What a day. The morning started off stressful with me thinking about all the things I still have left to do (AWP papers still to write, preparations to make for AWP, the dissertation introduction--which is the bane of my existence right now--that I need to finish). Lordy, I knew these introductions were everyone's least favorite thing to write, but this is my third complete rewrite of the thing, and I am just ready for it to be done. Then, there's job applications and then those pesky agent rejections that are coming in (the query rejections aren't so bad as the ones for a full manuscript, but more on that later).
Then, the day brightened so much when I got in the car to drive to campus. Unknown to me, my husband had gone out and bought the soundtrack to the Les Mis movie, put it in my CD player, and set it to my favorite song. When it first started playing as I started up the car, I thought it strange that the radio was playing it, but then saw that it was coming from the CD player. He is so sweet :) I can't believe how lucky I am, sometimes!
So with broadway tunes blasting, I drove to campus and taught one of the best classes ever. I know I say this all the time about how much I love my students, but this is a truly wonderful group. Many of them are juniors and seniors and have had classes together before, so they already have a sort of camaraderie together. The chemistry is awesome, because everyone participates and is eager to be part of the conversation. We barely got through half of the lesson today, just because we were having such a great discussion if that tells you anything!
It's amazing how much of a high a great class session will give you. It's one of the reasons I love teaching so much.
It even helped lessen the sting of an agent's rejection of one of my full manuscripts that I got when I came home--and a form rejection no less. I do admire this agent's speed at getting back to me, though, (five days to read the full).
Then, the day brightened so much when I got in the car to drive to campus. Unknown to me, my husband had gone out and bought the soundtrack to the Les Mis movie, put it in my CD player, and set it to my favorite song. When it first started playing as I started up the car, I thought it strange that the radio was playing it, but then saw that it was coming from the CD player. He is so sweet :) I can't believe how lucky I am, sometimes!
So with broadway tunes blasting, I drove to campus and taught one of the best classes ever. I know I say this all the time about how much I love my students, but this is a truly wonderful group. Many of them are juniors and seniors and have had classes together before, so they already have a sort of camaraderie together. The chemistry is awesome, because everyone participates and is eager to be part of the conversation. We barely got through half of the lesson today, just because we were having such a great discussion if that tells you anything!
It's amazing how much of a high a great class session will give you. It's one of the reasons I love teaching so much.
It even helped lessen the sting of an agent's rejection of one of my full manuscripts that I got when I came home--and a form rejection no less. I do admire this agent's speed at getting back to me, though, (five days to read the full).
On one hand, I don't want to share the rejections, because if any of the agents happen to see my blog, I want them to see that it's still a viable story that I'm trying to sell, but on the other hand, I think it's important to note how the real process of writing and publishing goes--there are rejections, and so many of them, before you get an acceptance.
One the bright side, I still have three fulls out there, so I can hold out hope. When I texted my husband about the rejection, he told me that I only need one to accept. Just one, and he is right. The right one will come along--I just have to wait.
Your husband rocks!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about the disappointment. Still, I got a little laugh out of this:
"Fiction, as I’m sure you know, is just about the toughest thing to sell in the current marketplace."
Ever tried to sell a book of poetry? Hee hee.
I know you are going to find the right match for you at the right time. It WILL happen.
You are so right! Agents won't even look at poetry, so I can only imagine how hard it is to sell!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the support, Sandy :) We should pencil in a time to meet at AWP! I'm making plane reservations tonight!
Yes, send me an email with some times that might work for you and I'll check against my plans. We will find a good time to chat in Boston!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your recent rejections--Robert has been telling me the same thing lately. It only takes one yes. And that's so true...but it can really suck to be surrounded by a lot of no's. I am positive that all of us who know and love you will one day get to brag in a bookstore, "See this book? I know her." And I'm glad that you are surrounded by a lot of supportive people, especially your husband. I love that he surprised you with the CD! Which is your favorite song? I've been thinking about getting the CD, too. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet, Amanda :) I am fortunate to have such great friends and family around me!
ReplyDeleteThe song was set to "On My Own" which is one of the only songs I'll sing on karaoke :) I liked "I Dreamed A Dream," too, in the movie, but the beginning of that one is quiet, and my husband wanted me to hear the music in the car right as I started it. It's a fun CD--not as good as the stage cast ones, but some of the songs are still fun to sing along to :)