Paying it forward, part 2

[pbray]

Some may recall my recent blog entry about meeting C, an aspiring writer. During our conversation, I'd given her notes with links to information I thought she might find helpful.

Tonight I took my biking partner Stacey for dinner at The Lost Dog. C was there, and rushed over to tell me that she'd looked at the link, found that she felt really in tune with one of the agents, and had sent off a e-query. The agent had just asked to see the first fifty pages of C's novel. C was ecstatic and naturally I was thrilled for her. I told her I would cross my fingers and wished her all the best. It was a great feeling--I talk to many aspiring writers at conferences, but since I rarely see them again, I never know if my advice has been helpful. In this case, I know that what I said was both useful and appreciated.

In other news, I'm off on the bike trip. No laptop, no internet, so radio silence for a while. Expect me to return with tall tales and, if you're lucky, incriminating photographs.

Comments

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

In that case, I'll mention this: I've heard you say so many good things about your agent that I worked up the nerve to query her. Regardless of how it turns out, that was a big step that I might otherwise have been too hesitant to take. So thank you from me too.

Have a good trip!

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Good for you and I wish you luck!

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

"How it turned out" was a courteous rejection with feedback and some encouragement. Classy lady.

[pbray.livejournal.com]

If you must be rejected, that's the kind to hope for.

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Yep! Must find more victims...er, candidates. ;)

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

I wish I was brave like you two.

[melissajm.livejournal.com]

Ah, but you are, and you're a more experienced writer than I am too!

[jtglover.livejournal.com]

In this case, I know that what I said was both useful and appreciated.

I'm tremendously grateful to you and every other author out there whose blog I read. Back when I was in high school and early college (...a long time ago...) and trying to write, I had little context for it, for the business or the act of writing. There was a gap of about eight years between then and when I rededicated myself to writing, and in that time the Web happened. Sometimes it's just a time-waster, but there's no comparison for me in terms of writing then and writing now. Seeing the ins and outs of the writer's life -- the details of how you worked on The Sea Change, the joys and frustrations as Samuel Delany watched his books go in & out and back into print -- is invaluable. Thank you.

Hope you have a good bicycle trip. :)

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Thanks for letting me know how useful this is.

It's amazing how the internet has transformed the act of being a writer from a solitary endeavor to one where you're part of a community, regardless of where you live. From the early days of online bulletin boards like GENIE to the blogging world of today, there's always a place to hang out and learn from folks who are sharing your journey.