Moving along, moving forward

Just as summer has moved along to autumn, I, too, have moved into a new phase of professional life.

My now-former agent announced last month that she was leaving Bookends Literary Agency to start her own agency. She invited me and her other clients to go with her. But after 8 years of being with the agency, I decided to take the plunge into querying again. And it's not nearly as fun as taking this kind of plunge...

In fact, I'd say querying is the diametric opposite of fun. About the only thing swimming and querying have in common is that you can sink and drown in both cases.

While it's scary to let go of stability, I felt like I was stagnating a bit where I was and needed to make a big change. I think my former agent is truly lovely, and Bookends is a terrific agency, but I didn't fully feel they were a fit for me at this point in my career.

Some days, I do freak out about what I've done. Nobody is busting down my door to offer me representation after all, and I fear that I will never get another agent again.

Other days, I'm more zen about it. (The Book of Ichigo Ichie has helped a bit with that.) I have a lot going for me. Editors contact me out of the blue to work with me. I'm really enjoying doing art much more than writing right now. Plus, I could devote more time to finishing a couple of novels I'm drafting and revising.

When I do feel panicked though, I ask myself again, "What's the worst that can happen for me?" Honestly, not a whole lot. My spouse and I are financially stable. We've paid off our house and have no outstanding debts. We don't need my paltry publishing income, though it's a very nice bonus. I can still teach. And I've been eyeing the self-publishing world with greater interest. I could get back baking and sewing more!

Without dire consequences nipping at my heals, I just throw myself into my current projects whenever I feel depressed and worry that no literary agents might want me. I'm keeping busy and happy working on three books under contract at this moment and also diving deep into surface pattern design.

As Stephen King says, "Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.”

Or as Wu Chien Shiung, the heroine of my book Queen of Physics, says, "Ignore the obstacles; just put your head down and keep walking forward."

If I keep working, I will make opportunities for myself. The kids are okay...and so am I!

Are you taking any giant leaps or coming up against obstacles? What are they?