Deja Vu

September 11, 2008

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“Goals are dreams with deadlines.”

~Diana Scharf Hunt

This morning I sat for my son’s pre-school orientation.

It was the fifth time I’d seen the show.

Last year was the fourth, which is really where this post gets started.

Mia had started Kindergarten a week earlier, and I’d just written her little cupcake of a chapter book.  The only thing I’d laid down besides, was a short story, which I’ve no problem admitting was a spectacular embarrassment to the tongue.

As I sat, trying to remember how things were worded differently the year before, my mind moved to my mental manuscript, and then began to tinker.  

I removed the notebook and pen I happened to have in my lap (a staple now, but a  whim that day) and started to scribble the prologue to what would, later that evening, become the first few pages of my novel.

I’ve been thinking about the novel a lot.  Mostly because that’s what I do when I’m in no way touching it.

It’s true, I’m embarrassed to admit, but I haven’t worked on it in…. oh… about seven weeks.

Since I started Writer Dad, that’s the direction my fingers have danced.

I was in the middle of the third draft, and just kind of left it middling.  I’m tempted to put it aside, so I can write something breezy, which the novel is anything but.  

There are parts that are really good, and parts that are really bad.  

The problem is, I can only sporadically tell them apart.

The book has too many ideas in too little space, and I don’t quite know how to bend them around. 

It was my first attempt at fiction, and I’ve learned a lot since.  

There’s a marvelous gem, but it’s deep in the mine, and I’m unsure if I’m ready to dig.

Sitting in the orientation, realizing that a year had passed since I first put pen to paper for potential, it was clear that I cannot let that world born inside my head, rotate too far from its natural orbit. 

There’s something else too; a steroid to these feelings.

Rita’s getting published.  

That’s BIG time.

There’s been a lot of discussion about her encounter with the publisher.  

I’ll say this.

Imagine we’re holding a bag of five dollar popcorn, watching that scene in the restaurant play out on the screen.  The appropriate music swells the background, and everything’s twinkling and pretty.  

When Rita said, “Oh, I almost forgot to give you this,” then slips the woman her manuscript, we’d feel like applauding.

She handed her words to the right person.  But if they’d been lousy, Rita never would’ve had a deal. 

The lesson here isn’t that publishers can be hornswaggled.  

It’s that when the right person sees the right manuscript, a deal is made.

Which means it’s time for me to get to work.

Writer Dad

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6 Weeks
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{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }

James September 11, 2008 at 10:37 pm

Good luck Writer Dad! I will be eager to read your book someday.

Writer Dad September 11, 2008 at 10:45 pm

Brett: That’s sneaking up on it and pushing it hard for me, but I love the motivation. It’s swift.

James: Thanks James. I’m excited to have you read it.

Rita September 11, 2008 at 10:49 pm

Writer Dad,
I remember both of the Stephen King references - well. And I hear you. What has been done with the shorter books? Can they be your launching point? Remember, Stephen King started with a little book called “Carrie.” “The Stand” and the “Dark Tower Series”came out after he had established himself. Look at what he did with “The Regulators” and “Desperation.” Or the way he parcelled out “The Green Mile.” Talk about a rule breaker! But he was bringing money in. ONLY after having started out small.

You’ll succeed - I know you will. But your opus doesn’t need to come first. Polish what you have. And then the Publsihers will be beating down YOUR door!

Rita

Kyddryn September 12, 2008 at 12:43 am

Fortuna’s blessing upon you, sugar…right place, right time, and the wisdom to find or make them together, at once. Here’s to that perfect moment - it will be there when you’re ready for it.

Hurry up, though - I could use some good reading material (yes, yes, I know you can’t rush these things, but it’s fun to tease).

Shade and Sweetwater,
K (who is just a wee discouraged in her own hunt for that place/time convergence and will happily be distracted by your hunt for yours)

Writer Dad September 12, 2008 at 1:35 am

Rita: Sure they could be used as a starting point. I just need someone to say, “Let me take a look,” or I need to take the time to properly query, which I don’t have. I put querying on hold while I had to wait eight weeks for an agent to take a gander. Out popped Writer Dad and there went all my time. The agent passed, and by passed I mean never got back to me.

Kyddryn: Thanks for always being so nice. I’ll have something soon.

Luis Gross September 12, 2008 at 7:27 pm

Writer Dad,

I know exactly what you mean.

I’m in the same situation, only instead of a novel, it’s my ebook I’m straying away from.

I haven’t touched that thing in well over 2 months. I don’t know what’s going on. It seems the excitement I had when I started it simply vanished, slowly but surely.

I’ve been thinking about whether or not I should get back to it, or whether I should just forget about it. Now this post has me thinking about it even more — thanks for the headache Writer dad :)
Anyway, we need to get to it. You need to get to writing that novel and I have to get to writing that ebook — what do you say, deal?

Luis Grosss last blog post..Should Posts Be Short and To The Point or Long and Detailed?

Writer Dad September 15, 2008 at 12:38 pm

Luis: Get back to your e-book. Shoot me an email and let me know where you’re stuck. Maybe I’ll have an idea.

Pink Ink September 18, 2008 at 11:47 am

First became aware of you on Daily Blog Tips. I love this community!

Anyway, I, too, am in the throes of revising TWO novels. I don’t know what I was thinking. :-) But I can totally relate. Just started blogging in March, and now I really have to clamp down hard on my blogging so I can make time for my novel-writing, which was what started me blogging in the first place. How’s that for irony? Good luck to you!

Pink Inks last blog post..High School Love

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