Shannon Stacey


Thursday Thirteen #13

This Thursday Thirteen is dedicated to every writer who’s ever submitted to NY by snail mail and had to make the long, dreaded walk to the mailbox every day for months.

Thirteen things to do while standing at the window, waiting for the mail and dreading the return of the SASE:

1. Run through a mental list of non-writing-related reasons a submission might be rejected: A NYT-lister watched the same documentary and beat you to the what-if based proposal; the hero has the name as the editor’s husband, who just left her for sweaty Sven; she had a really shitty tuna sandwich for lunch.

2. Breathe on the glass, then draw pictures in the condensation. (Keeping in mind, of course, that the next time you make spaghetti, whatever you drew will reappear.)

3. Practice your RITA acceptance speech.

4. Have your mp3 player cranked to drown out negative thoughts. Get a little carried away with the lip-synching and amuse the hell out passers-by and the roofers working across the street.

5. Notice how long the grass is getting and consider mowing. Remember mowing is the man’s job, then feel guilt for perpetuating gender stereotypes. Decide you don’t give a shit as long as you don’t have to mow the lawn.

6. Wonder if anybody’s ever opened their RITA acceptance speech with “I’d like to thank the Academy” just to be funny.

7. Draft a thank you note to the USPS for having the time on their delivery confirmation updates so you can know how long your submission has been in the publisher’s offices down to the minute. This is vital information for the truly neurotic writer. (As I pause in the drafting of this post at 6:30 pm Wed night, my sub has been in the building for 26,363 minutes.)

8. Notice the window needs to be cleaned. Decide now is the perfect time to reform your gender stereotyping ways and make a mental note to tell your husband he should wash the windows.

9. Wonder why you’re suddenly holding an empty bag of Doritos.

10. Worry that the nosy woman up the street got your SASE by accident and knows you’ve been rejected before you do.

11. Try to make a vanity plate for “New York Times Bestselling Author“. In NH we only get six characters: NYTLST, GOTNYT…GUDRTR…umm….I-ROCK?

12. If your SASE is not in the day’s mail: Tell yourself no news is good news, then get back to work.

13. If your SASE is in the day’s mail: If you sent a full, hope that, at the very least, the editor might be willing to look at it again after some changes. If you sent a partial, spend a few minutes riding that nauseating rollercoaster of wondering whether it’s a rejection or a request to see the full. It’s an intense moment, and I’ve had it go both ways.

What’s really sick is how much I’ve missed that feeling. :bang:

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12 comments to “Thursday Thirteen #13”

  1. Charlene
    Comment
    1
      · July 26th, 2007 at 8:42 am · Link

    Good for you, Shan. And I’m with you, let somebody else mow.



  2. Jaci Burton
    Comment
    2
      · July 26th, 2007 at 8:47 am · Link

    Have some coffee :coffee:



  3. May
    Comment
    3
      · July 26th, 2007 at 9:36 am · Link

    I cannot believe that I plan to subject myself to this.



  4. Michelle
    Comment
    4
      · July 26th, 2007 at 12:08 pm · Link

    11 made me laugh out loud. Just remember you DO rock! You are a rockin’ wench. Your writing rocks. It’s all good. I just thought of something… if your dh does the windows then you’ll be able to clearly see the postman coming up to the mailbox. Better get him on that. :rofl:



  5. Emma Wayne Porter
    Comment
    5
      · July 26th, 2007 at 12:11 pm · Link

    :popcorn:



  6. Natalie J. Damschroder
    Comment
    6
      · July 26th, 2007 at 5:08 pm · Link

    :rofl:, Shan!

    #5 is TOTALLY me!



  7. Natalie J. Damschroder
    Comment
    7
      · July 26th, 2007 at 5:09 pm · Link

    Oh, and I snagged the TT header. Is that okay? Did you make it? I love it.



  8. Ann
    Comment
    8
      · July 26th, 2007 at 5:41 pm · Link

    I’m still waiting. :popcorn:



  9. Joely
    Comment
    9
      · July 26th, 2007 at 8:57 pm · Link

    Oh, man, I totally identify with this list. I have one complete submission that’s years old, and it’s become a joke to see how long that rejection does take to come in!



  10. Shannon
    Comment
    10
      · July 26th, 2007 at 9:07 pm · Link

    I did make it, Natalie, and you’re welcome to it. :thumb:

    I can’t believe it’s been so long since I did the long, dreaded walk. And even more, like I said, I can’t believe how much I missed it. :crazy:

    Good luck to all of us! :cheer:



  11. Natalie
    Comment
    11
      · July 27th, 2007 at 12:33 am · Link

    Cool, thanks, Shan!:boogie:



  12. Lisa Andel
    Comment
    12
      · July 27th, 2007 at 12:37 am · Link

    Damn, you made my stomach churn just reading this.







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