a month of not writing, but still panicking

[jazzfish]

1 June: Curse apparent inability to write/revise on train. Think "Oh well, plenty of time, Viable Paradise deadline's not until 30 June."

7 June: Run across post on Making Light mentioning that this year VP applications are only open until 15 June. Swear.

10 June: Buckle down and spend evening pounding %&$ space story into submittable shape. Become vividly aware of just how much story would benefit from top-to-bottom rewrite, including removal of superfluous viewpoint character. Twist story trying to remove said character, fail. Observe that after all that stress, final story is basically identical to previously-critiqued draft, with light edits and improved opening scene. Swear. Give to uilos to read, get encouraging response. Do not drink heavily, as there is no alcohol available. (On balance, probably a good thing.)

11 June, AM: Export story into RTF format. Print story, hand to uilos for "quick proofread." Notice strange RTF corruption. Swear. Spend two hours reformatting RTF manuscript and correcting handful of typos and previous-draft errors. Try to force RTF to underline consecutive paragraphs. Fail. Swear. Edit so that underlining of consecutive paragraphs is not required. Reprint.

11 June, PM: Finish cover letter. Hold breath, cross fingers, hit Send on email submission. Take printed story, cover letter, and application fee to FedEx. Learn that FedEx does not deliver to PO boxes. Swear. Find post office, mail story via ExpressMail which claims it will arrive on the application deadline of 15 June. Laugh nervously.

13 June: Check Canada Post tracking information for package. Note that package has not moved since being "accepted for delivery" at 4 PM on 11 June. Grow mildly concerned.

15 June: Check CBC.ca, note that Canada Post officials have shut down Canada Post entirely in response to rolling strikes. Swear. Email VP in a panic, receive reassuring response of the "whenever it gets here is fine" variety.

19 June: Receive email stating that VP applications are now officially closed, and applicants will hear back on/around 30 June.

19-29 June: Talk self down from getting hopeful/excited about prospects. Note that actual published authors have been declined in the past. Remind self that if "early submission increases chance of acceptance" the converse is almost certainly true. Dwell on general crappiness of submitted story due to not having taken time to completely rewrite it and shore up blatant weak points. Ponder what to do with large sum of money that will be "saved" by getting declined. Start rolling ideas around for next story.

22 June: Tracking status of package changes from "LOCATION: Vancouver. STATUS: Item accepted for delivery" to "LOCATION: Canada. STATUS: Labour disruption affecting this location; item delayed."

28 June: Package leaves Canada.

29 June: Set alarm for 6:20 AM for work-related call to disgruntled UK customer at 7 AM. Sleep.

30 June: Wake up to light-alarm before beeping-alarm. Turn off beeping-alarm. Think "VP email is here," with unshakeable certitude. Ponder whether to check email and deal with rejection before disgruntled-customer call, vs going through call Not Knowing. Check mail. See message with subject "Your Application to Viable Paradise 15." Think "No 'congratulations' in subject. Must be thin envelope, as expected." Open email anyway and read. Blink. Reread email. Wake uilos and make her read email.

So, um, yeah. That happened.

(And now I'm having vague notions of stopping off in Boston for a day or two before or after October 9-15, because, hey, people.)

Comments

[jadelennox]

I like your vague notions.

[jazzfish]

I was hoping you might! Have you any particular preference for 'before' vs 'after' ?

[jadelennox]

October 8 is Yom Kippur, so I vote "after". :-)

[jazzfish]

Excellent. I am reasonably sure this can be arranged. :)

[rbandrews]

Congratulations!

Also, this explains what you kept checking the shipping status of at Origins. I figured you had ordered a book or something.

[jazzfish]

Thanks! And, yeah, outgoing, not incoming. Incoming, I figure it'll get here whenever it gets here, I'm in no rush.

[rbandrews]

I have nothing outgoing at the moment. In fact, I am paperwork-anxiety-free at the moment in every way, getting our suitcase from the baggage claim was the last bit.

Incoming, I want that laptop pretty hard. :)

Edit: Actually, I lied. I have nothing outgoing iff Joe got his Dominion promos. Adam's package got there though.

[lizthefair.livejournal.com]

Congratulations--such great news.

[jazzfish]

Thank you! And sorry to have missed you at Origins. Perhaps next year.

[thanate]

I'd managed to mostly forget about the whole thing (although the little notes about "applications are closed, hang tight" and suchlike were not particularly helpful.) Now I'm back to trying a little bit not to be stressed/excited by the whole idea. :)

See you there!

[jazzfish]

If I'd applied earlier (if various things, moving-related and other, hadn't eaten my brain between February and May) I probably would have been able to do that as well.

Luckily or un, I have enough to deal with just having moved that it's probably not going to eat my brain for the next 3+ months. Probably. :)

[pictsy.livejournal.com]

Congrats! Although I think if I ever wanted to get into the writing business, I would hate workshops like this, or anyone's input whatsoever.

[jazzfish]

Thanks, and that might prove a bit of a problem. :)

Workshopping always makes me nervous, in what I assume is the same way that some people get nervous speaking in front of crowds, but it also always gives me a lot of useful feedback, so I've learned to put up with it.

[pictsy.livejournal.com]

Really—I would want to be one of those weirdos who secretly writes books without telling a soul, and then publishes them to the acclaim of astonished critics. :)

[pictsy.livejournal.com]

Redundancy could be a problem.

[jazzfish]

It could be one of the stylistic quirks that's a mark of your literary genius!

[pictsy.livejournal.com]

I might have to get some cats to cultivate a convincing "I did that on purpose" style.

[kittenchan.livejournal.com]

Wow, congratulations!

[jazzfish]

Thanks! :)

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

Awe. Some. Whee!

[jazzfish]

I am compelled to agree. :)

[merseine0613.livejournal.com]

Congrats!

[jazzfish]

Thank you!

[jmax315.livejournal.com]

Congratulations. 'Course, this just means you'll have to do it again sometime *evil grin*

[jazzfish]

Chop words, carry manuscripts.

(Thanks!)

[merseine0613.livejournal.com]

Before or after enlightenment?

[jazzfish]

Yes. :)

"Before sale, chop words, submit manuscripts. After sale, chop words, submit manuscripts."

[diadelphous.livejournal.com]

Congratu-freaking-lations! This is awesomepants!

[jazzfish]

Yeah, it's pretty much the awesomest thing to happen all week. :) Thanks!

[absolutliz.livejournal.com]

This is awesome! Congratulations! Between couch burning and "labour disruptions" I question your timing on finally realizing your goal of moving to Canada! =)