Chapter 2 of book 2, and I’m pulling my hair out.
It’s not plot device, or even grammar. It’s a combination of incursions on my already-limited writing time, coupled with discovering I’ve got yet ANOTHER reformat to do. Thanks to Dangerspouse, I’ve finally pinned down my publication venue. It’s a traditional publisher that also offers self-publication. Theirs is the only publication outlet I found that hits ALL the outlets: Amazon, the Apple store, Barnes & Noble, and so on. They have the option to pick up your work, which is the best of all worlds. Part of the deal is that you have to review the work of other budding authors. If what I’m reviewing is any indication, I think there’s a real possibility I’ll be picked up for traditional publication. My friend Lisagh was so low on self-esteem when it came to her writing, I had her sign up and start reviewing so she’d understand the difference. I have talked about her work needing work, and we’re going through to fine-tune it; but compared to a lot of these folks, she’s a flipping genius. At least now she sees it too. She said so far she hasn’t found a book to review where she can even make it through the first chapter. I was lucky enough to stumble on a short story. I think I would have given up altogether on a longer piece, given the general quality (or lack thereof) of material to review.
It makes you appreciate the frustration our teachers experience, and shake your head at the degree of illiteracy even among the supposedly literate. Fellow bloggers: if you have the tenacity to write and finish a book, rejoice. Your competition sucks, which theoretically gives you a decent shot at publication.
My own book is still on hold while I’m waiting for the cover art, which is in progress. I’m tamping down my impatience because Lisagh is swapping artwork for my edit of her book, and neither can be rushed. Furthermore, I’ve seen her artwork and know it will be worth the wait. It’s for my book, though, dammit, hence the impatience!
Things are getting real very fast. I just downloaded the direct-deposit form from the publisher and have to mail it off. To see this dream coming around, finally, is surreal.
Little Guy and his mommy (my younger daughter) are here. They were here night before last and again last night. I can”t say I’m too surprised. The only surprise is that my daughter made it this far without either stalking out or killing her ex. I spent hours of prime writing time this week editing her school papers, and now spending time with Little Guy. I love Little Guy, don’t get me wrong – it’s just not feasible to do anything creative while he’s here, because he demands attention. That’s pretty normal for a 2-year-old, and he’s only now starting to get into the contrary stage. We’ll have about a year of wanting to throttle him, before he settles down again. Hopefully daughter can get him into preschool when he’s 4-ish or so. He’ll love it.
I’m not complaining too much. I adore my grandson and you can’t be unhappy while he’s around. He’s a sweetie.
The flip side of all this is my older daughter. She has descended into her own world, and her world is increasingly disconnected from the real world. She stopped taking her meds a while back, and I’m no longer convinced that any kind or amount of medication can help her, when it comes down to it. It’s that bad. I worry about my grandson being there. While she hasn’t gone to the point I think she would harm him directly, he literally lives alone in his room, with zero social interaction from either of his parents. This is a little boy who’s not quite 3 years old. He still can’t talk and doesn’t cuddle, and doesn’t show any interest in other people. It’s bad enough that were I not physically incapacitated, I think I would be petitioning the courts for custody. If I can ever become a full-time writer so I don’t have to do the daily commute, I may insist on having him at least two days a week, disability be damned. I’d want him here with Little Guy so we could show him normal interactions, even if it means hiring help for safety reasons. (I can’t chase little ones if they duck out the door.)
Life is never easy, is it? We just take one day at a time, luxuriate in the sweet things and hold onto what matters, and do our best to cope with the rest.