Duck, Duck, Goose: A Wee Bit of Encouragement

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By Tamara D. Fickas

“Duck, duck, duck…” Her back rigid, the little blond girl stared straight ahead, lips stretched thin. Each time It came near, her eyes shone with hope. Each time the tap came with a duck her head dropped a little further. Would she ever get to be goose?

Do you remember the game Duck, Duck, Goose from your childhood? I remember. I was often the one sitting, waiting to be picked. It’s an unhappy feeling, that waiting and wondering, as the other kids get to chase, laughing around the circle and be It.

Are you an unpublished writer? Have you been plugging away at your computer for too many years now? Sent queries and been rejected? Maybe you’ve sent your baby to an agent who’s told you, “It’s just not right for me.” Or maybe you’ve been published, but have a new story to tell yet no one seems to want to hear it.

It’s hard to be in that position when others around you are being chosen. Other authors getting the contracts and seeing their books in print. They’re gleefully announcing on Facebook that they now have agent representation. And you get tagged duck again.

The writing life is a lot like a big game of Duck, Duck, Goose. All the writers sitting in a circle, waiting and hoping. It can be hard. Like the little blond girl, each time we don’t get to goose our hearts break a little more.

If you’re a Christian writer, it’s most likely because God has given you a story to tell. That story may take a long time to get to publication, and that path is not always fun. The truth is, if God has given you that story, then He has a plan for it and He will bring it to fruition in due time. If He’s given you the story, He has a goose in your future.

Waiting is hard. We all know that. Remember the feelings of being chosen last as a kid in a game? I guess there are some people out there who have never experienced that, but I have and it hurts. It’s the same with writers as other people get to their goal before we do.

I encourage you to persevere. Even when the journey is hard and you’ve heard a whole lot of ducks and are still waiting for the goose. Keep writing, keep praying, keep trusting that God has a plan for your story.

That little blond girl never gave up hope. I could see it in her eyes, the agony of not being chosen mixed with hope that this time might be her time. And finally, it was.

Goose!

And she jumped up to chase It with her whole heart. A huge smile spread across her face at finally being the one chosen.

Don’t give up. Keep the faith. Your goose is coming!

Tamara FickasTamara is an employee at a local hospital by day and freelance writer by night. She is momma to a very spoiled kitty cat named Wilson. Stories have enthralled her since she was a child, and she enjoys finding the stories in everyday life. You can visit her blog at www.rockymountainwriter.com.

Comments 0

  1. Tami,
    What an encouraging story to many out there who are still waiting and hoping to be ‘Goose!’ God tells to to be still and wait,…and that’s good advice yet hard to do after so many years,..

    Thanks for sharing!

    Blessings,

    Sheri

  2. Have a question! My devo’s are written and God gave me this mission starting 2000-2007 as I wrote them frequently for a website. Had a large email following. Before blogging. I am stuck! Should I go with the editors at West-bow and let them do the ‘dirty work’ and extra $’s or should I hire an individual professional editor with a Christian perspective that they were written?

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