Post SYTYCW I thought I might put up a little post about disappointment. Because I KNOW what disappointment tastes like and it's not bitter aloes. It's dog meat. Or cat's breath. Or dinosaur turds. Or like your most hated food doubled. Crap in other words.
Anyway, I know I didn't enter but I do feel the pain of everyone who didn't make it into the top 28. Believe me, I've been there. I entered SYTYCW and New Voices twice. Both times with both comps I got precisely nowhere. Not even a callback. And that's not even counting all the rejections and knockbacks I've had both before and since.
And you know what? It doesn't matter how many times someone says, 'competitions are so subjective'. Or 'it doesn't meant your story is crap'. Or 'it was just a popularity contest'. Or 'hey, I didn't get anywhere and look, I've sold fifty bajillion books'. Not getting anywhere STILL SUCKS! And you're allowed to feel bad about it, just like you're allowed to moan about it to trusted friends and family and like-minded CPs.
But the one thing you must NOT do is give up. What you have to do is figure out a way to deal with the disappointment and carry on.
Because being disappointed doesn't stop with getting a rejection or not placing in a contest. It follows you through once you've been published too. You might not get the sales you wanted. You don't like your cover. You don't want to have to do the heinous revisions that have just landed. Your next story idea has been nixed by your editor. You didn't get the agent you've been hanging out for. You didn't win the Rita or get the Nobel Prize for Fiction.There's a whole host of disappointments just waiting around the corner in other words. So you kind of have to accept that if you want to be a writer, disappointment is something you'll have to live with.
My method, at first, was chocolate. Then shopping. Then alcohol. Then crying on the couch. Then more alcohol. Then weeping over my computer to my CPs. Then more alcohol. You get the idea...But despite all that, the best way of dealing with disappointment for me was writing. Getting excited about a new story, immersing myself in that instead of thinking about what I hadn't achieved. And then sending out another submission because while a submission was out there, I had hope. Pathetic maybe, but true.
It was about this time last year that I'd just about had enough. I'd had a few contest successes locally but only one partial request - that I angsted about so much the writing of it became terrifying rather than exciting. Then came nothing with New Voices and along with it another rejection. I'd just about had it with writing. It wasn't fun anymore, it was a chore. I was so scared to write anything because I found myself second guessing EVERYTHING I wrote. Did I have conflict? Were my characters acting consistently? Was it just about sex again??? My passion in life had become an unpleasant task and it was awful. I hated it.
If you've been following my blog, you'll know what I did after that. But I'm going to say it again because it bears reminding. What I thought was 'bugger this' and flung all my craft out the window and wrote something that I didn't think I'd ever submit anywhere. It was for me and me alone. No one was going to read it so I could write whatever the hell I wanted. If I wanted lots of angst? Go for it! If I wanted lots of sex? Go for that too! Tough alpha male? Yep. Sweet. Friends to lovers? Do it. So I did. I wrote my story and completely broke out of the fear trap I'd got myself into. And the key to it was that NO ONE was going to see this so it didn't matter what I wrote.
And it became my first sale.
So that's why I say don't give up. Do whatever you have to do to deal with your disappointment. Then get back in the saddle and keep going. It's the ONLY way it's going to happen.
Showing posts with label SYTYCW. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SYTYCW. Show all posts
Friday, October 19, 2012
Saturday, February 19, 2011
SYTYCW - The Aftermath
Things to do with your form R:
1. Print it out then burn it.
2. Print it out, pull it to pieces very, very slowly. Then burn it piece by piece.
3. Print it out, frame it, stick it on your wall and stare at it every day, brooding on your revenge.
4. Print it out, put it on the ground and stamp all over it in sharp stilettos.
5. Print it out, wave your recent contest win certificate in its face screaming 'in your face, form rejection!'
6. Hit the delete key and send it to your Recycle bin, then take out the trash, baby.
7. Do nothing with it. Leave it in your inbox and never think of it again.
Okay, we can safely say that I did not do number 7.
First up, big heaping thanks, gratitude and endless supplies of your favourite tipple to all you lovely people for the hugs and suppportive comments. You guys are - honest to god - the reason I am still here, still writing, still waiting in Unpublished Author Waiting Limbo (UAWL). Without you and the CPs I would have given up and gone home.
