Do you ever feel like you'll never be able to write a cohesive creative sentence again? Or that it was a fluke - a HUGE mistake that some editor or agent actually liked your work (and maybe even published it!)Been having a few of those days this week - ready to toss in the towel and see about going into something safe and stable - as soon as my application at Dunkin' Donuts goes through.
So - I'm away from Montreal - in Boston, visiting my wife, who has a summer job here. My son is with me and we enrolled him in a cool cybercamp thing where he's learning FLASH animation and me, I drive him there then sit in Starbucks, or in the wonderful Wellesly town library and fret about being a hack!
This morning I was in Starbucks, actually making a little progress - headphones on, listening to the Garden State soundtrack (again). But two women are talking at a table next to me and the spiteful beast in me wishes they would go away! Go talk somewhere appropriate - not in a coffee shop!
But as soon as the soundtrack ends - I eavesdrop (duh!) - and they are talking children's books. And then I see it - a paperback copy of POND SCUM is on the table. Now, this is too weird, I think. I must say hello to these two perfect people.
Hello, I say. That book there. Pond Scum...I wrote that.
The woman to my right jumps up and says, "I'm Kit Blundo!" (Kit Blundo is the Manager of Individual Giving of REACH OUT AND READ - the organization I donated 300 books to last spring and a person I have never met, but corresponded with. )
A delightful conversation ensued - reminding me that some higher power out there (or up there or in there) wants me to write. I signed the copy of my book to the other woman's son and hugs were shared all around.
If ever I needed a boost - today was that day - and it came so simply and with such humor that I have been smiling all day long.
Note to Higher Power: Thanks for the lift - next time I see you, iced lattes are on me.
4 comments:
Wow. Great post! (And I love writing to the GARDEN STATE album, too!)
Enjoy your writing!
-Robin
Loved it . . . last year I was doing a book signing promoting my newest book, not really wanting to be there because my husband was in the hospital, but my publisher insisted. I was signing books, smiling, hoping the road maps in my eyes weren't offputing, when two women walked by and looked at my first book. They proceeded to tell me how much they loved it and couldn't wait for the next one to come out. They raved and raved and raved. I went back to the hospital, to my sweet husband, feeling like a million books. Something that small, and it made all the difference. The writing world is an odd one, isn't it?
Thanks Robin - and yes, Garden State somehow lends to an altered writing state....
And Candace, your response is exactly my feelings when these "gifts" occur - the writing world is like no other!
THAT is a great story!
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