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POST #4:  I AM WRITER, SEE ME STRUT LESS VIGOROUSLY

4/25/2013

4 Comments

 
I did it.  I reached my goal.  But there are fewer exclamation points here, and a lot less strutting going on.

On the plus side, today I didn’t need Deb’s triage system to wrangle my email.  Also on the plus side, the ringer on my phone is not broken.  Or perhaps that’s not such a plus…

TODAY’S GOAL WAS:  finish entering edits into computer; review all 50 pages for formatting, typos and final tweaks

RESULTS:  I started at 930 this morning (a victory in itself) and I eventually reached my goal, but it took the first 3 hours just to get through 5 pages of minor edits (which wasn’t the edits’ fault at all).  I still wasn’t done by 5pm, and I’m sure I would have hung up my writing boots right then, but I’d made such a big deal yesterday, practically guaranteeing I’d reach my goal today, I couldn’t stomach having to come on here and eat my words.  So I finished.  After 10pm.

Picture
HICCUPS:  the washing machine repair man, the Fedex delivery guy, the mail carrier, end-of-season rugby banquet,  intermural volleyball finals

DEMONS:  the telephone.  I really don’t blame the 42 people who called.  Clearly the bored landline demons got word that the email and Facebook demons had been highlighted here yesterday.  They just wanted their moment of fame.  The poor things get so little attention in this digital age.


LESSONS:  it’s difficult to keep your goals when your family, friends and phone demons aren’t aware of them and they interrupt your writing time

GOING FORWARD: 
•make family and friends aware of my scheduled writing time, and get them to buy in on my goals so I don’t get interrupted as often
•share blog addy with Fedex guy and mail carrier so they can follow my progress and avoid my house if I’m behind schedule
•don’t do any more laundry—that in itself will save time, as well as alleviate the need for repairs

TOMORROW’S GOAL:  print new copy of 50 pages and do final review; draft a cover letter to Agent A; send them

EXTRAS:  No, too tired

DISCLAIMERS:  No, to tired

SPEECH BUBBLES:  No, too tired

SLEEP:  zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

4 Comments
Julia Pierce
4/25/2013 11:26:43 pm

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! YA-HOOOO! YOU DID IT!!! This is totally champagne cork popping worthy, even if it's just a cheap split of that champagne with a ship on it whose name escapes me at the moment. This is HUGE, being prepared to query, and demands overt celebration. Seriously. You must do Something over the top to celebrate this milestone.

Reply
Chris Mandeville link
4/26/2013 12:15:48 am

Thanks, Julia! I will definitely celebrate today after sending the submission to Agent A. But then my nose is heading back to the grindstone because Agent B and Agent C requested FULL manuscripts. There's still work to be done. But I do appreciate the reminder to celebrate achievements big, small, and in between. And I also appreciate that you left a comment -- I'm so excited I have at at least 2 readers (you and Karen Lin) besides my mom!

Reply
Martha Lancaster
4/26/2013 10:13:49 am

And with the bar Chris has in her house, she'll have no problem celebrating. Right, Chris?

Reply
Chris Mandeville
4/26/2013 10:23:44 am

The Wretched Pun Pub is a not-well-kept secret. Homebrewed rootbeer on tap, and coffee served 24-7. But today's accomplishment may warrant bringing out the big guns. Can anyone say rootbeer float? (Read Blog post 5 to find out what I am celebrating)




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    Chris Mandeville is the president of Delve Writing and a writer of "new adult" novels and a non-fiction project for writers. 

    This is the chronicle of her journey to define and achieve her writing goals.

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