Still, I won't lie. Getting a form R for SYTYCW has made me a stupid, blubbery, hopeless mess. It's made me feel like I haven't learned a thing. that I'm going backwards. Now, I know this isn't true. I know there are a hundred and one different reasons for forms, that they can have nothing to do with your writing or your story. That you can't let them get you down, that you need to get over it. I do know all those things. But those are all intellectual responses. It's the feelings that are the tough part to deal with because I am an emotional drama-queen kind of person.
With Rs, I know I have to get to the bottom before I can climb back up the other side. I have to wallow in the sense of failure, the doubt, and, yeah, the jealousy that others are doing better than I am. If I'm lucky my CPs will bear with me while I vent a little bit - because I have to do this as well otherwise it'll eat me up inside. But it's only once I've done all this that I can let it go and start feeling better about it. No, it's not an easy process but it's the way I am and I just have to go with it. Most of the time I come out the other side feeling positive and ready to tackle things again but sometimes the process goes on for longer than a couple of days and it takes me a while to let go of it.
Anyway, it's taken a while for me to let go of this. And I probably still haven't quite yet. It's thrown me into a huge spiral of doubt about my other submissions too. Because how can it not? If you don't get a reason for why something was rejected, then how do you know you haven't repeated it in your other submissions? But that aside, I've had lots of great advice from very wise people about what I should do with this particular sub. I'm still not quite sure where I'm going to take it just yet. I've heard that it's wise to change it if you're going to resub but as I don't know what's wrong with it in the first place, I'm not sure what to change. The writing I'm assuming is not the issue since (yes, I shall blow my own trumpet) the writing has netted several contest placings and a revisions on a full. So I can only assume it was the conflict/characters. Which means changing everything. And I don't know that I want to do that.
I guess I shouldn't pout too much about it though. The sub was me trying a new line, always a bit of a gamble. And it probably didn't help that I was trying to do things a bit differently. It's something I always try and think of when I'm writing a new story - how can I make my story different? The problem with doing different is that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Most of the time it hasn't but I guess the fact that I've still got an ed willing to work with me means that somewhere along the track, doing things differently has been a good thing.
In the meantime I have finished the rough draft of another partial, my chess player. Yes, that's something a bit different again, which will either work or it won't. But I guess that's my way of challenging myself. Anyway, that brings the grand total of rough partials to five. How's that for not giving up?
As for that form R, which of those options do you think I did? ;-)
1. Print it out then burn it.
2. Print it out, pull it to pieces very, very slowly. Then burn it piece by piece.
3. Print it out, frame it, stick it on your wall and stare at it every day, brooding on your revenge.
4. Print it out, put it on the ground and stamp all over it in sharp stilettos.
5. Print it out, wave your recent contest win certificate in its face screaming 'in your face, form rejection!'
6. Hit the delete key and send it to your Recycle bin, then take out the trash, baby.
7. Do nothing with it. Leave it in your inbox and never think of it again.
Okay, we can safely say that I did not do number 7.
First up, big heaping thanks, gratitude and endless supplies of your favourite tipple to all you lovely people for the hugs and suppportive comments. You guys are - honest to god - the reason I am still here, still writing, still waiting in Unpublished Author Waiting Limbo (UAWL). Without you and the CPs I would have given up and gone home.
Still, I won't lie. Getting a form R for SYTYCW has made me a stupid, blubbery, hopeless mess. It's made me feel like I haven't learned a thing. that I'm going backwards. Now, I know this isn't true. I know there are a hundred and one different reasons for forms, that they can have nothing to do with your writing or your story. That you can't let them get you down, that you need to get over it. I do know all those things. But those are all intellectual responses. It's the feelings that are the tough part to deal with because I am an emotional drama-queen kind of person.
With Rs, I know I have to get to the bottom before I can climb back up the other side. I have to wallow in the sense of failure, the doubt, and, yeah, the jealousy that others are doing better than I am. If I'm lucky my CPs will bear with me while I vent a little bit - because I have to do this as well otherwise it'll eat me up inside. But it's only once I've done all this that I can let it go and start feeling better about it. No, it's not an easy process but it's the way I am and I just have to go with it. Most of the time I come out the other side feeling positive and ready to tackle things again but sometimes the process goes on for longer than a couple of days and it takes me a while to let go of it.
