read Twilight twice!

Although I had the three people closest to me telling me that my book was excellent, I still had no confidence in it. Sure I continued to promote it and sell it. I even created a book trailer for it! (You can see it on my website). What's worse is that I felt so low that it was affecting my writing with the two books I'm working on now. I had pretty much stopped writing. Or at least I just avoided it unless I had a really good idea hit me.

My shot of confidence came this morning when I saw three ladies from my church come out of the Sunday School room. They came straight over to me and told me how wonderful it was and how they couldn't put it down. They raved about the characters and the story line.

With every glowing word my confidence rose and I began to hold my head higher. Oh, what a blessing those three are! God knew I needed to hear what they had to say and they sure told me. One of them even ordered me to go straight home after church and continue writing on the other two books. Sorry, I didn't get to yet, but rest assured I will tonight!

My confidence restored, I proudly say that you can find my blog, links to my articles . . . and my book . . . on my website. If you don't know the web address here -> http://www.riawarrick.com

To Wanda, Karey and Sandy . . . If you three are reading this, GOD BLESS YOU and thank you so much! You have no idea the impact you had on me today.