I’m trying to get into writing my Naughty Frenchman but I have to say, I’m having a ‘what’s the point’ week. The waiting is killing me – it always does – and even though I have lots of stories in the works, I’m feeling a bit directionless. I always get a bit like this as things drag on – usually just after submitting I’m fine for a few weeks and then doubts etc start to kick in. Targetting only one line does mean that you can’t do anything else but write while you’re waiting, and yes, writing IS the thing to do, but I can’t help feeling that while it drags on I’m kind of standing still.
At my last RWNZ meeting, people asked me how I was getting on and one person said to me, ‘oh, but you’re nearly there aren’t you?’. Thing is, I’ve been ‘nearly there’ for a whole year now. And in fact, there is no such thing as ‘nearly there’. You’re either there or you’re not. As the lovely Karina Bliss told me, it’s like being pregnant. You can’t be nearly pregnant, you either are or you’re not. I’m not.
It does not help that Dr Jax is currently gallivanting around Acapulco at a conference while I am at home with the kids. Not that I mind the kids (most of the time), it’s just that I’d rather be the one at Acapulco! Unfortunately my place with Dr Jax has been usurped by a 
small, blue, stuffed octopus called Hoo. My daughter gave him the toy to keep him company and so far, the wretched thing has seen way more of Acapulco than it has any right to. Witness these pictures.
So, while my husband and a tiny blue octopus are having fun in sunny Acapulco, I shall while away the time trying to write Chapter 1 of the Frenchman for the fifth time (yes, it’s taking me that long to get it right! Grrr).
Oh yes, and NTAI.
Anyone else finding the NTAI hard at the moment?
Jackie,
I feel your pain. Or, I guess I should say I will be feeling your pain someday. I think you’ve been awfully patient during the wait.
And, I think the pictures your hubby sent are cute. Love them.
I’ll be “NTAI” over the next week or so as I wait to hear on the pitches.
Abbi
Good luck with your pitches, Abbi! They are awesome. Hey, we can keep each other company with the waiting eh?
I know how you feel, Jackie. I really do. That last wait (4 1/2 months on the revisions) before the call KILLED me. And I’m currently NTAI about my sheikh partial while I try to TATR (think about the rest!!)
On a side note, Dr. Jax seems like a quirky, weird sort of characters. I think I’d get along well with him.
Oh the NTAI! I’m with you. i have a full in Richmond and one in NY. Trying desperately not to think about either of them. Particulary cos I’m SURE at this point they both suck.
NTAI is easier some days than others.
Great Hoo pics. We have pics of a cuddly penguin all through Japan. Glad to see someone else thinks like we do!
Maisey – I think you’d get on well with Dr Jax too. When he’s doing his child psych bit, he has a badge with his name on it in the shape of a little blue whale. It’s cute. And so is he. 😉
Yeah, that must have been a dreadful wait for you! Mine’s not even on a full, it’s just a partial but…well…this one means a lot to me.
Becca – I recently made the mistake of re-reading mine. Yes, I’m an idiot! Sometimes I do it to reassure myself but I didn’t feel reassured this time. I thought it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great! Argh!
Yay re the penguin! Gotta be done I think. I’d appreciate it more if I was the one taking pictures of Hoo.
Well I adore Hoo! He’s just so cute! Next time, in the interest of fairness, I’ll go to Acapulco with Hoo and you can all stay in gorgeous New Zealand 😀 (don’t worry I will send pictures too).
I love your pregnancy analogy but I still like to think you’re almost there ;).
Lacey – I’m afraid Hoo will be grounded when he gets home. But I’ll come with you instead! 😉 Yeah, the pregnancy analogy is a good one eh? I’ll settle for being nearly pregnant I guess.
LOL – Love those pics and with that title, its almost begging to be written as a kids book!?
And you know – you are so right about the whole pregnant/not pregnant thing. But can I say, you are doing SO well being patient, no really you ARE!
