Well, that was an unintentional break from blogging I took this week! I’d been enjoying my habit of almost-every day, but Monday and Tuesday I fell into revising my novel. I was at the end and it was going really well and I just couldn’t pull myself away. Plus, there’s not much to say about that. I was writing, it was fun. But I made it to the end, and the first draft is complete and now it’s been set aside to simmer for a little while.
Tuesday night I got another rejection, the 5th. I also pulled out the manuscript I sent to agents a few years ago, and found all the query letters and responses. I got two requests for fulls, as well as some personal feedback from sample chapters, and the overwhelming theme was “It’s good, but not good enough.” So yesterday I didn’t feel like blogging. Instead I moped and knitted, finding comfort in my yarn. And I finished my Color Block wrap and it’s so marvelous. The tails are even woven in; it just needs blocking.
And I know, at least I’ve submitted the books. And the fact that I got the requests, not to mention actual thoughtful notes from agents, should be encouraging. That’s what I’m trying to focus on today. I’d like to think I’m a better writer than I was ten years ago. So that’s the manuscript coming up next. I still love that story. I still think it has potential. Let’s see if I can get it to better than “good enough”.
Here’s something my knitting friends will appreciate: this weekend is the Knitting in the Heartland conference, and the keynote speaker is Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. SQUEEE, right?? I bought tickets for me and my Knitting SIL months ago. Then she and her family planned a vacation…the SAME weekend! Whatever. Poor planning, if you ask me, but she didn’t. Anyway, I was thinking about having to drive 45 minutes each way on crazy highways with construction and in the dark (I’m not a fan of those things), and going by myself, and starting to talk myself out of going. I tweeted about it, and this morning, the Yarn Harlot herself had replied to my tweet! 
There you have it. I have no choice. When the Yarn Harlot says you should go, you should go. So I will go and I will take my knitting and there will be lovely friendly knitters there AND those of us attending the keynote address get to shop from the vendors afterward! I will have plenty to blog about this weekend, that’s for sure.
I’ll probably take my Hitchhiker with me. It’s going more slowly than the previous ones. Maybe I’m finally getting a little tired of the pattern. But yesterday, instead of getting retail therapy at a yarn store, I shopped my stash and found my next project: 
It’s going to become a Tailwind Shawl; I just need to work out the sequence of the striping before I cast on. With any luck, I’ll have progress to show you tomorrow!
bonnyknits 
How can you even THINK about skipping a knitting event *gasp*
I know that you will enjoy it and afterwards be glad you did go 🙂 45 minutes is not a long drive, really, and I am sure it’ll be worth it.
I like your choice for the next shawl. Bet shopping in your stash is fun. Is it bigger than the lys’ storage room already? ^^
LOL, I know, my crazy introverted brain does the dumbest things! I’ll definitely be glad, as long as I can make it home without getting lost!
*lol* you could always make yourself a tag like pets have it. Reading “Help! I am lost. Please bring me home to (your address) or call (someone’s phone who can pick you up)”
I bet you’d be the hit in that highway parking lot!
LOL!! I think I’ll just depend on Siri to make sure I get home. 😉
Sigh. Yes, I am missing the KITH event, but the Grand Canyon…in the snow. How could I say no? Sleeping on the ground in 20 degrees versus sitting warmly in a room full of knitters listening to Stephanie Pearl-McPhee – again I will sigh (because I know the rest of my little family will never read this or know how I would probably have nixed this trip had I just looked at the calendar.)
Gosh, you make it sound so…charming. 😉 I’ll take a photo for you. I even found one of her books at Half Price Books to get signed.
awesome. enjoy the event and best of luck with the publishers!!
Thank you! 🙂
You absolutely should go!
I will! I have to, now! Actually, I’m looking forward to it now. 🙂
Oh good! I rarely have problems going alone, but absolutely get that some people find it hard. I am shy, but really can talk to anyone, if they start the conversation. Have a wonderful time.
Really, once I convince myself to go, it’s fine. I can talk to people and even start conversations sometimes. It’s just getting over that hump of “do I REALLY want to go?”. But I’m so glad I went!
Oh good!
Good luck with finding an agent. I signed up for NaNoWriMo Camp. My goal is to write the 16,000 words standing between me and finishing my first draft. It’s awesome that Stephanie tweeted you back. IT just goes to show haw amazing the knitting community is.
Thanks. I’ve never done NaNoWriMo; always seemed like a lot of pressure! Good luck finishing. Those 16K will go by before you know it. 🙂
Thanks! I’ve just got work it in around school
Keep on keepin’ on, sister. You write because you like it, right? I love shopping my stash…makes me feel so responsible 😉
Thanks, you’re right, I do like it!
Your color block is stunning.
Thank you!
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I love the Yarn Harlot. She is so funny in person.