My Mission Statement

I write to serve, to unite, to educate. I write to share literature and flesh out ideas that may be of interest to others. I write to document an emotion, experience, or a blip in time. My mission is to write in such a way that the reader is reminded that we can find humor in all situations. It's one of the great blessings of life.


Saturday, January 31, 2009

Rejection of Sorts

So I received another rejection letter today--kind of. What I actually received in the mail was a copy of my manuscript (obviously sent by me to someone) with no note, letter, return address anything. And here's the confusing part, it was postmarked SCRANTON, PA. What???? So I guess I don't even merit a FORM LETTER at this agency? I only have a few subs out, about half a dozen, but now I don't know who that one was from. Anyway, somehow it felt like I'd reached a new low. But that's okay, just one more letter to show on my school visits one day to tell the kids to keep trying.

WE had OM today for five hours. The kids kicked it. They were really awesome. I just cheer them on.

I felt terrible all day yesterday, but today I feel totally better, just tired. Thankfully, no one else seems to be feeling badly, so I'm wondering if it was just something I ate. Isn't this a fascinating post? I mean, really? I know you're dying to know all about this...

So I finished another book last night. I'm not going to write about it because I didn't care for it. BUt it's been nominated for awards, 'author to watch', etc., but this book just wasn't that well-written. I don't know any other way to say it. So it frustrated me, the sloppiness of it all, you know? And the thank you in the back to the agent is an agent who has a manuscript of mine right now (unless she was the nameless rejector). Interesting...so if this agent wants to represent my book (miracle of miracles), do I want her to, given the sloppiness of the one I just finished?

It's a gorgeous day here, crisp and about 40 degrees. I'm in the house with just my twelve-year-old, and she won't play scrabble with me. (I love scrabble) The house is relatively clean, and I don't have a good new book. Isn't that insane? Because it's the perfect set up. I want to snuggle up, maybe start a fire, and READ!! How can I live in a town without a good independent book store?

So I finished the other picture book manuscript this week, and I feel pretty good about it. I submitted it to one of the editors I met at Chautauqua where she's requested an exclusive for 8 weeks, so I wait. She's a fabulous editor, and I dare to hope....Meanwhile I need to get the other one out a bit more. And I'm going to revisit my Nano novel this week and finish it!! I could probably re-nano and finish it in a couple of weeks. That would be pretty good. Then revisit my other novel since I haven't laid eyes on it in ages. By the time I finish that one, the other one will be ready to edit. So that's my plan. Hold me accountable, folks. I've never worked so hard for so little, er, no money in my life.

xoxox Have a great week-end. I promise to try to come up with something for interesting to say next time.

3 comments:

Dorothy said...

Bummer re Scranton. Who is there? anybody on your list? Only clue I can think of to figure things out.

re bookstores. Amazon is pretty fast. Of course you have to think ahead and sometimes you just want a book right now.

All the rejections might have lowered your immune system. Be careful and take lots of Vit C.

I'm really impressed with your fortitude and diligence getting these things sent out. You'll make it one of the days. Don't lose hope--or spirit.

Anonymous said...

Could Scranton be anyone associated with Highlights? Their office is in a tiny town near there. Maybe someone messed up and forgot to put the critique letter in with manuscript. It could happen. I once got two rejections for the same book. About a year apart. Now there's a nice ego booster...we don't like your book so much, we had to tell you TWICE.
--Jody

Write2ignite said...

The pain of a rejection without actually knowing who sent it is wrong on so many levels! I don't even know that I'd call it a rejection if there's no sender. Yep. Just call it a "non-acceptance" by a "nobody" and there you go. It's now classified as nothing. Not a rejection. not an acceptance. Just another blip on your way to success!! :)

Glad you're feeling better. I love scrabble, too. Too bad you're not closer! ;)

hugs,
Donna


Isabel by Donna Jones Koppelman

Isabel by Donna Jones Koppelman

Major Bear at the Grove Park Inn by Donna Jones Koppelman

Major Bear at the Grove Park Inn by Donna Jones Koppelman