Being brave...or not.

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Published by: Kim on 29th Apr 2009 | View all blogs by Kim

Well, that time has come. A time we prospective writers both look forward to and that fills us with foreboding. A time of excitement, anticipation, heartache, concern, self gratification, self doubt, joy, sadness, hope and anxiety...But what to do next? Which voice in your head do you listen to?

Do you actually insert the freshly printed off second re-write laying on your desk next to the two covering letters; one to Harry; one to the Editor, into the envelope, affix the postage and send them off? The letters are dated after all, so it makes no sense for you to have to redo them. Or do you give it one last onceover? You did give it one last onceover yesterday... and the day before if it comes to that. Okay, so you’ve been dithering for weeks, admit it.

With the feedback you’ve had so far, is it now the best it can be? In truth you have no idea because you’re exhausted and all out of ideas on how to improve it further. You hope so. You think so. You believe you’ve ticked the boxes on the Editor’s to do list but what do you know? You’ve now read the bloomin’ SP so many times that the words have lost much of their meaning. The funny parts bring barely a titter and the sad parts fail to draw a tear anymore; relentless repetition has taken its toll.

Right, so that’s it then. Only one thing for it. You’ll send it. Decision made.

Or...You could just read it through one more time, just to make sure?

“God Almighty, just send it off woman!”

Who said that?...There’s no need to shout.

Comments

24 Comments

by Chanty 2 years ago

Send it, hon... You feel you've done your best - send it.
by Lizzy 2 years ago

Ooh I know how you feel. I think we all do...probably! I should just send it if I were you. I have had a couple of rejections but I am fairly philosophical about it these days and have developed a rhino's thick skin.

Good luck!
by Tony 2 years ago

Lovely Kim. Best of luck.
by kaz 2 years ago

go girl! and all the best kim, i'll cross everything i can for you x
by Aiyla 2 years ago

Send it off, and open a bottle of something nice. Good luck!
by Sumayya 2 years ago

Just. Send. It. Now.
by Skylark 2 years ago

Hope you've sent it by now! Good luck - I know exactly how you feel!
by Alannah 2 years ago

Oh god, I can just imagine how this must feel. Eventually, I'll get to that point one day and I'll be just as nervous as you.

Hope you sent it and good luck!
by John Taylor 2 years ago

Come on, put us out of our misery!
HAVE YOU SENT IT?
by Kim 2 years ago

Oh guys. I'm really touched. Thank you so much for all your messages of support and encouragement. In answer to your question...YES. It's gone off today. Argh!
by Spangles 2 years ago

Good luck, Kim. It's a terrifying business, I know. My fingers are crossed for you.
by Kim 2 years ago

Thank you Spangles!
by Kenty 2 years ago

Send it-they can only sack you-'so what' will anyone be worried about it in 20 years-go on young lady; go out and get what you have dreamed of- it's yours. : )
by Kim 2 years ago

Kenty, I feel inspired. Thanks. :o)
by AgaSaga 2 years ago

Fingers crossed for you Kim. Have you started your next one!?
by John Taylor 2 years ago

Good luck, Kim. :)
by Kim 2 years ago

Thank you all. I can really feel all the good vibes travelling through the ether which is kind of just as well as I'm feeling a little queezy. Nerves I think. In truth, I'm probably expecting a 'close but no cigar' comment. But we'll see.
AgaSaga, yep, the next one is forty minutes in.
But no theme yet.
:o(
by Spangles 2 years ago

Think positive!
by Kim 2 years ago

Okie dokie. Will do. :o))))
by Kim 2 years ago

Just thought that I would let you all know that I've heard from my editor.

Mixed views. Close but no cigar sums it up pretty much.

He said that he liked a great deal of it and that it had a lot to offer, but that if it were sent off in its present form it would be unlikely to be seen as good enough to be taken up by a production company. It would, though, be noted as showing talent and potential.

This is a huge leap forward for me from the last draft and I'm trying to view it as such, although of course I'm bitterly disappointed. Not sure where to go from here. I'm not sure that I have the wherewithal to produce any better. Hmm....

A case of watch this space, perhaps.

Thank you all again for your support throughout. It meant a great deal.

Happy writing.

Kim
by Caducean Whisks 2 years ago

Kim, Congratulations on positives and commiserations on negatives. I won't come up with any platitudes about picking yourself up and starting again, because you know all that and you've had a thumbs up anyway, which is good. There's nothing wrong in being nice to yourself for a bit, so have a wallow - I would! Then when the time is right, well, you know. Whisks
by Tony 2 years ago

Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Kim. It's very helpful for those of us with great aspirations and minor setbacks all still to come! Not quite 'triumph and disaster' perhaps, but you've shown us how to treat those two imposters just the same. We can take our inspiration from you.
Write on!
by Pimlicokid 2 years ago

Kim,

Hang in there, 'once down is no battle'.
by Kim 2 years ago

What kind people roam on this Cloud. Thank you. :o)