We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Programming

Ok, so I had today's post written yesterday by 1PM. All good, just gotta post it later that evening. Then I get home.

"Honey, you got a Victoria's Secret catalog in the mail."

Cool. Then I pick up the catalog. Underneath it is a package from a very important publishing house. Uh oh.

"Honey, couldn't you have mentioned the package from those REALLY important people I sent my partial to?"

"Oh yeah, you also got something from that publisher."

"Great, thanks Honey." Deep breath. Time for the rejection letter. It's too bad, I was really hoping this MS might work out.

My eyes scan the text for the word "unfortunately." There, found it. Foiled again. But wait...what's all this other stuff? Detailed notes, changes...is this an R or the other "R" - the much anticipated revision letter?

After reading it 72 times and pacing around my kitchen like a caged animal, I'm still not sure. They definitely don't want it as is, but incorporate the changes we suggested and we'll take another look at it. Is that good? Is it bad? Should I be happy? Sad? Excited?

I frantically phone a playfriend. Problem Child doesn't answer. Next number...I catch Instigator at home. She tells me I can get excited, it's a good letter. We squeal together. Problem Child calls me back. We squeal together some more. (This compounded, of course, by the fact that I very rarely squeal or get excited about anything. It's pretty darn funny. PC is amused.)

So here I am, nauseus, my body shaking with nerves. Good nerves, bad nerves, I don't know. There's lots of changes to be made. Big changes. Cutting out whole chapters, characters, clarifying plot points, adding magic and mystery...I have a lot of work to do. And this was just on the partial! The laundry list is bound to grow when and if they ever see the rest of the book. I will, however, do whatever she tells me to do as she is the goddess of my publishing world.

I pulled out my last R from the same publisher and look at the differences between the two. The first was your standard, "Thanks, but it doesn't suit our line. Please try again." This one had substance, feedback...slightly painful, but productive feedback! That's priceless these days.

Ok. I'm trying not to rant here, but I'm still freaking out. SP does not freak out, but I'm here, freaking out. If you read this blog to experience the ups and downs on the writing world with us...here you go. Live ups and downs all in one.

"SQUUEEEEE!"

Now I've given myself hiccups.
SP