Anyway, it's taken a while for me to let go of this. And I probably still haven't quite yet. It's thrown me into a huge spiral of doubt about my other submissions too. Because how can it not? If you don't get a reason for why something was rejected, then how do you know you haven't repeated it in your other submissions? But that aside, I've had lots of great advice from very wise people about what I should do with this particular sub. I'm still not quite sure where I'm going to take it just yet. I've heard that it's wise to change it if you're going to resub but as I don't know what's wrong with it in the first place, I'm not sure what to change. The writing I'm assuming is not the issue since (yes, I shall blow my own trumpet) the writing has netted several contest placings and a revisions on a full. So I can only assume it was the conflict/characters. Which means changing everything. And I don't know that I want to do that.
I guess I shouldn't pout too much about it though. The sub was me trying a new line, always a bit of a gamble. And it probably didn't help that I was trying to do things a bit differently. It's something I always try and think of when I'm writing a new story - how can I make my story different? The problem with doing different is that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Most of the time it hasn't but I guess the fact that I've still got an ed willing to work with me means that somewhere along the track, doing things differently has been a good thing.
In the meantime I have finished the rough draft of another partial, my chess player. Yes, that's something a bit different again, which will either work or it won't. But I guess that's my way of challenging myself. Anyway, that brings the grand total of rough partials to five. How's that for not giving up?
As for that form R, which of those options do you think I did? ;-)
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
SYTYCW? No, Apparently I Can't
Which means I got an R and a bog standard R at that. Thanks but no thanks, your story was 'not strong enough'. Now, of course, Rs are not new to me. But this has the dubious honour of being the first form R I've ever had. No, I've never had one. Welcome to the jungle, I hear you say. And fair enough, it's probably about time the negative karma comes round to me and balances things out. I have to be honest with you though, I like my own jungle where all my Rs have feedback!
Anyway, there are various negative ways of looking at this:
1. I have learned nothing in the three years I have been honing my craft.
2. My synopsis was NOT the best one I'd ever done, even though I thought it was pretty good (see number 1).
3. I got the line completely wrong.
4. I got the voice completely wrong.
5. The chapter sucked. The synopsis sucked. My writing sucks. I suck.
Or there are the positive ways:
1. They had so many entries and since mine was one of the last, they wanted to get rid of it as quickly as possible so a form was quickest.
2. The wrong editor read it and perhaps someone from the UK office would have been more favourable to it.
3. It was a gamble and it didn't work. Still have two other subs in...
Notice how the negatives outweigh the positives? Still trying to come up with some more positives!
What didn't help is that the ed I have been working with for my Riva subs let me know that she won't be able to get back to me till mid-March. It's not her fault and I'm really happy that she let me know but....man, I'm getting really sick of being in Unpublished Author Waiting Limbo!
Okay, so sucky day for me today. I'm still at the bottom of the well and currently have no idea how to climb out. Hugs appreciated though.
Anyway, there are various negative ways of looking at this:
1. I have learned nothing in the three years I have been honing my craft.
2. My synopsis was NOT the best one I'd ever done, even though I thought it was pretty good (see number 1).
3. I got the line completely wrong.
4. I got the voice completely wrong.
5. The chapter sucked. The synopsis sucked. My writing sucks. I suck.
Or there are the positive ways:
1. They had so many entries and since mine was one of the last, they wanted to get rid of it as quickly as possible so a form was quickest.
2. The wrong editor read it and perhaps someone from the UK office would have been more favourable to it.
3. It was a gamble and it didn't work. Still have two other subs in...
Notice how the negatives outweigh the positives? Still trying to come up with some more positives!
What didn't help is that the ed I have been working with for my Riva subs let me know that she won't be able to get back to me till mid-March. It's not her fault and I'm really happy that she let me know but....man, I'm getting really sick of being in Unpublished Author Waiting Limbo!
