So here I am
, alone on a Tuesday morning. It is quiet except for the humming of the heater and blurbling of the fish tank. Perfect.
It was a difficult morning: One child refusing to put his coat on until the sticker on his hand was moved to the safety of the edge of the table, the other drawing pictures in my writing notebook and cluttering up my desk with paper cuttings and staples, and Hubby telling me I’m on a rant and to please stop yelling (I wasn’t – I was just being empathic). But, ahhhh, they’re gone to their respective houses of education, play, and work. Another cup of coffee, some NPR, and my laptop.
I open my email to read this:
…if you’d like to write up a formal query…
Words from my dreams. (Well, in my perfect world dreams the words actually would be: No query necessary! Just send it, we’ll publish it!) I have been waiting for an opportunity like this and what am I doing? Freaking out!
I don’t remember how to write a query. What if the query sucks? Should I write the article first, then query, or should I just bang out an outline and hope I can stick to it later *when* (positive thinking) they accept my idea? What if they don’t accept my idea? Maybe I shouldn’t raise my hopes like that… no, no, no, silly, of course you’ll send it in! What an idiot to even contemplate not trying. I wasn’t really, you know that, don’t you? OK, what do I do first? Look up a good query letter… OKOKOK, I can do this…
I have imagined and written about this moment for so long. Now it’s here and I’m not sure what to do with it. I’m judging myself before I even begin. I told the Universe I was a Writer and in the same 24-hours I receive two emails, one saying my article will be published next month, the other asking for a query to present to the editors. My future is happening. Now.
So, now that I have procrastinated long enough writing this post, I will sign off and write the best damn query and outline they have ever seen!
Yay – congratulations Jo!! What was that about life dropping stuff in your lap, just when you need it? Serendipity indeed. V. pleased for you.
Thanks, Jo! Just sent off that “best damn query”… we’ll see what happens… I’ll tell how this whole situation was also the result of serendipitous happenings in another post.
I want details!!!!!!!!!YIPEEEE!
Awesome news!
Wishing you the best with it!
What is a query? Too tired and headachy to google it.
What kind of work are you submitting for publication? Just curious (or rather, nosy).
Very best wishes (again).
Casey
Thanks, Casey! A query is what you submit to an editor asking if they like an idea for an article. Some magazines will accept full articles for consideration but most like a query first. This particular one was about journaling.
Your process, the one you so generously shared with us, is one which is applicable every day for almost every one of us, I’m guessing.
My own opinion is that procrastination in your story could as-easily be termed, “facing the fear” or “taking on the unenviable task” or, my favorite, “accepting ownership of the path to my desire.”
And, at the heart of it, you did it! You accomplished what it took to get past the moments of hesitation–however we define them–and you got that query done delightfully well.
PS — I’m here as a result of following the trail of bread crumbs from your comment left yesterday at Joyful Jubilant Learning. We hope you join us again there!
Thanks, Rick (or should I call you Hansel?) for following the breadcrumbs. Facing the fear is a biggie with me (I invite you to read my posts under the category “Thinking Positively.”) I enjoyed the JJL site and will be back. I hope too, you will be back here to follow my random musings.