Dear Erin,
This month, I’ve begun a new revision. I feel like there should be some loud exciting music here to underline this truth. In fact, I will turn some on for proper effect. (Pause. Longer Pause.) Would you like to know which music I turned on so that you too can feel the moment???? It is here.
Also, in case you’re wanting to be super useful like me, I’ll give you some advice. You see, I like to play this particular soundtrack on all the speakers of my house without telling anyone I’ve turned it on because at first it sounds like nothing at all, and as such, it is rather confusing to people listening. In fact, sometimes they worry they are hearing things and it is funny. I know this because once I turned it on while I was home alone and then I forgot I turned it on and scared myself out of my mind. It was amusing. You’re welcome.
Also, also, while turning on the music, I happened to remember (extra verb on purpose, because that’s exactly how it went) that I needed to renew my library books. I check them out on my children’s accounts because it:
increases the number of books I can have at a time exponentially
means I don’t get fines no matter how long I forget that I have the books
gives me four different accounts to rotate through while I find aforementioned lost and forgotten books in the small crevices of my house (not six, despite my six children - because some of my children don’t share *cough, cough, give* their accounts to me)
Anyhow, I remembered I needed to renew some of my library books and so I wandered off onto another tab of my internet browser to take care of that and subsequently forgot what I was doing altogether (i.e. writing this letter). Now I am back, and the real music has started, and I am reminded that:
Lately, I have begun a new revision.
This revision is for the last book I wrote before I entered the MFA program where I met you. I didn’t have time to revise the book before I started the program and since prior work is generally frowned upon during those first two semesters (as you know), the manuscript has just sat on my computer (not) gathering dust. I’ve always liked the story (although it is a bit off its rocker and has a tad too many storylines) so I decided to revise it anyway because maybe I am a bit off my rocker and have a tad too many storylines myself. It is interesting to read words you wrote two years ago. It is not too surprising to find that I am still obsessed with the same odd things. Apparently I have not grown up at all.
I am also querying right now. I think I’ve already told you this, but querying requires a lot of commiseration, so I am telling you again. I think querying is funny (not funny) because you have to find an agent and research all the ways they would be exactly the bestest agent for you ever, ever, ever and then you write them a letter convincing them (but actually just you) that you are right and then as soon as you send the letter you have to completely forget all those grandiose ideas you had about your being matchy-matchy friends with that perfect agent because you will likely never hear from the agent again outside from a pre-fabricated letter telling you that while they’re sure they could have been your matchy-matchy best friend too, they are just going to have to save that for another day.
Alas.
As for what else I’m up to, I am still pretending to open a bookstore here and looking for editing clients here and my brother has informed me I am doing too many things at once. He may be right, but since I haven’t the foggiest idea which one of said endeavors will work out, I am continuing onward anyhow. I am doing all this continuing onward in new boots, because my feet were cold and I bought new ones this week. They have worked out so well I keep telling people how much I like them and so now you get to know too. I like my boots. Isn’t this great information, Erin? Don’t you feel satisfied with life? You should buy new boots too.
And in case you should think the boots are just me wandering off in my thoughts again, I will have you know they make me feel happy in the same way this quote I’m keeping on my wall makes me feel happy. It’s a Madeleine L’Engle quote from this Madeleine L’Engle book about story and pretty much I want to be Madeleine L’Engle when I grow up, so I will share it with you now. It says:
“For the happy ending is intrinsic to the life of faith, central to all we do during all of our lives. If we cannot believe in it, we are desolate indeed. If we know, in the depths of our hearts, that God is going to succeed, with each one of us, with the entire universe, then our lives will be bright with laughter, love, and light.”
And as I look at this quote, and wear my boots, I am pretty sure that all that work I’m doing on my revision and my querying and my bookstores and my editing will turn out just as good as my boots someday. And who wouldn’t want something as wonderful as a good pair of warm boots. Maybe someone in Hawaii. But I don’t live in Hawaii, and I’m not moving there anytime soon.
To boots, Erin. (Two boots would work well too. Ha!)
Jamie
P.S. My niece may be moving to North Carolina!!! I am so jealous. I think she will still need good boots, but she will also be closer to you!