Crap

Here's the text of the e-mail I just got:

Thanks so much again for sharing your revised manuscript with me. As you know, I've been on the lookout for a cult-themed literary novel, so I was excited to dive into The Cabin. While I found elements of the cult fascinating, I didn't feel that Josh and many of the secondary characters would be relatable enough to the average teen reader. Also, I worried that the third person narration felt overly removed, at time, and that the pacing wasn’t quite quick enough for our readership.

Given these concerns, I don’t feel that I'm the right editor for this project. I do wish you the best of luck in finding a publishing home for The Cabin.

So I give up.

Just kidding, although it's hard to stay motivated.

No, scratch that. Trying to stay motivated is like pushing through a pool filled with sticky, tepid oatmeal. Hmmm, maybe that still doesn't capture the feeling here.

How about: Rejections are nails that are being hammered by my self-doubt into the coffin of me as a writer. Yeah, that's more like it.

It's particularly disappointing because I had found a back door to get this manuscript off to this editor. Plus, she was looking for a YA book with my subject matter. Plus, I'm naive and probably don't do enough work before I send things off.

Oh well.

No, not 'oh well.'

Bring it on.

I can write. I can tell stories. I just had two story ideas come to me this week. I have stories to tell and I can tell them well. I can learn to tell them better and I can sell them and live as a writer. I can and I freaking, ever-loving, darn-tooting, for the love of all that's good and right WILL!

If I said swear words, that previous sentence would have read like a sailor who just stepped on the crustiest, sharpest barnacle.

I have to do some work now, but that's my update. I am going to put together a concrete writing schedule.

Do you realize (all six of you reading this (hey, that's up from 3)) how hard it is to make time to write? Five kids, all of them fun, my wife translating, bread needing to be made along with other household chores, and then exercising... not to mention a job that sucks the energy out of me... all combine to make it tough. Just thought I'd mention that. Just so... you know... pity.

No, keep your pity. Let it turn into fury and turn that fury and passion into a kick-a## story.

Lay off my somnium.

Just had to share

because I'm a died in the wool Steelers fan.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/tony_womo_out_three_to_four_weeks

hehe

Stopping by and updating

Well isn't this a fine howdy-do?

Is that the phrase that I'm looking for? Probably not.

Anyway, no word on The Cabin yet. Of course, I only sent in on Tuesday, so today is only three days later. So yeah, I think maybe a couple weeks will tell. Or maybe a couple months.

And the answer could well be a big fat, N-O. But positive thinking... it'll be yes. Or... "write it better and then we'll talk." Or something like that.

Moving on. I saw a book called The Shack in Barnes and Noble. That sounds like the title of my book. I hope that won't be a problem. Of course, I could change the title of mine if the publisher thinks I ought to, but the cabin really is a central theme to the book. We'll see. Counting chickens and all...

So I've had pretty much no time to work on anything else to do with writing in the last month. This is because teaching at the ELC takes all of my regular work time, and dealing with the after effects of the accident. Those after effects (does that need a hyphen? whatever) have included talking to a lawyer, searching for and buying a new (to us) van, and beginning treatment for some whiplash I didn't even know I had, but which is giving me headaches and a daily, 3PM fever. Weird huh?

Gotta change that. But for now, I'm watching old episodes of Chuck online. It's a harmless, fun show. The John Larroquette cameo is just spectacular.

And that's all folks.

Hey! That's my somnium! Back off so I can carpe it. (Very dairy, I know.)

Quick update

Hey there.

I just finished another rewrite of The Cabin. I think it's solid. I also just sent it off to an editor at Little, Brown and Company. This is the editor who replied to my query saying that she was intrigued.

Hoooooo boy. I'm really on pins here. I know it'll probably take a lot of time before I hear anything back, but I'm feeling pretty jumpy right now.

This rewrite really does flesh things out better. It's funny, I tend to write telegraphically, so my rewrites tend to add rather than subtract.

Anyway, I have to get my oldest lad off to school and I need to get to work. I've had quite a few short nights lately; I'm looking forward to sleeping more tonight. Oh, and I've got a freelance project I have to do today.

Finally, apparently I was voted a top 25 writer at www.Helium.com recently. That's quite an honor. I really like those guys.

Better run.

I am going to carpe my somnium. It's happening.

I'm back, barely

Here I is. I hope any readers enjoyed that piece from the Onion. Hilarious.

Here's what's been going on.

Yesterday morning, I sent an e-mail to an editor with Little, Brown and Company. I'd heard that she was interested in a YA novel about a kid prot in a cult. Funny how I've just finished that exact novel.

Then I headed out to do some shopping, as we were planning on heading up to SLC to meet Alicia and her family as well as Nathan and his family. These are some of my oldest and best friends that I have not seen for a very long time.

But I didn't make it to the store. Heck, I didn't make it half way. That whole 5 mile radius thing is right on. As I went through an intersection, another car failed to stop at the stop sign and flashed in front of me just in time for me to have no chance to swerve or brake. Yep, it was a good accident. Airbags deployed and did more harm than good.

Van's trashed, probably a loss, but we will see next week. Allstate's a good company. I'm fine, despite some painful bruises and abrasions.

Then I got home, let my friends know we couldn't make it to the get together. They decided to come see us. That was awesome. So were the conference sessions.

It was also awesome to have that editor get back to me the same day to tell me she was intrigued and to send the whole manuscript to her.

I gotta go. But life is really just fine for now. Tough, but that makes it worth it.

Hi there

I'm back; it's been a while. I need to catch up on my posts, but I really wanted to share this excellent article that I read today.

http://www.theonion.com/content/news/national_endowment_for_the_arts

I'll be back. But for now, just enjoy the brilliance of this piece.