Okay, so sucky day for me today. I'm still at the bottom of the well and currently have no idea how to climb out. Hugs appreciated though.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
The View from the Bar in Unpublished Author Waiting Limbo
There is a special place that all unpublished authors wanting to submit to a publisher evenutally congregate in. It's called Unpublished Author Waiting Limbo. It's really not either heaven or hell but I'm going to designate it hell and give it it's very own special circle because Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo can be torture. And it's not because Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo is full of devils with pitchforks and crows pecking your eyes out. It's actually quite a nice place. There are comfy couches and seats. Magazines to read. A little library of books. There's a bar and music. A nice fire going. It seems comfortable. But that's just on the outside. Inside, every single author is torturing themselves with "what's happening to my submission?" Because that's the problem with Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo. You don't know. And when we don't know, our brain makes up all kinds of stories about what is happening with your sub. Maybe it's taking so long because the ed loves it and is getting a second opinion? Maybe it's taking so long because the ms has gone missing? Maybe it's taking so long because the ed hasn't got to it yet? Maybe she hates it and it's gone in the bin and I didn't get the rejection email?
There are thousands of stories in Upubbed Author Waiting Limbo, all happening inside the authors heads. The human brain abhors not knowing and so when we don't know what's happening, it just goes ahead and makes stuff up for us.
Yay for brains.
Anyway, my brain is a master of making stuff up for me in the absence of not knowing. Currently, I have three subs out. Sub number one has been gone four and a half months now and since I have been passed to a new editor, I fear my Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo clock has been reset back to sub number two, which has been gone six weeks. Sub number 3 is SYTYCW and two weeks after everyone else has had responses, I am still waiting for mine. I do not know why I haven't heard but currently my brain is telling me they either never got my entry or they've lost it. This is making Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo a very unpleasant place to be right now and I wish I wasn't here.
I've got quite familiar with Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo. It's actually become like home. I'm starting to put up pictures and photos, put a nice rug down, got my special pillow. But you know, it's not really home. I see people who have been here less time than me get that magical response which fires them up to heaven or down to hell, and I am jealous. I don't want to be here anymore. I want to move on to Published Author Waiting Limbo which is just through the fabulous double doors down the end of the hallway. The doors that are guarded by two-headed dogs, a lake of fire, and a 900 million foot high barbed wire fence.
Some days I am okay with being in UnPubbed Author Waiting Limbo. I've got friends here and the vodka is cheap and plentiful. But today is not one of those days. There is a way out though. There's a small doorway behind the bar that will let you crawl to freedom and I'm sitting at the bar contemplating that doorway right now. It's in the opposite direction to Published Author Waiting Limbo of course but there aren't any two-headed dogs or lakes of fire or fences. Just five minutes walk and I can open it and be free of Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo forever. And it's starting look very, very attractive.
Yes, I know the best way to handle it is to write, and yes, some days that's what I do. But Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo wears you down. It can sap your creativity. And no matter how hard you try, you just can't get your brain to stop thinking about why you haven't heard yet and devising various hideous scenarios about how lame your sub is and how your email filter is somehow deleting every email that could possibly be from an editor.
Today, as I am waiting for some sort of SYTYCW news and failing to get any, is a day of no creativity or inspiration. It's a day of frustration. It's a day where I think I will NEVER escape this place. I will be here for ever and ever and ever. It's a day of thinking that it isn't worth it and that it would be so easy to end the torture and just walk out the doorway at the back of the bar.
And right at this moment I want to.
There are thousands of stories in Upubbed Author Waiting Limbo, all happening inside the authors heads. The human brain abhors not knowing and so when we don't know what's happening, it just goes ahead and makes stuff up for us.
Yay for brains.
Anyway, my brain is a master of making stuff up for me in the absence of not knowing. Currently, I have three subs out. Sub number one has been gone four and a half months now and since I have been passed to a new editor, I fear my Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo clock has been reset back to sub number two, which has been gone six weeks. Sub number 3 is SYTYCW and two weeks after everyone else has had responses, I am still waiting for mine. I do not know why I haven't heard but currently my brain is telling me they either never got my entry or they've lost it. This is making Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo a very unpleasant place to be right now and I wish I wasn't here.
