I’ve made my list, and I’ve checked it twice. I’ve tried to cover every clothing contingency I can. I’ve polished my pitches. I have new business cards and promo for the Playground. My toes are polished; my dresses are pressed. I’ve dealt with a knee crisis that nearly derailed my entire conference experience—not to mention my wardrobe.
AC and DG are prepped for my absence. I’ve left some lists for them as well as dinners in the freezer. The two of them can play on the Wii as long as they’d like without any PC interference.
I’m sooo geeked about this trip. I must be; why else would I get up at 4:30 am to drive to the airport? (Is there a scientist somewhere working on teleportation?) Maybe it’s the time with friends. Maybe it’s the chance to make contacts and network. Maybe it’s the hope that the book I pitch this time will be the one.
Sometimes I feel like my trips to the National Conferences are a waste of time and money and an undue burden on my family. I mean, I haven’t sold anything so what’s the real use in networking? Okay, so I have an editor appointment, but couldn’t I accomplish the same thing (i.e., pitching my book) with a first class stamp? Here I am, spending all this money on hotel rooms, air fare, registration fees, food, and (not to mention) clothes for the third time, and I’m no closer to selling anything than I was before. DG has to rearrange his schedule and play Single Parent for a week, and poor AC has to go to day care all day every day. They’ll be eating frozen meals and macaroni and cheese for a week.
I’m so lucky that DG supports what I’m doing and never once questions the Visa bill. He’s has no problem with the time and money I spend chasing this dream (and since I’m currently unemployed, I’m not bringing in any income to balance the drain on the checkbook), but I have to wonder where the line is between “dream chasing” and “selfishness.” After all, there’s no guarantee I’ll ever sell anything, and all this “dream chasing” could really be nothing but a giant money pit. Where’s the cutoff point? Five years? Ten? Bankruptcy?
But these are all questions for another day. Today, I have fabulous dresses to wear to wonderful parties and a book that I love to pitch to a new editor (who will hopefully love it as well). Declarations from the Playfriends that I’m thissssssss close to selling will stave off the guilt for a little while longer. I’m going to take my six pairs of shoes to Dallas and drool all over Kira’s pink “First Sale” ribbon. I’ll get inspired and shamed all at the same time and come home ready to finish that book I’ve been tinkering with for ever now.
Maybe that one will sell…
Have a fabu week! DG will be posting the Ask Us (Almost) Anything questions this week—you may be a winner! (And you may be a winner if you comment…hint…
hint…) Be nice to DG, but don’t go spilling any Playground secrets, okay?
14 comments:
Have fun but know that we will be missing you!!
I'm still jealous, and can't get over that fact...but i'll be there in spirit and hopefully in Washington, DC in 2009.
My fingers are crossed, amkes ofr dba ptynig, that you sell this time....and i know how you feel.
DH has been so supportive of my writing time, but has now said, "Haven't you completed one yet?" And i have no income in the summer. As an interventionist for a middle school, i get paid on a ten month basis.
Anyhow......have a blast!! Sell! Sell!
See you all when you get back.
Nini
To quote Bloody Mary in South Pacific, "You gotta have a dream, if you don't have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?"
I'm blessed too with, as I call him, my own personal patron of the arts. I do have a small income stream from the short stories but it's not enough for me to break even. Every year I think "Maybe this'll be the year I get really fired up and finish that novel!"
The dream is what keeps us going.
I'm up and almost ready. I spent the night with my son and DIL and grandbaby WHO IS WALKING NOW! I can hear the jets taking off and landing from here at the computer. Son will drop me off at the airport in about 45 minutes and I'll join up with PC and another Heart of Dixie friend to giddy-up to Dallas.
See y'all when we get back. And maybe this'll be the year.
PM
I always have mixed feelings about conference. It can be fun, educational, always interesting... but I usually come home feeling miserable. A heavy cloud of "I suck and I'm never going to sell" usually hovers over my head. Even if I get a request, its somehow tainted in my mind. It takes a few weeks for me to recover from it. This time I'm prepared, so hopefully it will be ok and if not, I can distract myself with window dressings and area rugs.
SP
I'm keeping various and sundry parts crossed that this is THE YEAR for The Playfriends. Hope Dallas goes well for all of you.
I hope you all have lots of success!! And have a great time.
I'm declaring this the Year of the Playground! This is going to be it for us all. I have no doubt that by San Fransico we'll be celebrating lots of wonderful news!
Travel safely PC, PM & Lynn. We'll see you all tomorrow (assuming I can get through today :-))
Instigator
No pressure...
Hope you have a great time! :)
Have a wonderful time. Enjoy every minute.
Well, they're in Dallas....so what do you think? Are they running around like nuts? Or is PM keeping them in check?
Nini
I think as long as you still want to follow that dream and your husband is all for it, you should never give up.
Have fun!
do not give up on dreams and especially if you have support; the best to you at the conference.
Have fun! I am so jealous! I have never been to RWA or RT. Wishing you success! Take lots of pictures.
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