Dragging myself back out of the dumps

[Sabledrake]

So, hey, hi folks. I haven't been posting much lately. Lurking, but not having a lot to say. Been down and depressed and stressing too much.

Short version -- still no word from the publisher who's had my second-latest horror novel for over two years; form letter rejections from 10 agents so far on my latest horror novel; several short stories in anthology limbo or drawing rejections of their own.

This holding pattern with periodic turbulence has demotivated me to the point where I hadn't been able to muster much enthusiasm for writing. Why bother? Even if I finish, it'll be forever-and-a-month before anything happens, etc. Whine, whine, poor me, bitch moan complain.

I was supposed to start a new novel in March. I did make it, though only barely ... I wrote my first couple chapters right before my birthday on the 30th (the fact that 38 feels a hell of a lot closer to 40 than did 37 may have something to contribute to my doldrums).

But, recently, I have been climbing up from the morass of unproductive self-pity. One of the ways I've done this has been to write me some long overdue smut ... I have 2 recent stories up now -- see sig! -- and another to be submitted tomorrow (provided I can decide on a title I like).

Also, I'm pleased to report, my short story "The Reaching Wall" just came out in HORROR BETWEEN THE SHEETS, the first "Best of CthulhuSex Magazine" anthology. That was a much-needed boost, I must say.

And I've lost almost 50 pounds since my surgery in October!!! Still a ways to go, but my health is better, my balance is better, my libido and self-confidence are almost scarily improved, and I'm shrinking out of my clothes. Yay!

Anyway, just wanted to explain my descent into semi-lurkerdom. I will hopefully be around more now.

-- Sabledrake

 

[NoJo]

Don't give up, Sable. You don't know how much some of us wannabes need you.

 

[Guest]

Sabledrake, you are a constant source of inspiration and motivation to me, as well as being a writer I greatly admire. I'm not saying that to suck up, it's the truth.

Stick at it, you WILL get there.

Lou

 

[impressive]

 

[English Lady]

*hugs* it's good to see you Keep your chin up you'll get there...you deserve applause for even trying Lots of us never get to a pointwhere we take our writing seriously so Yay you for giving it a damn good go!

 

[Sabledrake]

Thanks, folks. It's just so easy to get disenheartened. It's not the rejections I mind half so much as the endless waiting for them.

That, and the culture of exclusivity in this field ... "send us your story, but don't you DARE send it to anyone else because we hate simultaneous submissions ... and don't send us anything else at the same time because we hate multiple submissions ... we'll get back to you one of these days, so you just sit and wait. Oh, and the response time we list? Yeah, that's give-or-take."

Ugh.

But what are ya gonna do?

Someday. The longer the wait, the sweeter the success, right? And you can all say you knew me when.

-- Sabledrake

 

[TheEarl]

And you can all say you knew me when.

-- Sabledrake

I didn't know you back when. I don't know of a time when you haven't been a top quality author.

<hug>

The Earl