I've got quite familiar with Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo. It's actually become like home. I'm starting to put up pictures and photos, put a nice rug down, got my special pillow. But you know, it's not really home. I see people who have been here less time than me get that magical response which fires them up to heaven or down to hell, and I am jealous. I don't want to be here anymore. I want to move on to Published Author Waiting Limbo which is just through the fabulous double doors down the end of the hallway. The doors that are guarded by two-headed dogs, a lake of fire, and a 900 million foot high barbed wire fence.
Some days I am okay with being in UnPubbed Author Waiting Limbo. I've got friends here and the vodka is cheap and plentiful. But today is not one of those days. There is a way out though. There's a small doorway behind the bar that will let you crawl to freedom and I'm sitting at the bar contemplating that doorway right now. It's in the opposite direction to Published Author Waiting Limbo of course but there aren't any two-headed dogs or lakes of fire or fences. Just five minutes walk and I can open it and be free of Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo forever. And it's starting look very, very attractive.
Yes, I know the best way to handle it is to write, and yes, some days that's what I do. But Unpubbed Author Waiting Limbo wears you down. It can sap your creativity. And no matter how hard you try, you just can't get your brain to stop thinking about why you haven't heard yet and devising various hideous scenarios about how lame your sub is and how your email filter is somehow deleting every email that could possibly be from an editor.
Today, as I am waiting for some sort of SYTYCW news and failing to get any, is a day of no creativity or inspiration. It's a day of frustration. It's a day where I think I will NEVER escape this place. I will be here for ever and ever and ever. It's a day of thinking that it isn't worth it and that it would be so easy to end the torture and just walk out the doorway at the back of the bar.
And right at this moment I want to.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Ten Ways to Make Your Hero Suffer
Still nothing from SYTYCW but apparently the last responses are going to be sent out this week. I am feeling extremely nervous as some Rs without feedback have already gone out so - like everything in this business - there are no guarantees.
Anyway, as a kind of distraction, I thought I'd turn my thoughts to torture. As you do. Hero torture in particular. Now call me a sadist but torturing my characters is one of my all time favourite things to do, especially torturing my heroes because let's face it, who doesn't love a tortured hero? Yeah, there is such a thing as too much angst, I know, so it's a fine line. But still....tortured heroes....mmmm...*drools*...
Ahem.
So, how does one torture one's hero? Well here's my top ten list of ways to get the best out of your hero's emotional pain. :)
1. Give him a heroine who is the antithesis of everything he believes in but then give her a couple of qualities that the he can't help admiring. Watch his agonies as he tries to tell himself he doesn't like her. Or admire her. No freaking (or other suitable F word) way!
2. Have your heroine be utterly irresistable physically to him so that he can't helping wanting badly, no matter how much his brain tells him don't go there. Oh wants...but shouldn't...but I do...but I can't...etc...
3. Make the heroine totally indifferent/unaware/derisive of his usual slick moves so that he has to behave differently and thus be out of his comfort zone if he wants this fabulous, fascinating woman. Dammit!
4. Have him tell himself that he doesn't really want her, that it's just physical. And then put him in a situation where he realises that actually, it isn't. Oh noes!!
5. If he's being overly alpha, have the heroine tell him he's being a jerk and if he doesn't stop behaving like an ass, she's outta there. No one tells me what to do! Ever! But she's leaving and I'll never... Double dammit!
6. Get him in a situation where he has to talk about his feelings with the heroine. Hey, he's a guy. Worst. Thing. Ever.
7. Make sure he's totally comfortable with the relationship he has with the heroine. It's just about sex. It's just about being friends. It's just about being work colleagues. It's cool. It's fine. Everything's dandy. Then watch him squirm when you make him realise that he's falling in love.
8. Put him in a scene where he thinks he's doing something nice for the heroine and then have it backfire on him because a) he's misjudged the heroine or b) the heroine's conflict means it's actually the worst possible thing he could have done (see heroine torture) or c) he still hasn't learned that he has to do things differently from the way he's always done them if he wants this, particular woman. Lots of bleeding potential here. Can also lead into number 6 for added torture. Or number 10 for maximum angst.
9. This is a risky maneouvre but you can have him do something alpha that makes the heroine laugh at him. This can be good for uptight, buttoned up heroes. And in fact, can be a real growing moment if he figures out that actually, being laughed at won't kill him and that sometimes laughing at oneself can be a good thing. Who doesn't love a hero who knows when he's being a d*ckhead?
