cornerofmadness

I’m still too burned out to be tremendously insightful for Writerly Ways so let’s go with ‘the wait.’ There comes a time in any author’s life where s/he has to wait on their baby. Either you’ve sent it out to first readers and are waiting impatiently (because by God, they should drop everything and READ your stuff) for that baby to come home bloodied and bruised. Or you’ve moved past that process (or at least I hope so) and you’ve sent it out to an agent/publishing house. (and if you didn’t go through the beta reader/editing process you’re in for a rude shock).

I’ve never been good at this part. I’ve gotten my baby into the best shape of her life and she’s out there in the great, wide world trying to woo some editor or agent. I feel a little about like the Mom in Reba McEntire’s song Fancy (though let’s hope I don’t die before the thing catches some moneyman’s eye). First I tell everyone that I sent out a story. Wish me luck! Whoo Hoo! I’m psyched.

That wears off in ten minutes. Then I start checking my email impulsively. I hear nothing (of course not, it’s only been ten minutes). Or If I have it’s one of those insta-rejections that lets you know they didn’t read beyond the first line of your query letter. (Vampires? Bite me, here’s your rejection in under a half hour). The ridiculous amounts of email checks go on for at least two weeks as if the mere act will make the acceptance/rejection manifest itself.

Eventually I forget about it until it kicks in the back of my mind to remind me the umbilical cord has not been cut. I go check how long it’s supposed to take. I do the weak math in my brain. Is it over the time limit? No, go back to the email checking. Yes, panic. Do I email them (no, it’ll be rude)? Do I send it somewhere else? (no, what if they suddenly say yes and find out?) Did they say there would be a rejection or not (and I’m sorry publishing house/agents, you have staff members and interns someone can send a form email. This if you don’t hear from us bullshit is just that, bullshit.)?

Finally I get the email I’ve been waiting on. My chest gets tight. I look to see if it has an attachment (i.e. a contract). I flutter around trying to work up the nerve to click the email. I read the response and either do the dance of the tutued hippos or I coddle my poor rejected story and tell it it’s still a good story and I love and I will find another home for it, but I rarely do. I’m terrible about that, but it’s a story for another day.

Yearly Word count

47578 / 125000
(38.06%)

And since my day has been quiet except a phone call about work that’s pissing me the fuck off, there’s nothing else to say so I’ll slam the declutter on here.

Declutter Day76 item tossed -More rooibos tea Why kept- Was a gift Why tossed -I hate rooibos, given to a friend

ETA - Got this from