. . . jumble of days, more than a week really, since Jordy journeyed on to that great catnip field in the sky (or wherever the eternal catnip field might lie). Life goes on. I deal with my grief as only I can, and with the support of friends and family. I immerse myself in the day to day routines - work, home, bed, etc. - of my life.
I spent this weekend reading Juliet Marillier's Heir to Sevenwaters. Absolutely loved the book. In fact, all I did on Saturday was sit on different couches in the house and read the book, from beginning to end. I haven't done that with a book in forever. Heir to Sevenwaters is the newest book in what was once called The Sevenwaters Trilogy. I guess since this is book four, the whole trilogy thing just went out the proverbial window. I am currently re-reading Daughter of the Forest the first book in the trilogy that is no longer a trilogy.
I guess the mere fact of immersing myself in a book has gotten my creative juices flowing. I've written for four straight days. I don't know why, I'm not about to question why, and I'm just going to go with the flow. I'm not setting any daily goals with this current writing endeavor. I'm just writing. I take what I can get, when I can get it, and just hope for the best every day. I guess that should be everybody's philosophy toward life, and toward whatever dream they might have.
At some point this week, I need to send out a query on another project. For whatever reason, I haven't been able to find the motivation to do so. Perhaps I have been beaten down by multiple "this just isn't right for me" responses, or no responses at all. Personally, I know agents are inundated with queries, thousands upon thousands of queries; but a simple "this isn't right for me" automated response would sure as heck make the lives of the thousands upon thousands of queriers (yes, I know, not a word, but I'm using it any how) just a little bit simpler. I know, it's not about making the lives of struggling writers simpler. It's just a thought . . . and a dang good one at that, if I do say so myself!!! So, sometime this week, I'll send out another query and wait and wait and wait and wait until the designated time frame specified on the agent's website expires, and then begin the process all over again. SIGH!!!!! In the meantime, I'll write and write and write when the moment takes me, because that's my path in this life and what I love to do. Maybe one day (fingers and toes crossed) in the very near future, all my hard work will end up in publication. A man can hope!
4 comments:
You can always self-publish. Why wait around for some literary agent to validate your work? Rejections to "queries" diminish self-esteem and they are demeaning. Check into the option. It is very empowering. You can check out xlibris and iuniverse. I have seen their work and I am impressed.
Marjorie - at this point, I'm content with the query process abd my self-esteem hasn't taken a hit. Who knows what tomorrow might bring?
I also know the industry aversion to any one who has self-published. Right now, I'm not willing to make that sacrifice. Again, who knows what tomorrow might bring. There may come a day when I venture into the world of self-publishing. Until that time, I query, wait, and write. It works for me.
Lastly, I'm definitely not knocking the self-publishing industry. I think it serves a purpose, and a good one at that, just not for me.
S
oops, saw a typo!
I want to reSpond, and you don't have to publish this. It's your call.
The industry has an aversion to self-publishing because it removes the power from their hands and it is a financial loss for them when a writer self-publishes and is successful. "The Celestine Prophecy" and "Chicken Soup for the Soul" were self-published books. How many agents had rejected those books and later kicked themselves?
I view the same agents' blogs that you do. I find many of the blogs astonishing in how the writers kiss the behinds of the agents and make sycophantic comments while walking on eggshells.
The agents will automatically reject queries for the most absurd reasons. They will send a rejection if they are simply annoyed by a statement in the query or because one word is misspelled. It is so idiotic to me because the manuscript could have been written by the next Hemingway. It's all a power trip.
I am in a position where I can "roast" this agenda. (I am in comedy and I am a retired teacher) Being in the time specific place where I am, I can be a bit more free in my comments.
Please check out my memoir:
www.marjorie-pentimentos.blogspot.com
It's a book on a blog. You may find it funny. Some readers have told me it should be a book... but I too have received rejections and I am considering the option of self-publishing. My E-mail address is at my profile.
Marjorie - every opinion is valuable, even if everybody doesn't agree with said opinion. Each person must do what they feel is best for them in this life. At this point in my life, I'm content to send out queries, write, wait, and write some more. Maybe one day my attitude will change. Maybe it won't. I just take life day by day and hope for the best.
I bow down to few people and make my opinions well known on this blog, and on my other blog (more so on that one) as well. Life is what we make of it.
Thanks for your comments, and following my blog. Perhaps all any writer wants is someone to read their words . . . whether fictional or, as in the blog, non-fictional. You've done just that, as have others. Right now, just having a few followers of my blog is enough to let me know that I'm doing something right. Take care.
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