Friday, April 15, 2011

A Good Problem To Have

So, I've got a problem. I'm not complaining about being in this situation, so don't throw your shoe at me, but it something I have to figure out. Way back in the day when I had the Circle of Five going, I learned that the more submissions I sent out, the more rejections would come raining back on me. And usually all in the same week. I still recommend it, you're got to get stuff out there, but you've got to be prepared for the results.


Case in point. Last summer I took advantage of multiple pitching opportunities that came up, so I had several requests floating around. I decided to send a partial out on a book that hadn't made the rounds yet. Just keeping things moving around. Seeing what happens. I got a couple rejections and it didn't bother me because I had lots of irons in the fire. Then something funny happened. What I wanted to happen, happened. I started getting revision requests. Requests to see the rest of books that weren't quite ready to go out the door yet. A flush of new idea in my head I'm itching to work on.

So now I have a request for a book that isn't done (and the editor knows it, so no chastizing), a request for heavy revisions to a single title (big project that makes my head hurt, but I can't pass it up), and I'd started working on a new project that really excited me a couple days before all this came about. So much to do! I'm scrambling to check off one thing at a time, to move quickly yet still provide quality work. I'm about to pull my hair out. I guess its practice for after I sell and have to juggle the current project, the AAs and galleys for a prior project, while promoting the project that was just released in stores.

Did I mention I'm also dieting? Makes everything more dramatic in my head than it needs to be and since I can't eat a cookie to calm my inner panicking writer, I just have to ride it out. Anything piling up on you lately? Chores? Laundry? Work? We can dig out together.
SP

6 comments:

Christine said...

Got to love those R&Rs when they really mean work hard and hope that you get what you're dreaming to achieve.

Good luck on the diet, too. Mine is going well. And tomorrow is CHEAT DAY again :-)

Angel said...

Hmmm... does it count if you are just trying to keep your head above water at home and trying to get in any writing time at all? I'm beginning to think I'll never be able to write again. :(

Angel

Playground Monitor said...

Life is actually beginning to settle down for me but the muse is doing the Eat, Pray, Love thing in Italy, India and Bali, and she keeps repeating the loop. But I'm able to focus on reading much better now. I read one of SP's books (terrific!) and just finished PC's Girls' Guide to Flirting with Danger last night (also terrific!). I'm going to order Instigator's Peach Farm book for my Kindle with birthday money. It's nice to be able to read again. That really sucked.

Problem Child said...

All a girl can do is make a list and breathe, right?

That said, AAs arrived today. Add one more thing to my list!

Katherine Bone said...

Yay! A good place to be, SP. ;)

You can do this!

robertsonreads said...

Wonderful SP!!!

And Angel, please hang in there, the time will come.

Lots of chores lately and work of course. Next week I pretty much have something going on EVERY day and it will be like that until the end of the semester which is 2nd week of May.

Have a great weekend everyone and stay safe in this bad weather.

word verification - nesio, I so ne sio to go home....lol