Hack Job, Harriet the Spy, and Don't Even Ask
I find myself unwilling to give up an hour or so to go to the beauty salon for a haircut. So I chopped my own hair a few days ago. Yesterday, someone I barely know said, "I LOVE your haircut!"
Harriet the Spy: How did I go all my life without reading this book? I started it a couple of nights ago, and I'm savoring every bit of it. Harriet is one of my favorite types of characters--independent, adventurous (all that breaking and entering!), and smart. The interior dialogue is thoughtful and analytical.
Insomnia has returned over the past few nights, and I was still awake at 1:30 am. I groped for my book light and opened Harriet, forcing myself to read slowly. It took great discipline for me to save the last thirty pages for tonight.
Here's my favorite quote from the book: "Writers don't care what they eat. They just care what you think of them." (Sport to Harriet regarding his dad.) HA! So true! Especially since I understand it as "They care only how you esteem their work."
Sometimes people ask how's my writing going. I still love saying, "I sold my book!" which is how I say it. But here's how I think it: OMG! I sold my bookISOLDMYBOOK! These same people ask a few innocent questions, and then I'm off, giving them my two sentence pitch, telling them how I always wanted to be a writer, how I used to be a technical writer (at this point, I'm telling myself Shut up, already! yet I don't--I'm too excited about the whole thing--I have to hear it again!). I told my sister Don't even ask me about the writing unless you have an unscheduled block of time.
That's all for now. Hope all your writing is going well.
9 comments:
Shout out 'I sold my book', as much and as loud as you want - it is a fabulous achievement and your excitement just bursts off the page.
It's rather a sadness to me that as "adults" we have to keep our excitement on a short leash, have to pretend to be cool and languid about it when we really want to shout out about what is exciting us. I have a hard time being cool.
When I sell mine I'm going to do a little jig every time someone gives the opportunity so shout all you want.
Sweetie, I'll be wearing a placard and carrying a sign every time I leave home announcing, "I SOLD MY BOOK!!!" when it's my turn. I may even make myself a dozen or so t-shirts with that announcement so I can wear one every day. Maybe twice if I sleep in one.
*teeny voice* I haven't read Harriet the Spy yet. */tv* I have a feeling Miss Mama and I will love it too. I'll add it to my library list right now!
D, it always makes me happy to visit your blog. Thanks for that. XOXO
Shout it to the world...I know I will when I sell my first book...
I agree with Charles...why should we keep our excitement in just because we are adults...If you were 10 years old and won the spelling bee, we adults would be asking you to spell everything and you would gladly do it...so why can't we adults get excited about something that happens to us...I say...JUMP! YELL! and TELL EVERYONE!!!
Self-done haircuts are the bee's knees.
I've never read Harriet the Spy! But I'd heard enough of her at young age to start spying on people and writing down everything they did. I gave it up quickly. Didn't have the stick-to-itiveness. Love that quote from it though!
And I agree with everyone else! YOU SOLD YOUR BOOK!!!! You should be shouting that from the rooftops until your voice is hoarse and then put on the shirt that says I SOLD MY BOOK! for when that happens!! Hold onto that excitement!! You've worked hard and long and you deserve it. I can't wait to see Violet on shelves, point to it, and tell everyone how awesome you are!
I want to shout "Danette sold her book" too! I can't wait to read it!
Thanks, you guys. Group hug and high fives for all of our accomplishments!
I echo Ello's comment: when I see your book on the shelf here, you can count on me pointing out to anyone around that I know you and know it will be good. Go on: be proud and noisy about it -- I've seen you over at Verla Kay's and I know just how much you've put into getting published.
The writing is going well, but the rejection letters are going even better. I got a real whopper the other day, when I was expecting quite the opposite. Believe me, when I sell my book, you won't catch me hiding my joy. I don't give a hang how old I am, I'll bore the socks off anyone dumb enough to ask me (in fake- sympathetic, solicitous tones in the case of my in-laws) how the writing is going.
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