Followed By Discord

Yesterday's good vibration was followed by today's discord. This is not the best of days. I had such hope for my little pb, but the bean crunchers say my story is worthless. Sadness.

Good Vibration

There was a serious good vibration today. I am totally freaked. Stay tuned for more news!!!!!!!

More Educational Writing

I've received a couple of more contracts to write "lesson plans" for teachers. It's for a reading curriculum. I predict the purchase of jeans and jackets in my future. And I'm trying (repeat) trying to wrap my head around the apparent need of teenagers to own Sevens for All Mankind. I remember my sister had to have this $100 dollar pair of blue jeans with "Willie Nelson" emblazoned on her behind. I did not get it then, and I do not get it now. In this case, it's little gold triangles drawn on your behind. I do not understand this; quantum mechanics and several variable calculus are both much clearer to me.

Odds and Ends

I'm scoring "the not to be named test" again. This always strips the creativity right out of me.

My lunch with GCL was a golden harmonic in time. She has a inquisitive nature that I find so admirable. It was a blessing to really get to chat with someone who loves books like I do and truly feels the tug to say something within her core. I wish I had such a focused mind; my thoughts are always fluttering all over the place.

On the writing front, editor requests have started to flow back in. I've got rewrites in the works. That's always good. Turned in my Picture Window Books on Friday!!!!!

I continue to have the "good" feeling deep within my being. The two thoughts that come to me is that the angels are singing over me and God will lift up my head. I've also been thinking about the broken hearted being healed. I think the most wondrous thing for me is the surprise joy that has flooded my life.

from my journal -- The View from Here

My writing is the best part of me.
It holds my dreams.
My screams.
My ignorance.
My blessedness.
Here, loping, jumping words
tumbling forward, racing around,
trying to make sense of a universe gone mad.

I find writing draws peace into the chaos of me.

Winners!!!!!

Hi, I'm so thrilled to hear that Holly Cupala is the runner up for the WIP grant from SCBWI for contemporary fiction. I'm happy to have high-fived Holly while she was making history. Go check out Brimstone Soup. Kudos to Vijaya Bodach, a HM for WIP grant from SCBWI. She's an awesome writer and in my critique group. I'm honored that both of these brilliant ladies are my friends.

"A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." Anonymous

"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." Bernard Meltzer

My egg is wobbling again. An editor emailed me! All my psychic arghs must have gotten through.

Argh

Did the publisher call (after they called me and said they would be back to me in two days.)

No.

Argh.

So I emailed.

Did the publisher email back.

No.

Argh.

I will examine the upside of all this. I am on the to-do-list.
I will now examine the downside. I am the last thing on the to-d0-list.

Argh.

Struggles

I've just turned in my assignment for an educational publisher. I wrote for adults. Generally write for children. I hooked into the voice of the publisher, but I felt like I was being forced to say simple things in complex language. It was one of the most difficult things I've ever written. I struggled with every line. It's hard to write sensible instructions that are actually readable. Honestly, I don't think I was wildly successful with the whole thing. I will try to begin more intelligently next time.

Here's to all the struggling, hardworking technical writers in the world who have to write mind-numbingly boring text about obscure technical applications in unending techno-jargon with copious footnotes and who want to place the next breakout, mega, multimillion dollar bestseller. You know who you are! I pray the doors open and your treasured novels, written during your breaks, on your lunch hour, and from 2am to 4am, are picked up by world class agents and sold at auction for mucho bucks.


My quote for the day: Failure is the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently.
Henry Ford