It is really good to hear that you are settled in and doing about as well as any of us can expect to do these days. I am jealous of the parades. You have my sympathy on the marketing part of being creative. I resented every minute of it. Just remember that all those agents and editors are people who did not have the courage (and skill?) to sit down and actually write a book.
I’m in a similar space with my writing, and you’ve captured the sausage making perfectly. Awaiting feedback from that bird’s eye view to go into next phase of revision. A beagle and a beach sound like the perfect distractions. Mine are a heeler and high desert.
Life goes on. Two more unfinished email drafts waiting for me to figure out how to respond to news of terminal illnesses. The edging on the blanket I have been knitting forever is down to the last two sides. Five large acid free boxes have arrived to sort the family archives into. Lots of bitching about the heat and humidity. Crying over the news. Nothing new to report.
It is more a lot of procrastination. Somehow a walk down Somerville Ave does not equal a walk on the beach for calming the mind and making plans for the day.
Oh what fun to find this slipping into my emails, however, the writing process sounds very much like no fun! It sounds dull and tedious; you must be very passionate to push past that initial writing to keep running through this maze of requirements.
Down here in south Oz it is cold and rainy, I am spending my time planting trees and fighting the endless fight against kikuyu grass, so that I can plant the trees. Endless. Sort of like editing a book and courting agents.
Alice looks like she is having fun though, in fact, P Town continues to look like a lot of fun.
I may or may not have reverted back to Helen, or maybe I'm still Lennie...hard to tell. I started a writing course, thinking it would be fun, for various reasons I stopped and then also deleted my Substack since I hadn't written anything anyway, so who knows which alter ego is responding.
Good luck with all the hard yakka, keep at it. We'll all want to buy that book when it's finally published AND we all want you to keep posting here.
Oh, don't stop writing! It's always so fun to have compatriots in the writing pool. But finding the right course is key so that it's fun and not dreary.
Oh, I won't stop writing, in fact I entered the NYC Flash Fiction comp. I was just put off by this course. I've learnt stuff but it was not fun, not encouraging. So thanks for your encouragement. Watching you write and the fun-ness that is your Substack is inspiring too. Not sure that Substack is where I should be...I used to just have a boring old blog, maybe I'll go back to that.
Anyway, get back to editing, and thanks for taking the time to reply to me. I appreciate it!
We miss you too, Marjie! But I, probably like most your readers, am willing to stick out the drought so you can get those darn edits, restructures, and just-so letters done. I know you can do it!
I loved the dog videos, especially the way the two friends come when called. Ha! What a joke.
I'm glad you can mix the hard labor with social and patio activity. I'm delighted that so many friends and chosen family visit though it makes the book work more challenging.
Good to hear from you! I have missed your stories❤️! Best of luck as you continue with the process. LOVE me some Alice videos! She is just too darn cute💓💞!!
You will both probably understand when I tell you my first response to Char's comment is delight at the correct use of "you're" -- and then, having seen it the other way too many times, wondering if I had misread it!
It is really good to hear that you are settled in and doing about as well as any of us can expect to do these days. I am jealous of the parades. You have my sympathy on the marketing part of being creative. I resented every minute of it. Just remember that all those agents and editors are people who did not have the courage (and skill?) to sit down and actually write a book.
I think of it more as they have their job that I wouldn't want, so more power to them. But the PROCESS is fucking ridiculous,
I enjoyed this a lot! Been wondering why I missed your posts, but now I realize I either missed this, or I had skipped it for some reason or another.
I’m in a similar space with my writing, and you’ve captured the sausage making perfectly. Awaiting feedback from that bird’s eye view to go into next phase of revision. A beagle and a beach sound like the perfect distractions. Mine are a heeler and high desert.
Also lovely!
Marjie:
Just wanted you to know how much Meredith and I enjoy your writing and look forward to each piece of string. Keep em coming!
Thank you!
Can’t wait to enjoy porch hangs with you 🥰
Sooooooon!
Life goes on. Two more unfinished email drafts waiting for me to figure out how to respond to news of terminal illnesses. The edging on the blanket I have been knitting forever is down to the last two sides. Five large acid free boxes have arrived to sort the family archives into. Lots of bitching about the heat and humidity. Crying over the news. Nothing new to report.
These are not easy times. I'm sorry about your friends. And that's a LOT to report on!
It is more a lot of procrastination. Somehow a walk down Somerville Ave does not equal a walk on the beach for calming the mind and making plans for the day.
No it does not.
Thank you. Always love a P-town visit.
It's pretty dreamy here right now.
Oh what fun to find this slipping into my emails, however, the writing process sounds very much like no fun! It sounds dull and tedious; you must be very passionate to push past that initial writing to keep running through this maze of requirements.
Down here in south Oz it is cold and rainy, I am spending my time planting trees and fighting the endless fight against kikuyu grass, so that I can plant the trees. Endless. Sort of like editing a book and courting agents.
Alice looks like she is having fun though, in fact, P Town continues to look like a lot of fun.
I may or may not have reverted back to Helen, or maybe I'm still Lennie...hard to tell. I started a writing course, thinking it would be fun, for various reasons I stopped and then also deleted my Substack since I hadn't written anything anyway, so who knows which alter ego is responding.
Good luck with all the hard yakka, keep at it. We'll all want to buy that book when it's finally published AND we all want you to keep posting here.
Oh, don't stop writing! It's always so fun to have compatriots in the writing pool. But finding the right course is key so that it's fun and not dreary.
Oh, I won't stop writing, in fact I entered the NYC Flash Fiction comp. I was just put off by this course. I've learnt stuff but it was not fun, not encouraging. So thanks for your encouragement. Watching you write and the fun-ness that is your Substack is inspiring too. Not sure that Substack is where I should be...I used to just have a boring old blog, maybe I'll go back to that.
Anyway, get back to editing, and thanks for taking the time to reply to me. I appreciate it!
I can't wait to hear about your NYC Flash Fiction!
We miss you too, Marjie! But I, probably like most your readers, am willing to stick out the drought so you can get those darn edits, restructures, and just-so letters done. I know you can do it!
I loved the dog videos, especially the way the two friends come when called. Ha! What a joke.
I'm glad you can mix the hard labor with social and patio activity. I'm delighted that so many friends and chosen family visit though it makes the book work more challenging.
Good luck! Behind you all the way!
Thanks, friend!
Good to hear from you! I have missed your stories❤️! Best of luck as you continue with the process. LOVE me some Alice videos! She is just too darn cute💓💞!!
Every day I’m mostly glad I haven’t throttled her.
LOL!!
Always love hearing what you are up to. Thank you for the update.
Thanks for keeping up!
You’re such a good writer!
Back atcha, friend
You will both probably understand when I tell you my first response to Char's comment is delight at the correct use of "you're" -- and then, having seen it the other way too many times, wondering if I had misread it!
LOL - so true! And Char is a WAY better writer than I, so it tracks.