The stress of nothing...

[j_cheney]

I almost started crying today over nothing...before I realized how stupid that was. By nothing, I mean precisely that. I have a story out that I really would like to hear about, and have heard...nothing.

I worry that the spamfilter has eaten my rejection. I worry that if I contact an editor, I will be purged as one of those writers who just annoys them. I worry that I've missed some vital deadline. And this is just a short story. Hmmpf! ::imagining self dissolving into a puddle of bodily fluids over a novel::

Ah well, at least days like these only come around once a month. The dogs are getting on my nerves, and I want to scream at the icy rain outside. What's up with that? It's April, and I should be out planting, darn it!

Comments

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Ah, those days. Hang in there. You've got my sympathy.
I'm sure the editor wouldn't get too upset over a polite query.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I'm just low tolerance today.

I'm revising stuff right now. Remember the bear girl story? I'm going to slap a new name on it. How do you like "Grandmother's Last Request"?

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Not sure. It sounds like Grandmother's being executed. Maybe "...Last Wish?"

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Yes. I didn't think of that before.

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Titles can be tough. My "Voice" story's been driving me nuts. (I'm leaning toward "Finding Her Voice.")

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

I like titles with verbs in them.

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Verbs are good. Active verbs rock. ;)

[samhidaka.livejournal.com]

> I'm sure the editor wouldn't get too upset over a polite query.

I agree.

Don't stress out about contacting editors. Send a brief, polite query asking about the status of your submission. No one is going to get upset by it.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

Unless you sent the manuscript yesterday.

:)

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Actually, I sent it some time ago....

Let's just say that they've had it more than 10 times as long as their average response time as listed in the Black Hole.

And they have already checked on it for me....twice. Both times they were extremely nice about it. I just hate to keep bugging people.

It's sort of an unusual circumstance. I've let myself get emotionally invested, which I should know not to do.

[yourbob.livejournal.com]

I was being flip. I'm in agreement with everyone else - polite enquiries are rarely amiss.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

;o)

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the calming words. (This is sort of like the writer version of hypochondriasis, I think. There's nothing really wrong, so I'm imagining things)

Actually, I have queried them before now, and they were very nice about it...just waiting to make a decision. ;o)

(This is why I'm not a stock trader)

[dfable.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you've had the perfect storm. The once a month blues, short story out too long, and icy rain in April. Hope you feel better.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Took a hot bath, read some, feel much better now. Sympathy is always nice, though. ;o)

[aliettedb.livejournal.com]

Ouch. Bad day of the month--I have those too.

Glad to hear you're feeling better.

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Just a bad brain day. ;o)