if wishes were horses
PBW’s talking about wishes today - she’s got a Publishing Fairy Godfather all poised and ready to grant us our wish. So, this morning, I sat here in the quiet of the house (granted, I need to get up at 6am to get any quiet around here lately) and I thought about what I’d post as my wish. And I realize that an old episode of what I think was the Twilight Zone and my overactive imagination and my ability to overthink everything was going to interfere with the wishes.
Here’s what I remember about the episode - it had a few teen-agers who got their wish granted. Their wish? I want my parents to do everything I tell them to do. Sounds like a fantastic deal for them, right? Well, of course, it wasn’t, because the wish-granter majorly screwed them. The parents couldn’t do anything at all until the teens told them to. Which meant they couldn’t just say, cook me dinner, they had to explain it in step-by-step detail.
The moral of the story was, of course, be careful what you wish for, and that’s stuck with me for a long time. Whenever I make a wish, I’m always wary of the consequences.
So, with that in mind, let’s revisit PBW and the Publishing Godfather. My first thought was, of course, a publishing contract. But then I thought, wait, I’ve got to be more specific about that -what kind of contract? With what house? And will it be an on-going, never-ending contract?
Sounded good on the surface, until I started thinking, but what if I got that, and that never-ending contract forced me to write the same type of books over and over? Scratch that.
Then I thought - I’ve got it - give me an editor who loves my work. Perfect. Then I thought, supposed the editor just blindly loved my work to the point where she couldn’t see the problems in the work and I was never able to improved as a writer?
I was then going to wish for, write tons of books, each one better than the last, but really, I can be prolific and I believe that each book I write is better than the last, so that’s kind of the, hard work, need to do that one yourself, kind of thing.
More patience? If I had patience, I don’t think I’d be as far along as I’d be now - because being impatient with myself has helped my writing in a lot of ways. So that’s a no-go wish too.
Supportive, wonderful agent? Check.
Supportive, wonderful crit partners? Check.
Crap - I want that wish. I need that wish. I’m going to have to think about this more, but I’m leaning toward always being able to support myself with writing and still love what I do (most of the time, since I’ve got to have a little realism in with that wish :)
Overthink much, Steph?
In the meantime, go share your own publishing wish here.
Steph T.
January 14th, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Steph, you’re right on both counts. You have to be very specific and detailed about what you want, or how can you get it? Or how can it be what you REALLY want? And you do have to be careful what you wish for. It’s like that quote, “I wanted to be somebody. Now I see I should have been more specific.”
Figure it out, and I’m sure the Publishing Fairy will grant your wish!
January 14th, 2006 at 8:05 pm
I’d already been there, went through pretty much the same indecision.
Frankly, there’d probably be a LIST of things, so I just chose one.
I’d really like to write the best stuff I can, work with professional people who really love my stuff, and present readers with stories they can enjoy.
Not too much to ask, is it?
January 14th, 2006 at 8:35 pm
I’m in a similar boat on this one. Wishes can backfire. I considered it and decided I’d take my chances with life and all its unknowns. But I could use that agent…of course, I don’t believe my writing is good enough to warrant one yet. When the time is right, the agent will be there. I’m a strong believer in things being where they are needed when the time is right. Until then, well…the time isn’t right.
January 15th, 2006 at 9:35 am
I would love a book contract this year on the book that I absolutely adore. But other than that, I’ll take life as it comes.
January 15th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
Remember the “X Files” where they find the genie and Mulder has to make wishes? I’d be spending to much time worrying about how the wish would backfire. I’d rather just wish for a new car, an expensive, new car. Oh man, then I would have to pay for the insurance. See? Even that can’t be easy.
However, it was fun reading everyone else’s wishes.
January 15th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
Charlene - I love that quote!!
Raine - I think that’s a very good wish :) Here’s to making it come to fruition ASAP!
Jean - I hear you on that - I do believe there’s a reason for everything, but sometimes, until you can actually see the reasoning, it’s easy to get frustrated. Sounds like you’re not such an impatient wench like me. Can you make sure some of that rubs off on me?
*crosses fingers for Michelle’s wish*
Rene - we’re VERY alike, I see :)