You know those people who say they’ve been writing as long as they can remember? 

Well, that’s me.

In fact, one of the first stories I ever remember putting to paper was bound together by construction paper and staples around the age of six. The Mixed-Up Kid, the title was called, and I would not be surprised to find that my mom still has a copy of it somewhere. 

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While I wrote a few other stories and a bit of fanfiction along the way, I started writing my first novel at the age of 12. Most of my classes in school bored me, but I could always escape into another world with just a pen and a bit of paper. In High School, while other kids were getting caught partying and what not, I got caught skipping class in order to go to the library and write! I don’t think the administration knew what to do with that one! 

By the time I reached graduation, I had two full novels under my belt and the world before me. Me, a naively optimistic kid with a dream! 

So, what did I do? What most people would do! I tried to publish my novels! 

Here’s the thing though: I was completely alone in this writer’s world. I knew no other authors, nor did I have anyone I could share my stories with! And the only thing I heard on the internet was to prepare yourself for rejection. So I did. And when the acceptance letter came in, I could barely believe my eyes! Accepted? On my first try? Unheard of! 

Indeed. 

Here’s the thing about being alone: you have no idea what a good deal is vs a bad deal. 

Image from Canva.com

Did I fall into the hands of a vanity publisher masquerading as a commercial house? Yes, I did. And, thanks to the bit of capital I had obtained from my first ‘real’ job, I had just enough to invest into their program. 

So, what happened? 

Not a darn thing. I received a book, sure, and gave it out to all my family and friends, but after that? Not a whisper. Not a sale. Because the company had already made their money from this book, they had no interest in marketing a book. Especially since the book had little to no quality – something I didn’t know because I was the only one (besides them) that had taken the time to read it. Until my family got their copies that is. 

I was devastated. Confused. Depressed.

I quit writing for two whole years. For two years, a girl who had been writing since she was small, gave up on all of it. My confidence was shattered and I knew no way to get it back. 

But the voices in my head wouldn’t stop bothering me! 

I don’t know what motivated me to pick myself up, to consider again the stories I had abandoned. Perhaps it was boredom, perhaps something intrinsic that couldn’t let go, but I picked up my pen once more. But, instead of just writing, I did something else: research. 

I found a community of online writers and started exchanging critiques. Immediately, my story was torn apart by the other writers. Every error was brought to light, every mistake. But I learned from them. I wrote and rewrote the pages again and again until Surviving Midas breathed its first breath. 

And the rest is a happy story! 

Not! 

Over one hundred query letters to agents – over one hundred rejections. One full request that came back rejected a few months later. The idea of indie publishing came and went. I needed someone else to believe in me too before publishing. 

Finally, after months and months, I got an acceptance letter from a small Indie Press based out of Nashville. The book was set to release in August. We developed a cover, consulted an editor . . . 

Bankrupt in July. 

No, I’m not kidding. They went under, taking with them the rights of the authors who published before me. Since my book was still a work-in-progress and not an asset, the courts let me go, but others were caught up in the process for months. 

So, what did I do? 

I kept writing. 

Why? 

Dunno, but I did. Book 2 of Midas, book 3, a historical fiction that was completely unrelated. By this time I had lost interest in the Big 5, so when I heard of a local indie publisher that had popped up in Chattanooga, I sent out a query on the historical fiction novel. 

And that led them to my website. Where they found Surviving Midas still hanging out, although I had shelved it months before. And they wanted THAT book. 

On 12/1/22, Surviving Midas, my not-really-but-we’re-calling-it-that debut novel released into the world. Since everything was local, I was able to go down to the printing shop and hold my long-awaited novel in my hands the moment it came off the press. I received the first cover ever printed. And I sold my first copies days later. 

And the rest? Is it history? 

Hardly, but I’ll let you see what some folks are saying about this one: 

Is this journey over then? Have I made it? Nope. But we’ll see what goes from here! 

RW Hague is a registered nurse with nearly ten years of experience within the medical field. Using her medical expertise, she writes stories that are gritty and compelling. Surviving Midas, her recently released YA Suspense novel about a kidnapping ring that uses the kidnapped children as slave labor on their drug farm, is available on Amazon. 

For more information, check out her linktree.

You can also find her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. She would like also to thank Author’s Lounge for offering her this chance to write this article!