10. Have him realise he's in love with the heroine and know that there is no way that he will ever - EVER! - be with her. (Unless he does something totally and completely way out like risking his heart and telling her he loves her).
Naturally all of this depends on the hero, his conflict and his motivation. And some of these may not apply to some heroes. Hey, there are guys who actually quite like talking about their feelings! But usually I find that if I put my heroes in any one of these situations, they don't like it. Don't like it at all. Just being cruel to be kind though. Because the more you torture your characters, the more emotion you get from your story, the more your characters learn and the more wonderful your HEA. :-) In this case, the end justifies the means. Hehe.
Anyone else got any good torture suggestions? Bring 'em on!
Anyway, as a kind of distraction, I thought I'd turn my thoughts to torture. As you do. Hero torture in particular. Now call me a sadist but torturing my characters is one of my all time favourite things to do, especially torturing my heroes because let's face it, who doesn't love a tortured hero? Yeah, there is such a thing as too much angst, I know, so it's a fine line. But still....tortured heroes....mmmm...*drools*...
Ahem.
So, how does one torture one's hero? Well here's my top ten list of ways to get the best out of your hero's emotional pain. :)
1. Give him a heroine who is the antithesis of everything he believes in but then give her a couple of qualities that the he can't help admiring. Watch his agonies as he tries to tell himself he doesn't like her. Or admire her. No freaking (or other suitable F word) way!
2. Have your heroine be utterly irresistable physically to him so that he can't helping wanting badly, no matter how much his brain tells him don't go there. Oh wants...but shouldn't...but I do...but I can't...etc...
3. Make the heroine totally indifferent/unaware/derisive of his usual slick moves so that he has to behave differently and thus be out of his comfort zone if he wants this fabulous, fascinating woman. Dammit!
4. Have him tell himself that he doesn't really want her, that it's just physical. And then put him in a situation where he realises that actually, it isn't. Oh noes!!
5. If he's being overly alpha, have the heroine tell him he's being a jerk and if he doesn't stop behaving like an ass, she's outta there. No one tells me what to do! Ever! But she's leaving and I'll never... Double dammit!
6. Get him in a situation where he has to talk about his feelings with the heroine. Hey, he's a guy. Worst. Thing. Ever.
7. Make sure he's totally comfortable with the relationship he has with the heroine. It's just about sex. It's just about being friends. It's just about being work colleagues. It's cool. It's fine. Everything's dandy. Then watch him squirm when you make him realise that he's falling in love.
8. Put him in a scene where he thinks he's doing something nice for the heroine and then have it backfire on him because a) he's misjudged the heroine or b) the heroine's conflict means it's actually the worst possible thing he could have done (see heroine torture) or c) he still hasn't learned that he has to do things differently from the way he's always done them if he wants this, particular woman. Lots of bleeding potential here. Can also lead into number 6 for added torture. Or number 10 for maximum angst.
9. This is a risky maneouvre but you can have him do something alpha that makes the heroine laugh at him. This can be good for uptight, buttoned up heroes. And in fact, can be a real growing moment if he figures out that actually, being laughed at won't kill him and that sometimes laughing at oneself can be a good thing. Who doesn't love a hero who knows when he's being a d*ckhead?
10. Have him realise he's in love with the heroine and know that there is no way that he will ever - EVER! - be with her. (Unless he does something totally and completely way out like risking his heart and telling her he loves her).
Naturally all of this depends on the hero, his conflict and his motivation. And some of these may not apply to some heroes. Hey, there are guys who actually quite like talking about their feelings! But usually I find that if I put my heroes in any one of these situations, they don't like it. Don't like it at all. Just being cruel to be kind though. Because the more you torture your characters, the more emotion you get from your story, the more your characters learn and the more wonderful your HEA. :-) In this case, the end justifies the means. Hehe.
