The night before I flew to San Francisco for the RWA conference, I had a dream about a particular author — a popular, rising star in the romance writing world — who wrote for publisher #2 and was edited by the same editor that had sent me that 9 page revision letter. I dreamed that I walked up to her at a party and asked her if she’d ever received such a letter. I really was in a funk over this thing.
I was serving on the RWA board of directors at the time, so I had a couple of days of board meetings to occupy my thoughts. But then the conference began, and I went to the welcome reception. Lo and behold, the very author I’d dreamed about was standing with another popular author who wrote for publisher #2 and the same editor. It was straight out of my dream. I hurried toward them. It was like I was compelled toward them.
In a somewhat shaky breath — but still trying to sound cool and composed, I’m sure — I told them I’d received, ha ha, isn’t this funny and it doesn’t bother me a bit, of course, a 9 page revision letter from the editor. Before I could say anything else, one of them said, “Wow. Only nine pages. You must be good!” Turns out the shortest letter she had received from said editor was something like 13 or 14 pages.
Wow! I wonder if she had any idea what her throw away comment meant to me. I went from thinking I was a horrible writer with a career about to end to being excited about returning home to that revision letter and getting to work on the book. Which I did a few days later.
That book, Rugged Splendor, became my very first RITA Award finalist. Kind of a sweet ending to the story, huh?
Oh, and yes, that is a pseudonym you see on the cover. I only did two books using the pseudonym, the two books I wrote for that publisher. All my other books, before and since, have been published under my own name.
Great story! I just prayed before scanning my regular blogs this morning that God would give me some encouragement to go forward with my writing. Through you, Robin, He did just that…thanks!
Robin, I’m loving your “writing journey” and am finding it’s encouraging me as I buckle down on Book 2. 🙂 Can’t wait for Chronicles of Narnia (already have the release date on my Outlook). I watched the expose off and on last night too (flipped back and forth between the sad-sad-last-of-the-season Nuggets game with my dh) and think Corey’s an opportunist, and a smarmy schmuck. His timing alone evidences that. And I’m still celebrating Scott’s departure last night! WAAAAAY past due! 😉
Tammy
Robin,
Also enjoying your journey as a writer posts. Keeping out an eagle eye for them. Just had a published author-friend complaining about a 15 page revision note from her editor. I couldn’t respond, since I know hundreds (well, online) of writers who would give anything to have an editor, and a 100 page revision letter sounds like music to our ears.
Also thrilled about Scott leaving and the top three safe. I tried to call/vote for the first time and never got through in the 1 hour they alot. I saw ten mins of expose but it looked cheesey. First, what if he is lying? I saw Kelly Ripa saying the same things you did in your post, but she was totally buying that it happened. I mean the media makes up stuff every hour?? And if it did happen, I agree, that he should thank her for all her help, and this is no way to thank her. It isn’t like she sabotaged (sp?) him.