Well my great uncle visa got a whopping this morning – just waiting for the bank to call any second now and check that it hasn’t been lost of stolen. And you know that I aint NTAI – I need to be GMBIGAW (getting my butt into gear and writing)… Ok that last one was naff…
Janette – yeah, it’s almost a kiddie book eh? But I can’t write it ’cause I’m don’t write kids books.
Patience thy name is Jackie. 😉 Oh and I think the acronym that best suits you is BICHOK – butt in chair, hands on keyboard. 🙂
Oh – that’s a good one! But it also makes me sound like a b*tch – which I kind if am sometimes.
Yeah, if Hoo comes home with a better tan than you’ve got, he’ll have to be grounded!
Yeah, ask the girls, that last wait nearly did me in. I was in full paranoia mode. And I kept getting fax calls at 2am (which would be during the workday in Richmond) and the phone would ring and I’d freak out and jump out of bed and it would just be this loud beeping…so evil! Then I’d get massive Friday depression when I knew a whole nother week had passed with…nothing. Of course, once The Call came…the wait didn’t matter anymore!
Janette – you are not a b*tch! Lol!
Maisey – Hoo’s already grounded. 🙂
Those fax calls sound vile! No wonder you were popping out of bed all the time. And Friday depression – I haz. And it’s not even a revised full. Sigh.
Hope you don’t have to wait much longer, Jackie. Sounds like you’re in agony. Of course, I can sympathise since I am one of the most impatient people in the world.
From your perspective, you probably feel like you’re so far away from getting published – but if you objectively look at your work and your writing in the last year, I’m absolutely certain you’ll have seen an improvement. So maybe you’re not as far away as you think! Keeping fingers crossed for you.
Hi Jackie
Sorry you’re having a bad week. I have those frequently too. I seem to have stalled in my writing recently (applying for schools, selling a house, moving…all getting in the way of my creativity and energy levels!) Keeping fingers and toes crossed for you hearing soon.
x Kristy
Hey Jackie – commiserations on the almost there comments. I get them too and to be honest, I have no idea if I’m even in the ball park 🙂
My suggestion – write that Blaze – and give yourself another distraction!!
x
Rach!
I think I’ve had a month so far of hating my writing and wondering why I am torturing myself in this way. I am determined to kick myself out of this rut, starting tonight.
I have serious jealousy of Dr Jax and Hoo. But think of the stories he can tell you when he returns, perfect setting for a new ms.
Oooh and I like Rach’s suggestion, write that Blaze. Give youself something else to concentrate on. Maybe a shared NTAI would be easier?
Angie – thanks! Yeah, I’m terrible at waiting. Hardest part is not being able to do anything about it. As to my writing, I do know I’ve improved hugely. Thing is, I don’t trust my opinion these days – it’s been wrong before. 🙂
Kristy – Hey, how are you? Bummer on the stalled writing! It can be a bit like that with real life getting in the way huh? Hoping you get back into it soon!
Rach – yeah, those comments tend not to help eh? I reckon though we can say that if we’re not in the ballpark, we’re at least inside the stadium somewhwere…;-)
Joanne – a month is about right. Can’t seem to concentrate on anything! But i have a kid-free day for most of it today so I’m going to start kicking myself out of it too…
Jackie, OK, so I was completely clueless when I first ventured into the blog world about acronyms. I thought I was doing so well, but what the heck is NTAI?
Oh no, you read it again! It can be a really good thing or a bad thing, so I just don’t do it. Ever. There’s nothing that can be done at this stage, anyway, right? Best wishes writing your French cutie!
Just keep taking those prenatal vitamins and you’ll be there in no time!
Kaily – NTAI is a silly acronym I made up last year. It does encapsulate rather nicely what you shouldn’t do while waiting. It’s Not Thinking About It. 😉
Yeah, I know. I’m an idiot for rereading! Cheers re the vitamins! Lol. Hoping this year…:-)