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| Cover of my mystery Angel Sleuth |
On the way to the event, while hubby was driving, I let my mind wander. That's always dangerous, but before I could help myself I started thinking about stupid things I've said over the years. Most of them are about writing. Because I have an exhibitionist soul, I thought I'd share them with you:
1. Circa 1974 "I do" That lasted two years. No other comment necessary
2. Circa 1979 "This computer thing will destroy a writer's creativity." Sorry, sorry, sorry.
3. Circa 2009 While pitching to an agent at a conference "I don't care if I make money. I just love to write." Her reply, " I do care because I want to make money." Oops.
4. Circa 2000 plus sometime "Ebooks? I love the feel of a book in my hand. Others may not." Now I wish I could wrest the ebook rights away from my publishers.
5. Circa 2010 "Platform? I don't need a platform. I write fiction." Now I say I write about sassy country gals. Sorry, sorry, sorry.
6. Circa 2011 Talking to hubby while he's in Gallup,NM while I'm in upstate New York. "How high can this water go anyway?" Basement pumped of three feet twice the next day.
Still blushing, I'd like to know what you've said. Awe, c'mon, Do it.
Don't beat yourself up about it, we've all done it. But I didn't about e-books, I knew once they got a decent ereader, after the demise of the Rocket eReader, the who ebook industry would take off.
ReplyDeleteNice post Lesley, here's one of mine from early on.
ReplyDeletecirca 1968 (senior in high school): I want to grow up and become a science teacher in high school. Two years later, bombed out of introductory physics in my second year of college with "D" in the class...my major. oops.
Oh yeah, we've all got 'em.
LOL - Lesley, I love two and four. Can't think of any bloopers right now, but I'm sure a few will haunt my sleep tonight. Thanks a lot.
ReplyDeleteI could have added some more, but I didn't want my readers to think I was a total idiot.
ReplyDeleteTops of my stupid comments? "I write. I don't market."
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess we all know how stupid that was - and is.
Yup, I said that once upon a time too.
ReplyDeleteIf my first book doesn't make a bestseller list, I probably shouldn't write a second.
ReplyDeleteLots of stupid things. It's called being human. Don't beat yourself up about it. Things change, and that's how we learn.
ReplyDeleteThe Dean of the Grad School paid me a compliment. I asked if he'd started drinking again... Turns out he had!
ReplyDelete"I think (blank) would make a great Director. Let's recruit him." (The A&S Dean said, "Dac, I'll never let you recruit anyone again!').
Speaking of academe, I once said, "I ought to be an admininistrator because I've been in the classroom and know students' needs." I did become a dean and also a VP, hated both jobs and found administration had nothing whatsoever to do with education. I might as well have been running a pencil factory.
ReplyDeleteI got a few laughs out of your post and some of the comments. You're honest, and I appreciate that. I open my mouth and insert my foot at least once a day. Seriously.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed you can remember comments from that far back. (Well, okay, the "I do" I'd probably remember.
ReplyDeleteHere's mine. "I'll never be one of those obsessive grandparents."
*blushes and hangs head*
Speaking of the internet in the 1980s, I said, "No one's going to want to sit around typing and coding all day long."
ReplyDeleteHi Lesley:
ReplyDeleteWhen my niece and her husband were undecided about starting a family, I told them: "Just have one. A single baby is not going to change your life that much." Whoa! I'm always speaking first, thinking later. Luckily I'm pretty good at covering up. I have to be.
Best to you, Sharon Love Cook, another MMP author: A NOSE FOR HANKY PANKY.
Lesley, I loved all your "oops" moments. One of the first times I submitted a short story to a well-known mystery mag, I stated in my cover letter that "I've always liked to dabble in writing." Dear God, what was I thinking. I can only imagine what they must have thought . . .
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ReplyDeleteThese are fun! Mine -- well, one of thousands of mine -- is that, after spending days getting my sample chapter, chapter outline and cover letter just right, I mis-addressed the letter. I was tired, what can I say? Not to give names away, so I'll use a fictional example to illustrate what I did. The editor's name was Lois Turnbull. I addressed it to ... Lana Turner! Needless to say, I did not hear back.
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