Friday, February 17, 2006

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

16 comments:

Problem Child said...

Alex is not what you'd normally call "exuberant." Therefore, hearing her squeeeee is more than amusing. It's ROTFLMAO funny.

Even reading her post here, I was smirking.

PC

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

I'm with you PC. It's kinda cool :-) I like it when Alex gets excited. When she's excited there's truly a reason and it's so awesome. I'm glad I was home SP and could share this with you :-)

Instigator

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight. I'm twitchy like a little speed freak or a 6 year old on a sugar high.

What am I going to be like if I actually SELL? We're going to have to medivac Shelley out here.

SP

Loribelle Hunt said...

Congrats and good luck. ;)

I might sqeee with you lol at actually finding some Alabama writers on the web! Gets a little lonely on my end of the state lol. ;)

Playground Monitor said...

Cool beans, Smarty Pants! I thought I heard noise coming from the north. That must have been you. *g*

You have great help from PC and Instigator. And I'm sure Angel will chime in here in a few.

And welcome Loribelle! It's great to see another Alabama writer.

Problem Child said...

Hey Loribelle--

Great southern name BTW.

I haven't been down to Dothan in AGES, but I have several friends in the area.

Isn't Dothan the home of peanuts and condoms?

You should pop up to our end of the state sometime! (We have a luncheon coming up if you need an excuse...)

PC

Playground Monitor said...

'Scuse me, PC, but you're usurping my pimping duties. *gg*

I agree, Loribelle, that we'd love to have you at our luncheon in May. You can find out more here.

Loribelle Hunt said...

Thanks for the welcome ladies.

Yes, PC, Dothan is the home of peanuts and condoms. I got a really good laugh out of that thanks, lol. I've been trying to get a review done all day and needed some comic relief lol. ;) No one ever wants to talk about anything but the peanuts around here.

Y'all seem to have hit the published author lottery up there! Is it in the air? The water? Could you ship me some lol? Unfortunately, May is an iffy month for me. The hubby is supposed to be getting deployed again around that time, and the Army won't let him pack the kids with him. I can't imagine why lol.

Kira Sinclair - AKA Instigator said...

Welcome Loribelle! We'll forgive you for not coming to the luncheon (the Army can be so Armyish can't it? A few kids can't hurt anything right?) but only if you continue to visit with us :-)

Instigator

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

Okay, I've gotten official confirmation from the Mavens that this was, in fact, a REVISION letter. This editor wastes her time humoring no one, so if she wrote it, she meant it and if I can fix it, she might buy it. I'm starting to panic again.

(Welcome Loribelle!)

Problem Child said...

Wait, we tell you repeatedly how we'll help you fix this so you can resubmit, but it's not until you get "offical" words from the Mavens you believe it's actually a revision letter?

I thought we'd covered the "editors don't have time to humor/needlessly stoke newbies" before.

And, no, I wouldn't think for an instant that editor would humor anyone needlessly. She reminds me of a certian maven we all love who also humors no one.

PC

Andrea Laurence AKA Smarty Pants said...

It's not that I didn't believe you, PC. I just didn't believe any of it myself. My own mental block wasn't allowing me to 100% believe it was what it was. All three Mavens then told me they'd gotten very similar letters off which they'd sold. I think I just can't ignore it anymore now.

SQUUEEEE. I'd do a little Snoopy Dance, but I think the program manager down the hall might get confused.

SP

Anonymous said...

Way to go, SP!

You can do it!!! (I feel like I'm in an Adam Sandler movie but I mean it wholeheartedly.)

Kathy

Angel said...

Okay, being in my writing cave this morning I completely missed the hoopla!

Thankfully I received an email with the news last night, since I didn't get a PHONE CALL. (Shame, shame!)

Congratulations, again, SP!!!! I'm so excited for you, but I know it is a little scary too. Just tackle the revisions one issue at a time. That's all you need to do. We'll analyze it on SM Saturday.

Which reminds me...I haven't emailed Kathy. Better get on that, huh?

Angel

Jennifer Y. said...

Congrats Smarty Pants!

Angel said...

How cool to see everyone comment! Thanks!

Now, about that hunky neighbor...

Angel