Shades of Gray

I got over a thousand words – and good ones – written last night. This laptop thing is working beautifully. Issue 71 is almost complete and I plan to finish issue 72 of the serial tonight.

A writing colleague won Wildchild Publishing’s Editors Choice Award for March for her short story Age Difference. She beat out some pretty strong competition to win the prize.

Congratulations Marlys!

I got an inquiry from an agent as a result of my Publishers Marketplace webpage. She requested the first chapter of my novel. A novel which is on its second re-write and I don’t plan on having the final copy completed until the end of October 2005. I can’t rush this one. It has the potential to be great . . . no, really!

I looked on my PM page and looked for any indication of the story being finished and ready to query. I could find nothing and one phrase in the bio section even says “. . . she is busy working on her second novel . . .”

I can’t help but think I’ve misrepresented my product somehow. I wrote the agent a polite note saying that the work would not be completed until the end of October but Chapter 1 is pretty much set. I hope this agent wasn’t misled. At least I feel better letting her know. I updated my webpage to avoid any further confusion.

That brings me to this gray area. I suppose I feel so bad because I’m usually so black and white. Either it is right or it’s wrong. Either it’s ethical or it isn’t. But so many situations don’t fit neatly into either area, hence the gray. The PM Webpage is designed to “sell” but was I wrong to mention my novel when it wasn’t completed to my satisfaction? I’m torn.

Backspace has a new blog:

http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/KarenDionne/

It’s probably one of the most energetic and informative blogs on writing. I read quite a few of those popular blogs and they are more negative than positive. I realize there is much heartache and misery in the publishing industry and all writers need to accept the struggle for the long haul, but it is nice to read some enthusiasm once in a while. Great job Karen and Chris.

Sometimes I read articles that make me breathe a sigh of relief that I'm a woman living in a free country. This day it was in pictures and commentary from the BBC's In Pictures.

I am thankful my mom had to ability to raise me to have an opinion and a strong sense of self worth - and not marry me off as the third wife to some decrepid dirt farmer. I am thankful I have the right to vote, freedeom to tell someone to kiss my ass, and the means to pursue my dreams - and not hide behind a veil where any glimpse of my skin by a stranger could mean a public death of stoning.

I am thankful I have the education and the ability to provide for my children. I am thankful to be able to raise strong-willed and intelligent daughters who will not become a victim of male hostility. I am thankful I have kind and considerate sons are being raised to respect all people, regardless of gender, raced or religion. I teach them to look beneath the exterior to discover true character. This is my contribution to the furtherance of equality worldwide.

Well, after driving my BIL to the airport, picking up the kids and driving to MILs and leaving Thing 2 (Lara, may I borrow?) to stay with her, driving Thing 1, 3 and 4 back home, driving to Parent-Teacher conferences, driving back home to pick up Thing 1,3,4, driving back to MIL’s, driving Thing 3 to softball practice (Thing 4 had to come and bring his scooter), driving back to MILs house after hubby takes over at softball practice to heat up dinner, driving back home to pick up Thing 1 who insisted on going to a friends house, driving back over to MILs house with a starving Thing 1, and finally driving home to stay with all Things around 8:30 pm.

I need to put GAS in the truck.