It makes sense that you have a literal enlarged heart, as you are one of the biggest hearted people I know! Cold comfort, I'm sure, and no one wants a metaphor to come to life and mess with them. If there is any justice in this world you will be reading and writing for at least another 50 years, and I hope to continue to be your lucky reader. What is wrong with these agents? Why aren't they taking on my favorite Catherine Elcik novels? Life is full of mysteries.
I'm so glad this story has a happy ending, Cathy! What a harrowing and exhausting time you went through and have come out the other side to write about here! Sending a virtual coffee ☕️ and a hug from Pasadena!
The internet and culture are obviously broken, given that my Inbox didn't receive the piece I actually needed to read but did snag hold of the many ads I've unsubscribed from again and again! (And, of course, your difficulty in finding an agent for your incredible new book is yet more evidence.) It's so wonderful to be reading you again! Long live your heart and the anti-veil. (And "I don't give a flying Icarus" should be a new cultural catchphrase.) Love you, Lady!
You are a brave woman. I applaud each step you take after the last one didn't lead where you hoped it would! We are such complex beings. I too have had a trying year and being unable to write (and a few other things) tore up my sense of self, of identity. I'm crawling back with a lot of help and wish you more steps, however tiny and infrequent. Godspeed! (the good kind of god, haha)
Oh my cuz!!! (Insert hug here) If company will help, I would LOVE to meet you for coffee, give that hug in person, and then just sit there and say absolutely nothing in companionable silence. :-) If anything else will help more, don't hesitate to ask.
Coffee sounds great! If I come up your way, do I get to meet Hobbes? Is Hobbes four months yet? If you're willing to trek my way, we could meet up at Shiloh's happy place: https://www.park9dogbar.com/
The "like" button (appropriately? shaped like a heart) is far too insufficient for my reaction to this piece, Cathy. Most of all, I am relieved and glad that things are looking better for your massive-in-all-the-best-symbolic-ways heart. And I'm also riveted to read more detail about this scary journey you've been on. (You are, as ever, a storyteller.)
Sandboxing is my term for all the intuitive dreaming I do as I'm exploring a new book. And by explore I mean before I even know what the story is I play around with this charcter or this scene or seeing where a funny snatch of dialogue ends up. It's like tuning into the world of that book and seeing what themes come up and which plot lines start to take route. I basically end up toggling between trying tp dig in and figure out who the character is and giggling over some silly tangent I will likely cut that helps me understand the character. If I am doing it right, it feels like I'm taking dictation from a broadcast in my mind...ish. The dreaming part comes in when you ask questions to take the snippet deeper.
Any order I put to the intuitive chaos is only possible because I let myself play with the idea like a kid pushing dirt around in a sandbox . It's not the most efficient process, but I've tried all the outline first methods and 100 percent of the time it results in scenes that feel like a rock song with no drums. Heartless.
Querying is sending pitch letters to agents that include a short teaser for your book, comp titles for marketing and a quick bio. These one-page letters are called queries, and they are personalized to agents who all have their own guidelines for how many sample pages they want. If the agents like what they see they request a partial or a full manuscript. If they don't they either ghost you or send a rejection.
It makes sense that you have a literal enlarged heart, as you are one of the biggest hearted people I know! Cold comfort, I'm sure, and no one wants a metaphor to come to life and mess with them. If there is any justice in this world you will be reading and writing for at least another 50 years, and I hope to continue to be your lucky reader. What is wrong with these agents? Why aren't they taking on my favorite Catherine Elcik novels? Life is full of mysteries.
I'm so glad this story has a happy ending, Cathy! What a harrowing and exhausting time you went through and have come out the other side to write about here! Sending a virtual coffee ☕️ and a hug from Pasadena!
Thank you!
The internet and culture are obviously broken, given that my Inbox didn't receive the piece I actually needed to read but did snag hold of the many ads I've unsubscribed from again and again! (And, of course, your difficulty in finding an agent for your incredible new book is yet more evidence.) It's so wonderful to be reading you again! Long live your heart and the anti-veil. (And "I don't give a flying Icarus" should be a new cultural catchphrase.) Love you, Lady!
You are a brave woman. I applaud each step you take after the last one didn't lead where you hoped it would! We are such complex beings. I too have had a trying year and being unable to write (and a few other things) tore up my sense of self, of identity. I'm crawling back with a lot of help and wish you more steps, however tiny and infrequent. Godspeed! (the good kind of god, haha)
Oh my cuz!!! (Insert hug here) If company will help, I would LOVE to meet you for coffee, give that hug in person, and then just sit there and say absolutely nothing in companionable silence. :-) If anything else will help more, don't hesitate to ask.
Coffee sounds great! If I come up your way, do I get to meet Hobbes? Is Hobbes four months yet? If you're willing to trek my way, we could meet up at Shiloh's happy place: https://www.park9dogbar.com/
God, what a scary year. Bravo to you for getting through it, and again for sharing it so movingly.
The "like" button (appropriately? shaped like a heart) is far too insufficient for my reaction to this piece, Cathy. Most of all, I am relieved and glad that things are looking better for your massive-in-all-the-best-symbolic-ways heart. And I'm also riveted to read more detail about this scary journey you've been on. (You are, as ever, a storyteller.)
Thanks, lady!
Your heart is not stupid, sweets. Your heart is a warrior, stubbornly hanging in there. As are you. Admiration and love.
1. Fantastic job surviving, my friend! A+!
2. I love the format of your update, I love the words, I love the meaning. It’s very clever and heartfelt.
3. What is sandboxing?
4. What is querying?
Thanks, lady!
Sandboxing is my term for all the intuitive dreaming I do as I'm exploring a new book. And by explore I mean before I even know what the story is I play around with this charcter or this scene or seeing where a funny snatch of dialogue ends up. It's like tuning into the world of that book and seeing what themes come up and which plot lines start to take route. I basically end up toggling between trying tp dig in and figure out who the character is and giggling over some silly tangent I will likely cut that helps me understand the character. If I am doing it right, it feels like I'm taking dictation from a broadcast in my mind...ish. The dreaming part comes in when you ask questions to take the snippet deeper.
Any order I put to the intuitive chaos is only possible because I let myself play with the idea like a kid pushing dirt around in a sandbox . It's not the most efficient process, but I've tried all the outline first methods and 100 percent of the time it results in scenes that feel like a rock song with no drums. Heartless.
Querying is sending pitch letters to agents that include a short teaser for your book, comp titles for marketing and a quick bio. These one-page letters are called queries, and they are personalized to agents who all have their own guidelines for how many sample pages they want. If the agents like what they see they request a partial or a full manuscript. If they don't they either ghost you or send a rejection.