In Search of the Write Stuff

It's about time I update you folks on my little book project, isn't it? Sorry, no amazing news to report. Third rejection. BUT....

And the BUT is that the third publisher enjoyed my submission very much, but suggested that I add a bit more 'meat' to the writing. I can't go into too much detail ('cuz that would reveal too much about said project), but suffice to say that I am now in the process of making this submission more substantial in its word capacity. Which means more work. And it's hard work. It's not like posting on a blog at all. Most of the time, I have little difficutly writing my blog posts (yes, I know, they ain't exactly Proustian memoires or intellectual manifestos), but the re-working of this project is an energy-sucking experience extraordinaire. Lately I would rather chew my own limbs off than do any more writing on this project. I'm not sure why. But I really want to do it, and I must do it. Perhaps there are too many distracting elements at this moment in my life? Christmas, deadlines, the upcoming move? Perhaps I am looking for excuses? This possibility of getting published thing is all new to me, so I'm utterly perplexed at my present state. I love writing. For years I've dreamed of having my writing published. What the hell is wrong with me? And I'm terrified of disappointing my agent. (I think I see her as some sort of distant Aunt whose approval I desperately need). I am an utter mess. And I am surrounded right now by an endless number of boxes. And dust. Who the hell can clean under these circumstances? Who the hell wants to? I need a drink. Oh wait, I'm drinking one right now. Perhaps that is my problem. Crown Royal and massive insecurity do not make a good mix.

I hope other writers feel this way. I'll be damned if I'm gonna suffer alone like this. But don't ask me to share any of my Crown Royal, ok?

Comments

[Debbie Ridpath Ohi]

I -so- identify with this post. :-D

[Arnold Wagner]

You're not alone, welcome to the club. It's a big one.

For a minute I thought you'd swiped my Underwood, but mine has the wide carriage. It isn't a studio unless the Underwood has a place of honor. My grandkids ignore all my computer stuff, old hat, but the Underwood amazes them.

If you want to share the misery, plus get advice try these:

http://www.forumsamerica.com/books/

http://go.compuserve.com/literary

and if Mike's too greedy to share,my favorite site for used books is:

http://www.abebooks.com/

Though I suspect you already know about it.

Down with Amazon!

[patricia]

Thanks, Arnold!

Oh, and one of the reasons I used the image of the Underwood typewriter is because eventually I'm gonna own one, darn it! It will have a place of honour in our own personal library....

[hadas]

Darling! This sounds like good news. Your perseverance and energies are truly inspiring (so she wrote while rushing to her studio ;)
And about work: don’t think, just DO! (An advise given to me by a therapist I had while in university to help me with my exam anxiety).

[R J Keefe]

Sounds like you're right where you need to be about now.

[cleo]

You're not losing your mind and there's nothing wrong with you. I get the same way. I absolutely love writing but I'll come up on deadline and I'll do just about ANYTHING to not write. Clean, file, change sheets, alphabetize the CD collection...anything...I can't explain it. Then comes the point of no return where it simply cannot be put off any longer and I just sit down and do it. Maybe it's fear of failure-that I put all my energy into it and then perhaps it still won't be "good enough." It'll come-birth (or rebirth) is always a painful process! Hang in there-you can do it!

[Cipriano]

After reading certain portions of Lamott's "Bird by Bird" I said to myself... "Nope. I could never do that." [Referring to her massive revisions, only to hear some agent tell her for the twentieth time "rewrite it all"]... so, I just want to say, I admire you. It has to be painful as all hell, the work involved. I am not up to it, lazy no-good louse that I am.
I read the link-blog, the Part I of which this here is Part II, and I had to laugh, because I recently saw the movie "Sideways" and I had this mental picture of Miles guzzling that barrel of wine (remember that scene?) after he receives his dismal news. Only it was YOU doing it! Man was it mental!
"Hang in there" I holler, from my safe vantage point over here on Lazyass Hill.
P.S.
My father had a typewriter exactly like this Underwood, shown here.

[Colleen]

I completely know what you are going through and I have to say that this time of year in particular (when you have a 4year oold on a perpetual holiday high) it is damn hard to work on anything that doesn't involve tinsel or bows. I just got a nice rejection back from Harcourt and they suggested adding to my book as well. So I must go back into it which seems like torture at this point - it was so nice to be done!

Ah well - we choose this insanity, right?

[kisane]

Oh my goodness...it sounds like you're very close... go for it! I know it can be frustrating esp when life gets in the way. But think of the outcome. And WRITE!

Wishing you Yuletide greeetings!