Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Are You Still There?

I leaped up from the computer chair, arms akimbo, and bellowed “I am the best writer in the wooooooorld!”

Okay, so I know that my statement was ridiculous, but it’s quite the sensation finishing one’s first novel. I have been working on this project for three years—laying awake till the wee hours of the morning phrasing the next paragraph in my chapter , neglecting my children as I stared blankly at the computer screen, setting aside my blog (which was a little like giving up crack cocaine), —and now it is done…

ish.

Even though it feels like I’ve climbed Mt. Everest, really, I’ve only made it to base camp. Next, I need to snag myself an agent—which is next to impossible—and then my agent needs to snag me a publisher.

I’ve read countless articles of the probability of getting one’s first novel published. They are similar to the odds of finding a human finger in the all-white meat of your crispy Chicken McNugget.

Perhaps that’s why it took me over a month just to write the last four pages of the book. I am not afraid of the inevitable rejections, just that they will ALL be rejections.

“Courage take, Bethany,” I tell myself. “You have beaten the odds before. Remember last year as the X-ray tech looked at the image of your pelvis and saw that your IUD had wigged its way out of your Uterus, do-sa-doed through your abdominals and tethered itself to your fallopian tube. Remember how she said that you had better go and purchase a lottery ticket because the odds of having and IUD predicament such as yours was even less likely than winning the jackpot.

(I only thought it appropriate, given my absence from my blog, to mention something highly inappropriate and dedicate the inappropriateness to my mother, who is now blushing… and not with pride).

Anyhow, now I will dedicate myself to the task of finding an agent. And while finding an agent requires many inquiries, it also requires lots of waiting. And as I wait, instead playing Bejeweled Blitz for hours (as I have been), I thought it might be a better use of my time to pick up my blog again.

Hello old friend. I have missed you

14 comments:

Alesa said...

Blog fans rejoice! Bethany is back!!!

sar said...

we missed you too!

Melanie said...

Welcome back! Can't wait for your inappropriate updates :)

Evan and Rebecca Jones said...

YAY! You're back - I so have missed your fun posts. Oh and good luck with your book - I'll be the 1st in line to buy it.

Jessie said...

So glad you're back! Can't wait to read your book :) P.S. did you know our new daughter Kate's middle name is Bethany? Cool, huh? We just love that name and I thought you'd like to know.

Kristy said...

Hip hip hooray! I was so glad to see your post in my reader this morning!

And the word "akimbo"--now that's a great word to wake up to. :)

Steph Bowen said...

Why were you so lucky to have your IUD do all sorts of movement? Mine just sat there and did nothing. Glad you're back. Congrats on the book.

Audrey said...

I'm thrilled you're back.

Matt said...

I've missed you too.

Dana said...

Oh, I am happy you are back too!

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Kara said...

I am totally routing for you! I really think that you are awesome and I believe that you can and will do great things! Good Luck! Go Bethany's book!

Anonymous said...

This manuscript of yours that has just come back from another editor is a precious package. Don't consider it rejected. Consider that you've addressed it "to the editor who can appreciate my work" and it has simply come back stamped "not at this address." Just keep looking for the right address.~ Barbara Kingsolver

Shauni said...

Oooohhh!!! I MISSED you!! Finally something completely entertaining and hilarious to read again. When do we get to see a draft of the book?