This entry may not make sense to anyone outside of my head, but I need to write it out, so here it is...
The Publishing Deep Dive- Learning the treasure of returning to the surface, empty-handed.
by Laura N. Clement
I’ve been working on my writing craft—going to conferences,
doing classes, meeting with critique partners, submitting to contests, agents,
and publishers—for over a decade now. It’s a rough and tumble existence that
has seen many attempts fail, many coping mechanisms created*. I have written
many things, from novels, short stories, to my love of loves Picture Books (EGG,
my only published book). I have seen many friends and acquaintances succeed,
and many flounder turn bitter, or walk away. It is a battle of the heart, mind,
and soul to write with the idea of publication in mind.
The other day, I was on a walk thinking about K-Dramas** (my
guilty/non-guilty sanity-saving pleasure), and I had an epiphany. Being a
writer (with publication in mind) is like being a Haenyeo***. Writers
prepare their craft, much like a Haenyeo prepares their diving gear and body.
We both breathe deeply, then push ourselves under and into uncharted or
familiar, unpredictable territory in search of treasures.
Much like the Haenyeo’s diving deep, as a writer, I am often
surrounded by darkness, whether it be imposter syndrome, innumerable layers of
edits, rejections, writer's block, or LIFE eating up creative time. It is my
deep need for sustenance (creative creations) that sends me back, time and time
again, in search of treasures, but it’s not easy, holding your breath…
Every so often, I find a treasure (a positive review, a
critique, a contract offer, a new idea fleshed out and shiny) and grant myself
a return to the surface in triumph, but not often.
As a writer I feel like heading back up to the surface for
air as a reward… but often I find I get stuck, my lungs screaming, light
dimming, and panic settles in as I flail.
I applaud the Haenyeo who return to the surface for air,
time and time again, empty-handed. They do this so they can continue to dive and live their daily lives with their loved ones. They know that the journey back
to the surface, even empty-handed, is a treasure all its own and that maybe
next time they will fill their basket.
I wish, for all writers, that the abyss of the seemingly
endless publishing ocean wasn’t so dark. That, treasures were more plentiful,
and trips to the surface for air, with treasures in hand, came more often, but
they don’t. So, thinking about Haenyeo, as a writer who is often empty-handed,
especially now as the ocean seems so dark, I want to be better at gifting
myself more trips to the surface to breathe. Knowing that in doing so, I create
the opportunity to return to land and see my loved ones and, dive again.
*Rejection Garden
** Two of my favorite Haenyeo K-Dramas
And
***Korean freediving women, known as Haenyeo, are traditional
divers from Jeju Island who free dive to harvest seafood without a breathing
apparatus.
