Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Warning: To Prevent Injury, Proceed with Caution and without Expectations

I may have mentioned on here before that when I got laid off from my advertising job in 2003, I wrote a book. Two hundred and thirteen pages of chick lit. It was more of a catharsis woven into a story, but the people who read it still told me it was quite entertaining.

Over the next 4 years, I edited it, wrote a query letter and decided to send it to a few literary agents. Yes, I'm slow moving...I think most people do that sort of stuff right away when they finish a manuscript. I was too busy trying to conquer the online dating world.

Anyway, I queried four agents and two of them wrote me back—one asking for an extended synopsis and the other my entire manuscript. This is SO easy, I thought. I couldn't figure out why more people weren't getting books published if I was going to end up with an agent so quickly.

I packaged up my giant manuscript with a little note and a piece of turquoise twine. And then I waited. I don't remember how long it took. But I received a letter back thanking me for my submission and explaining that the novel was too slow, too drawn out and too long.

I packed it away in a cupboard and have looked at it again only once.

Some would say that's a defeatist attitude, but the truth is, I sort of lost steam on my book's content. I'd rather work on my next idea now...

I learned yesterday that getting your hopes up about real estate is much like getting your hopes up about book publishing. Not A Good Idea.

Just as I had been when I sent off my manuscript, I was certain that the offer I put on a house would go through. It seemed like it was totally in the bag.

It was not.


I suppose I should be happy to have garnered some experience and learned this valuable lesson so that next time I find a house I like, I don't have the expectation I'm actually going to get it. But really, I'm just annoyed and a little bummed out. Back to the drawing board...

12 comments:

megabrooke said...

aww melissa, im sorry it didn't work out as you'd hoped. i know it doesn't feel this way right now, but i just think this means that something even more fabulous and "you" is out there ready to fall into your lap. keep thinking positive!

(can i read your book?!)

Sizzle said...

Isn't that the way of life? We get our hopes up because of course! we want to believe good is coming and our wishes want to come true and then... we get suckered punch. It's the times in between the punches that make us go back for more.

From what I have learned watching loved ones go through the real estate roller coaster, it's best to strap yourself tight and get ready for the queasy stomach, the exhilaration, and the screaming. ;-)

Good comes. I promise.

LesleyG said...

Somehow during the last 6 months or so of my life I have learned more than I ever wanted about the balance of hope and acceptance. I believe some wise blog commenter of mine reminded me of that. :)
You know the bigger, the better, the right is just still out there waiting for you.

P.S. I know this doesn't necessarily help, but real estate processes simply suck, even when things go perfectly.

Nilsa @ SoMi Speaks said...

Here's the thing I have learned about real estate ... nothing is ever final until the keys are in your hand, so don't get too attached or too emotional one iota of a second before that. It can be entirely too frustrating, but it's the only way!

Danielle said...

I may be just like on-line dating. Very frustrating but worth the wait! In your case anyway! :)

Bretthead said...

I am bad at dealing with let-downs. For the patient happy go lucky guy I am, I seem to have a tough time with it unless I quickly move on to something else I can look forward to.

Anonymous said...

I am sorry it didn't work out. I thought it was for sure. But remember grandma's motto - good things come out of bad. So hang on and Mr. W will give you the support through this disappointment. There must be something better waiting for you.

Jane Moneypenny said...

Ack I'm so behind! I just caught on kinda about a house? Either way (correct me if I'm wrong), congrats on even reaching that point of being reading for a house!

I've always tried the "low expectations, high standards" mentality, but it's so hard! But it's definitely a fun ride and I know when you find the right house, you'll LOVE it b/c of all the time and effort you put in there.

Anita said...

The house-buying process really sucks. I've gone through it twice, with both times ending not so fun. But at the end of the day, I thank my lucky stars that they fell through because of one reason or another.

If I haven't already, I'll have to tell you my 2 experiences when I see you. They definitely will make you think that this one just wasn't meant to be and there's a better one out there on the horizon.

Janice MacLeod said...

Listen sister. I have a book, too, that was universally rejected... and I've actually HAD a modicum of success in the publishing world. Just as well it didn't get picked up. I don't want to be defined by it now anyway. Your book may have been a rung on your ladder to success. Go where your enthusiasm leads, even if means saying goodbye to the book.

Anonymous said...

Finding a house was a bit like finding Mr. W. You gotta get through some crappy stuff before you get to the perfect one. Hang in there, kid, and get back to that book. I wanna be in the first row of your reading...in Texas!

blakspring said...

that's tough and certainly disappointing. but you should be so proudof yourself for your accomplishments. so many people talk about writing a book (me included) who don't even get started. you did it. that's amazing :)