Anyone else got any good torture suggestions? Bring 'em on!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
So You Think You Can Wait Part 2
I'm still in waiting room hell. Have heard nothing re SYTYCW this week. I'm almost wishing I'd got one of the Rs they sent out last week because then at least I'd know. But the worst part is that after waiting another week after everyone else, I STILL could get an R. Groan. Poor eds, they had flu and then a snow day, and no doubt are up to their eyeballs in lots of other stuff, but the timing sure does suck. At least I'm not the only one though. There are a bunch of us who haven't heard so that's something. Means I won't be getting too paranoid about whether they even received my entry!
Anyway, now I have to wait until NZ Tuesday before I find out anything. I know, drama queen right? Well, I'm afraid that's me. Drama queen extraordinaire. And when you know you're going to hear about a sub 'any day' you just can't just forget about it. At least, I can't. It has made writing this week very difficult (waking up at 5am every day to check your email gets a little tiring - and no, I didn't purposefully wake up at that time!). I've got 'waiting paralysis' basically. Plenty of stuff I should be getting on with but I keep coming up against the 'will they even want the rest of this?' barrier. Same with all my new ideas, especially since - when you're targeting Riva - you have no idea whether what they're looking for...
Well, that's my vent of the month. Anyone got any tips as to good distraction techniques?
Anyway, now I have to wait until NZ Tuesday before I find out anything. I know, drama queen right? Well, I'm afraid that's me. Drama queen extraordinaire. And when you know you're going to hear about a sub 'any day' you just can't just forget about it. At least, I can't. It has made writing this week very difficult (waking up at 5am every day to check your email gets a little tiring - and no, I didn't purposefully wake up at that time!). I've got 'waiting paralysis' basically. Plenty of stuff I should be getting on with but I keep coming up against the 'will they even want the rest of this?' barrier. Same with all my new ideas, especially since - when you're targeting Riva - you have no idea whether what they're looking for...
Well, that's my vent of the month. Anyone got any tips as to good distraction techniques?
Saturday, January 29, 2011
So You Think You Can Wait
I still haven't heard re SYTYCW. If it wasn't for a bunch of other people who haven't heard either, I would be REALLY paranoid now that my entry was lost. It still could have been for all I know. Sigh. The most annoying thing of all is that now I have to wait until Tuesday NZ time which is aaaaages away! *whines*
I think I must be the only person (apart from Maisey) who hates weekends. :-)
Ah well, in lieu of news, have another round of drinks on Hoo. Elissa mentioned eye candy so here's a bit of David Gandy for you too. He's currently - or this picture in particular - the inspiration for my chess grandmaster. Now, look at that and tell me that's not sexxxayyy!
I think I must be the only person (apart from Maisey) who hates weekends. :-)
Ah well, in lieu of news, have another round of drinks on Hoo. Elissa mentioned eye candy so here's a bit of David Gandy for you too. He's currently - or this picture in particular - the inspiration for my chess grandmaster. Now, look at that and tell me that's not sexxxayyy!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Still Waiting....
I'm still waiting to hear back re SYTYCW. It's like waiting for the firing squad to get to you. They've shot everyone else, there's only you left. Groan! And it's worse for me because normally my news comes while I'm sleeping due to the difference in time zones between the UK and NZ. Yay for sleeping! This time it looks like the news is coming from Toronto and the difference in time zones is different. I'm awake during their work hours and it's horrible! Wish I was still asleep.
Alright, so, while I am waiting, pull up a chair and share your SYTYCW stories. Got an R you want to vent about? Some feedback you can't understand? Still waiting like me? Share! I'll get Hoo to mix some drinks...
And while he's at it, check out the Sisters' blog and the awesome post Maisey has written re strengthening that first chapter.
Alright, so, while I am waiting, pull up a chair and share your SYTYCW stories. Got an R you want to vent about? Some feedback you can't understand? Still waiting like me? Share! I'll get Hoo to mix some drinks...
And while he's at it, check out the Sisters' blog and the awesome post Maisey has written re strengthening that first chapter.
Monday, January 24, 2011
So You Think You Can Write? Or Does My Butt Look Big in This? (Plus Congrats!)
Who else is feeling like they can write? I should clarify, this is for those of us who are taking the SYTYCW trip and are expecting to hear back this week. Are you excited? Nervous? Couldn't care less? NTAI? Personally I'm feeling like I can vomit.
