SHAZAM! Wonder Rejections Unite!

Breathing room people. Breathing room is all I ask for.

I don't mind the rejections...really. It wouldn't be a query lately without that letter or email claiming, "It's just not for us at this time."

But with the last batch out, there were a couple of head spinning responses as timing goes. One didn't even take more than four hours before getting back to me and smacking that rejection down.

Not sure what hurt worse the fact that it was yet another rejection or the fact that it came back so fast. I'm leaning on the side of the time thing.

I feel like saying, "Please, if you want to reject me just give me the courtesy of a few days to a week to prepare and hold on to the hope that it might come back with a request for more."

I am also learning that my new thorn-in-the-side is the word, "Intriguing."

Definition: to excite the interest or curiosity of.

Key words being "excite" and "curiosity."

WTH-if that's the definition then maybe these people are looking at the wrong word in the dictionary or it's secret code for "SUCKS."

I don't know but I'm leaning on the latter at this point in the game.

The next rejection in the stack came back within 17 hours of being sent. Almost made it a day on that one. It was nice though. Reminding me that the industry is purely subjective and to keep trying because it only takes one "yes" to start the ball rolling.

It's amazing how many letters are similar in wording. I am starting to wonder if there is a master seminar everyone in the publishing industry goes to that teaches the perfect rejection letter technique. Because clearly so many of them have mastered the skill brilliantly.

Rejections: 13

Queries still Out: 14

I'm not going to give a page update until the next post because I feel like a slacker. Just look at the previous post and know that's where I'm at.

I will be desperately looking for my muse of time this weekend to get back in the swing of things.

The Nervous Nellies

Well, I didn't reach the goal of ten more queries by today. But, I did send out seven more. Three by snail mail and four by E-query.

And I don't know why, but every time I send out a new batch you'd think I was getting ready to undergo major surgery. Or, that I was expected to give a speech before the presidential masses.

I feel that nervous energy throughout my entire body and a new level of paranoia takes over. I keep checking and re-checking all the material as well as the names and addresses. At least ten times (minimum). It's borderline neurotic.

Then once the package is out of my hands and sliding it's way down the postal box, forever out of my reach, I feel all tingly and on edge. Seriously, it's the best diet ever...the stress/rejection worthy/waiting game DIET.

Or there is also the anxiety that hits once I hit the SEND button on the electronic queries. Especially since a lot of those queries come back so fast I get whip lash and feel like I am the victim of a drive by Rejection. Talk about daunting. I don't even have time to dispel the Nervous Nellies at sending the query before it's back staring me in the face.

But at least they are out there with a small glimmer of hope that someone will ask for more.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Rejections to Date: 11

Queries Still Out There: 16

Pages in Book 2: 120

Pages in New Book: 28

Just when the Creek is almost Dry...the Rains begin

Some people would call it procrastination.

I call it, losing time.

I have posted previously on how time seems to escape many of us and many times the reasons we can't accomplish everything we set out to do, is utterly and completely valid.

So what do you do in these situations? Do you just throw your hands up and chuck what you started in the trash? Or, do you roll up those sleeves and start shoveling out a new path towards your goal?

I am completely in the shoveling phase myself right now for any number of reasons.

First, I switched my work shift from a night shift (5pm to 1am) to a "Normal" schedule (8:30am-5pm).

It's nice to get more sleep being that I was up at 6:30am to get my son to school no matter what. And being on the same schedule as most of my friends has been great. But, I am having a harder time writing since I no longer have the 4 hours to myself that I did when my son was in school and I was home.

Second, I took off for a week to go overseas and completely disrupted any routines I was trying to initiate.

I did get some productive work done though on the second book in the series. I edited the first 100 pages and continued writing on the new book. The best thing to come out of the trip was a great experience in character study and a new found pride in my country. Things are not better abroad...just different.

And third, it takes time when things like the first and second items here take over and you need to get your life back on track and in order: whether it's at work or home. It always takes time that you never seem to have enough of.

So I was standing on the bank of my writing world, watching the creek slowly dry up. But now, I am happy to say that the rains are starting and hopefully by the end of the month, the waters will be back at the edge of the bank and soon overflow. Fingers crossed!

Rejections to Date:11

Queries Still Out There: 9

Pages written on Book 2:110

Pages in New Book: 24