This evening I missed a lecture on forensics that I was particularly keen to attend. I couldn't find the venue and nor could about five different police officers I asked to help me. (By this time I'd become peripherally embroiled in a huge demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament - hence the significant police presence). Not a good evening.
Unusually, I read my horoscope in the paper on my train journey home. "Do you really need to go?" the horoscope asked. "Why do you put yourself through these things?" Why am I doing all this? I asked myself. What am I doing?
When I arrived home, I realised I hadn't found the venue because I'd looked up the wrong address. That didn't help my mood... Just as I was feeling really miserable, I found an email inviting me to talk about Cut Short at a literary festival.
So I can stop feeling sorry for myself - for this evening, at least.
Is writing a roller coaster for everyone, or am I just unhinged?
21 comments:
Writing is definitely a roller coaster, and it sits on a ferris wheel, which is purchased shakily on the back of a go-cart racing around a figure 8 track.
Definitely, a Roller Coaster ... but an upside down one.
Definitely a roller coaster and as we go loop the loop we leave our stomachs on the floor, and in the case of the crime writer spread over the street surrounded by little yellow triangles.
Well done on your invitation, how exciting to be asked to speak at a festival.
Glad your evening ended on a high note though.
Love the image, Charles - as usual.
and inside out, Aggie . . .
Thanks, Mel. I'm waiting to see if it comes to anything but it certainly cheered me up last night. Got to take this roller coaster one day at a time!
Thanks, Debs. Some days I'm just glad when they're over. This weather doesn't help... snow sleet ice
Rough night! We can strive to control the ups and downs while writing. Maybe the publishing part is the roller coaster.
Is that part of the appeal of writing, Bernard? Are writers all control freaks? What's that? Did someone say: "Speak for yourself"?
Controlling the plot is about all we have, Leigh, and the editors won't even quit picking at that. :)
That's true, Bernard, because even the d*** characters won't always do what we intend, but insist on going their own way, doing their own thing.
Hey, great that you are invited to read at a festival. Nervous?
Hi, Monique - the festival's just pencilled in - I don't even know if I'll be able to make the date. I'm just going to wait and see. I'll keep you posted. But it was exciting to be invited.
As for nerves, Monique - Before I give any author talks expect some panicky posts on my blog asking for help - what on earth do I say???!!!
Sounds like a Roller Coaster. So much for 'ask a policeman'.Good luck with the talk. I think, if we are becoming superstitious here, that is a good omen.
I'm not superstitious but . . . sometimes there do seem to be weird coincidences, don't there?
Congratulations on the invite.
Writing like a rollercoaster? Some days, yes; others, no. I think finding an agent fits better because you're all excited when they ask for a partial, then down you go when they don't want the full. As for editors, they push, pull and poke to get you to change something you feel is integral to the story, so that in effect is like being on a rollercoaster.
Writing, no, but trying to make it in the world, literary or not, yes it's a roller coaster. Great about the invite which will be another roller coaster of course.
Hi Barbara - I haven't yet managed to find an agent. I did write to a few about 18 months ago, but no luck. I've decided try again - I'll keep you posted. Not holding my breath.
As for editors - a bit of a sorry tale in my case, through no fault of my own. I'm not sure what's happening now, daren't even ask.
If it actually happens, Eryl. I'm so in awe of anyone who manages to fight and ferret their way through this whole publishing process.
Why is everything so complicated? (see my next post)
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