The Waiting Game

So you've compiled your client list , you've sent out your packets and postcards. Whoohoo, pat yourself on the back!

Now what?  You wait ... and wait.... you check the mailbox... you wait. You check your phone and make sure it's working...you wait... you check your e-mail obsessively and check your website stats. Oh wait...that's me.

If you don't know this already, you soon will.  85% of your freelance life will be spent waiting on a reply or assignment. It's par for the course but it doesn't make it any easier if your are eager to work ,or worse impatient like me.

I'm in a serious waiting period right now.

1) My "Emma Felt" dummy-book is now in the trusty hands of a literary/art rep and my part is over for the time being.  Now it's her turn while I patiently -HA!-wait. 

2) A couple of weeks ago an art rep that is shopping me around in the Educational Market called out of the blue with a potential job.
The assignment is for 1 to 3 board books and I fell in love with the concept. Of course I said YES, I'm available for the job.  Who cares if I have to work through a move across the U.S, I can do it!

So great, she lets the AD know that I am available and he lets her know that he will be pitching me to the committee the following day.  So I wait ...and wait. A week later, I'm still waiting.  My rep has still heard nothing back and of course I'm gutted. I have enough experience now to know that this stuff happens all the time but it was still disappointing. It looks like such a fun job and I'm eager to do it!

Update: Everyone is in sales meetings and taking their vacation time (August is notoriously slow and pretty much shuts down during this time) so the project is temporarily postponed. BUT I'm still the illustrator that they will be pitching. So what do I do?   I wait...and I wait with guarded optimism because I'm still in the running. Oh boy, do I hope I get it!

3) And finally , as I mentioned earlier in the week, our house is up for sale and we are waiting on that right person at the right time that is going to fall in love with this little place and make an offer.

So what can one do to make the waiting easier ?

While I wait I'm going to keep busy.  I'm going to write, create fresh pieces, study the market and find more places to submit to. Most importantly I'm going to stop stewing so long over ideas. It's hindering my progress. I am seeing in different examples all around me that we progress faster simply by the act of "doing".

I've seen so many friends and fellow bloggers growing and really becoming their authentic selves simply by experimenting , researching and most importantly implementing what they learn. That's where I want to be and what better time than now while I have the gift of 'waiting'?

Waiting is a gift?? Yes it is and I only just realized that as I was writing this post. Waiting is that margin in our life that we all need to keep balanced. I'm going to learn to savor the waiting game and use it wisely. I challenge you to hang in there and do the same.

Comments

[Courtney]

What a great post. The wsiting thing always seems so hard and I haven't received one respose yet! ;) BUt I will hang in there and try and focus on creating.

[Bettsi]

Good for you, Roz! That's why I like you and I wish there were more of us that can see the good in every situation. Best of luck to you on all your "waiting" projects!

[Snowbear]

Fingers crossed you get the job! Now think of all the packing you can do while you wait! Don't forget all those lunches with friends before you have to go, and visit your favorite haunts, and yummy texas barbecue.
Good luck!

[Don]

You're leaving Texas?