Today it is brisk and dark and Miss Julia went to school with her cool new coat, but nothing on her head. I'm fretting over this and also that it's class picture day. Liam's new shirt had a mysterious rip in it that he would only smile about but not explain. Julia's bangs are still growing out from the botched haircut she gave herself a few months ago. I slapped some hair gel on the bangs and stuck a sparkly purple hair bow in there somewhere for distraction. I exchanged Liam's shirt for a pullover with black stripes. If there's a rip, I don't want to know.
Oh, and . . .
Guess I never told you that I sent in a revised partial of The Time Seekers to WiDo a while back. They asked for a full and have now offered me a contract to publish the book.
I know, I know . . . all that fuss I made last spring. Honestly, I think I have grown a lot since then, as a human and as a writer. I've written here, I've written there, I've written everywhere. That doesn't mean my manuscript is perfect. There are a few points WiDo would like me to work on through edits, and I have promised to do my hardest to make it the best darn book possible. So grateful for them taking me on again! But isn't that exiting? I really missed my characters and am so happy I get to fiddle around in their lives again. Thank you, WiDo. I'm thrilled!
Months ago I was taking my usual morning walk with Henry at a nearby park, a time I use for positive contemplation for the day ahead, and it struck me that whatever I write isn't really mine. I mean, it is. But it isn't. It's for you guys. My job is to work as hard as I can and hopefully entertain the masses. First drafts: me. Fun. All subsequent drafts: readers.
I also was dealing with my identity as a writer this past year. There's three in here unfortunately--all me, but different angles of me. One can be more genre-ish with a hint of romance. One's kind of slipstream. And one is very literary. I was trying to decide which one I wanted to be and was very confused the entire time. When I took that walk, I realized that I was all three and not one was better than the other. They're all important, they all make me happy, and they all have value. And then throw in being a musician as well . . . confusing.
But anyway, that's my announcement. Thanks for reading and I wish you a wonderful day today!
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Took my daughter to an ortho today. Perhaps you know the pain . . . money, money, money falling out of you like water. She has a lovely smil...
The most mindless of thrillers (or other genre) is always improved by having some serious intent somewhere, even if the reader misses it. Someone once told me that if you try to write a book without caring about its literary qualities it will be a bad book. I think they're right. I'd add that if you try to write a literary masterpiece without caring about genre, it will be pretentious and boring. I don't know what slipstream is, but if you think it's important, it probably is.
ReplyDeleteI'm really happy to hear you're back on track. I wish I was.
Thanks for saying that, Tom. You made some great points about the genre and literary: it's absolutely true that one is defunct without the other. I know I'm mostly led by my characters which means detail gets lost in favor of voice. That's something I have to work on in later drafts.
DeleteWhat one does and sees helps the writer develop a perspective on life. Writing in dif. genres is stretching the writing muscles.
ReplyDeleteGood point. Thank you, Susan!
DeleteFrom my puny perspective, I believe Susan is absolutely right. And then you take care of two kids, too, and one will have a school picture with a self imposed hair cut to remember. How delightful.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious to see how the picture turns out!
DeleteVery good news Amy. As for the school picture, it's bound to be one she'll treasure (even if it's out of embarrassment).
ReplyDeleteToday our trouble was Julia not knowing where her mittens were. Liam's been wearing mine after losing his last year. Went out and bought them both a new pair and let's hope for the best!
DeleteFantastic news, Amy! And I'm sure the photos will be fab.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Talli!
ReplyDeleteAmy, tell me about botched hair do's! My son gave himself a 'smart front and sides' when he was five - that was on the day before they had the school photo. (Still got the photo). That's fantastic news about 'Time Seekers' - well done. I'm chuffed to bits for you xx
ReplyDeleteYou're so sweet!! I'm happy too : ) About haircuts, I remember coming home from school about third grade or so and going into the bathroom. I thought, my hair looks so dull. So I found the scissors and began to cut myself some new bangs. They didn't look even so I cut and cut and kept cutting until they were all the way up to my scalp. That's when I had that ominous soul crushing realization that I was much worse off than before and would have to go to school the next day. Worse--my mother would come home and ask questions. Oh, so hard being a kid.
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