SLAVE2THEMUSE

Let's talk about the title of this little rant, shall we? The muse was a mythological creature that inspired artwork and creativity. And I'm its slave. Since I have always felt the compulsion to put down my thoughts down in writing (arrogant bastard--didn't Natalie Goldberg say something about putting my thoughts down on paper is one of the most powerful actions I know? I'm paraphrasing, though.), I've always been jealous of those people who can go through the day not commiting a single thought of a notepad, typwriter ribbon, or Word document. When they are watching baseball, HBO, or old episodes of "Full House," and they ask me what I'm going to do that night, I grumble something about having to work out the conflict resolution in my story on the divorced couple at the park. I can't NOT write. Sometimes I think I'll give it all up--who needs the grief (the rejection slips, the postage, the time sacrificed in the name of art), and then I'll get an idea for short piece of fiction that might be right for the Glimmer Train short short story award, and I scramble to the computer. Sometimes I genuinely wish I could walk away, but I know that as miserable as I sometimes am trying to wrestle interesting words onto the white space, I'd be more miserable if I lived like so many others whose thoughts stay unexpressed outside their heads. When I was deciding what to name this journal, my first thought was about how committed (obsessed?) I've always been to/with writing and the idea of capturing universal ideas, feelings, and issues in words. Hence the title of this blog.
In short, I am a slave to the muse.

P.S. Blogs are the most democratic form of published writing since the Print-on-Demand revolution (see early posts on POD experience). Seems like everyone has a soapbox from which to spout. Cool.

DUBIOUS AGENT #42

Imagine my excitement when the submission response from agent number forty-two (The Nancy Ellis-Bell Literary Agency) arrives in the mail and they request to see the entire manuscript of Bad Moon Rising. I was thrilled. I don't remember where I got the initial information on the agency, but everything seemed to check out, so I sent the submission package. After hearing that they wanted to see the entire manuscript, however, I Googled the agency and uncovered a pair of suits alleging that while the agency was apparently capable of selling books to major houses, they were being accused of witholding advance monies from the authors. That was no good. In one of the on-line articles regarding the suits, there was a contact name and number with The Author's Guild in New York, so I called them. They said they usually don't give advice about agencies, but that was an exception and they definitely WOULD NOT send this agency my manuscript. They said the two suits were settled in favor of the authors and that the agency was forced to pony up the dough. They also said they had a pamphlet on "How to Submit to Agents," and would I like it? I said sure. When I got it, I noticed that the secretary of The Author's Guild was Scott Turow and that their Board of Directors included Stephen King, John Jakes, and Anne Rivers Siddon. If I'd had any doubts, they were now gone, as I figured they knew what they were talking about.
There was also a a DOES NOT RECOMMEND on the Preditors and Editors website for the agency that said "no further information available," although I would assume it was for the same reason.
My heart and stomach fell. I'd already gone to Kinko's and made my new copy of the novel at great expense ($30). I will not be sending that manuscript to the Nancy Ellis agency, though, because who wants the grief of having to fight for money that is rightfully yours. Even if there was some mix-up or she has seen the light and is repentent, I still don't like the set-up.
If that kind of struggle was in my future, I can afford to be patient.

AUTHOR PHOTO

I just learned how to add a photo to my profile. I like the photo I attached not only because it was taken by my six-year old daughter, but because by turning it black and white, not looking at the camera, not smiling, and wearing black attire and a snappy goatee, it makes me seem almost "artsy."