I actually thought I would be okay with this. Mainly because I subbed something different to what I normally write and so therefore if it gets the old heave ho, I can safely say to myself, 'Oh well, it was my first sub for this line and it's not what I wanted to write anyway." But you know, I don't think I am okay with it! I'm bl**dy nervous! My poor old Frenchman is subbed as a Modern/Presents and I am quite concerned. Writing MH/Riva is like an old pair of comfortable, flattering jeans. I love wearing them and I think I look good in them. Modern/Presents is a pair of new jeans with stiff denim and in a style I'm not sure suits me. Does my butt look big in this?
I do NOT want to hear 'Of course your butt looks massive. What were you thinking?!'
What I DO want to hear is 'Darling, you look fab. Have you lost weight?'
Really, waiting and anticipating NEVER gets any easier. And I'm sure the pubbed authors among you will say the same thing. I've been doing this for three years now (I know, I'm just a baby submitter) and the Inbox of Doom remains the Inbox of Doom and not the Inbox of Win. On that happy note, at least it's certain that news of some kind will make it's way to me at some stage during this week (Will they let us know on the day? The week before? Who knows??).
Anyway, the most annoying thing about all of this is that I am letting my NTAI nerves paralyse me. I don't know what to keep writing. There is the Frenchman whom I'm certain will get the thumbs down (SYTYCW), there's the Hammer Pants ms which I actually love and want to keep editing but simply don't know whether to keep doing so or not. And lastly the soldier story (remember that?) which I subbed in October last year. In my handover email from the ed, she told me she'd read the soldier and also the my winning High Five entry (Hammer Pants) and had had a chat with the ed I am now working with about 'which one to proceed with'. But she gave no hint as to which she liked! Which she wouldn't of course but still! Anyway, I guess 'which one to proceed with' does seem to indicate that one will be proceeded with. But which one??? Just my luck it won't be the one I want to proceed with...
Right, that's enough of my ramblings. Wanted to say HUGE CONGRATS to Susan Wilson for her sale to Medicals!!!! You rock, Susan!!
So how's everyone else holding up for SYTYCW? Got any NTAI strategies you want to share?
I actually thought I would be okay with this. Mainly because I subbed something different to what I normally write and so therefore if it gets the old heave ho, I can safely say to myself, 'Oh well, it was my first sub for this line and it's not what I wanted to write anyway." But you know, I don't think I am okay with it! I'm bl**dy nervous! My poor old Frenchman is subbed as a Modern/Presents and I am quite concerned. Writing MH/Riva is like an old pair of comfortable, flattering jeans. I love wearing them and I think I look good in them. Modern/Presents is a pair of new jeans with stiff denim and in a style I'm not sure suits me. Does my butt look big in this?
I do NOT want to hear 'Of course your butt looks massive. What were you thinking?!'
What I DO want to hear is 'Darling, you look fab. Have you lost weight?'
Really, waiting and anticipating NEVER gets any easier. And I'm sure the pubbed authors among you will say the same thing. I've been doing this for three years now (I know, I'm just a baby submitter) and the Inbox of Doom remains the Inbox of Doom and not the Inbox of Win. On that happy note, at least it's certain that news of some kind will make it's way to me at some stage during this week (Will they let us know on the day? The week before? Who knows??).
Anyway, the most annoying thing about all of this is that I am letting my NTAI nerves paralyse me. I don't know what to keep writing. There is the Frenchman whom I'm certain will get the thumbs down (SYTYCW), there's the Hammer Pants ms which I actually love and want to keep editing but simply don't know whether to keep doing so or not. And lastly the soldier story (remember that?) which I subbed in October last year. In my handover email from the ed, she told me she'd read the soldier and also the my winning High Five entry (Hammer Pants) and had had a chat with the ed I am now working with about 'which one to proceed with'. But she gave no hint as to which she liked! Which she wouldn't of course but still! Anyway, I guess 'which one to proceed with' does seem to indicate that one will be proceeded with. But which one??? Just my luck it won't be the one I want to proceed with...
Right, that's enough of my ramblings. Wanted to say HUGE CONGRATS to Susan Wilson for her sale to Medicals!!!! You rock, Susan!!
So how's everyone else holding up for SYTYCW? Got any NTAI strategies you want to share?
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