To all the other "hookers" out there.

I fantasize about my writing career all the time, good and bad, just like you said. I'm sure other writers do the same. And I think it can be a good thing if you channel it in the right direction.

Who was it, Casey Casum (American T-40 fame) that ended his show with something like "keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars".... or was it "keep your head in the clouds and keep your feet on the ground"? Something like that. Anyway, I think it's healthy if during your ride to work you envision your interview on Letterman explaining how you got such a great advance on your first novel, or that interview on NPR explaining why so many critics loved your prose. Ga'head, and take a walk on the beach and imagine what your first cover will look like, or what you would order for dessert on your first power lunch with your agent and editor. It's a fun diversion from the sometimes agonizing process of breaking into publishing. I do it with no shame. Just make sure you spend more time writing, learning about writing, and writing, than you do dreaming about it. Dream nonetheless.

But while you have your fun, keep in mind the realities of this business. Set your goals as high as you want, but also prepare yourself for a more modest outcome. I think that because we are always dreaming up these alternate universes and fictitious people doing (sometimes) crazy things, it's only natural to fantasize about our own destinies. Just make sure that ultimate fantasy doesn't become your "end-all". You should have more modest (realistic?) aspirations as well as those ultimate aspirations. Be happy with the success you do achieve, but never stop dreaming about even bigger heights, no matter how you define "bigger".

Have fun with your imagination. I would love to be able to retire this year from any so-called "day jobs" so that I could continue my work as a best-seller, writing from the den of my dream house (no, not a mansion, just something that fullfills my own personal desires). But I would still be ecstatic just to land an agent who loves my writing, hooks me up with the appropriate publisher, and gets my book into print, and my writing career into gear. If it turns out to be a profession that supplies me with just a supplemental salary but terrific feeling of accomplishment, and a means to be read, I will be extremely happy. I'll still aim higher, but I will appreciate what I have achieved.

So dream those dreams. Just don't brag about them until you've actually reached your goals. I love nothing more than calling out braggarts who haven't done sh!t yet.

Good luck, fellow dreamer.

Ugh, I know what you mean. But at least you have a number. Haha! I sent mine in at 12:30 a.m. PST since I'd just gotten home from work, and according to their subsequent posts, I should get in easily. But it doesn't stop me from fretting!

I don't think my hook is very good (it's more like a watery synopsis) but that's why I want them to rip it up for me. ^_^ I'm not nearly as indiscriminate about querying agents as Miss Snark tells me, so I have to make it count.

I'm still waiting on a number, too. I sent mine in at 12:06 am. I know they are still finishing up assigning numbers, but still...

And don't worry about your fantasy, Miss Java. I think I had the exact same one at some point in the last few days.

I sent mine it at 12:16 AM EST...still no number.

I just keep telling myself that some will be much better than mine and some will be much worse...but I'm still so excited for the judging!

I believe it's: Keep your hopes high, keep your goals reasonable. Reward yourself with daydreaming about fame and fortune AFTER you get your word count in for the day or when you know you can't write at the moment. Don't do it during your writing time.

I missed the time. I would have sent mine--COULD have--since I was up then and we're on central. What happened--baby daughter was fussy and I forgot. FORGOT! After a week of writing and polishing.

Good luck to those who got in the contest!

I still haven't gotten my number! I'm so nervous! I'm worried I sent in to the wrong address or something. It was [email protected], right?

I doublechecked, and that is the correct e-mail address. Maybe you could try emailing them and asking them if they received it? Because there is a message at their blog now saying that all numbers have been sent out.

Ah, no worries! I just got my number--55. I wonder why it took so long.

Hey, I'm number 50! Whoo!

I am in it too for the critiques.
I believe there is much to learn from your peers.
the tension feels good.
best of luck to all of you who entered.

Shady Lane said:

Ah, no worries! I just got my number--55. I wonder why it took so long.

Click to expand...

It took a bit longer because all 250 hooks (we increased the number of accepted hooks from 180 to 250) needed stripped of author by the three volunteers. The volunteer for that batch was a touch slower, but 48 hours or so for stripping & passing out 250 entries isn't so bad All 3 of the people who are taking care of the coordination are doing a great job, & I'm very grateful to them for their efforts.

We're grateful for their time and effort, as well, Melissa. Thanks for a quick heads-up on the process.

I got in because I was awake at midnight--the younger offspring wasn't feeling well. (He's just fine now, so I'm grateful to his tummy. ) I'm number 75! (nerves...butterflies...stress...)

I know it's a simple contest, but in the quotable words of the NYS Lottery: Hey, you never know.

And, Melissa, thank you! We're all grateful to the hard workers behind the scenes!

Melissa_Marr said:

It took a bit longer because all 250 hooks (we increased the number of accepted hooks from 180 to 250) needed stripped of author by the three volunteers. The volunteer for that batch was a touch slower, but 48 hours or so for stripping & passing out 250 entries isn't so bad All 3 of the people who are taking care of the coordination are doing a great job, & I'm very grateful to them for their efforts.

Click to expand...

Of course! Didn't mean to sound ungreatful.
I'm so excited for he contest!

Shady Lane said:

Of course! Didn't mean to sound ungreatful.

Click to expand...

I didn't think you sounded ungrateful. I was just having a particularly over-grateful moment to them. My co-mods are handling the sorting. I'm not.

When the couple of us who started the group did so, I never thought it would attract so many fabulous authors or such interesting projects. Really, it was just three of Rachel's clients who were all restless at the same time. Looking at where we are not quite 6 months later, I'm just pretty impressed with them.

Well,then I didn't mean to be such a terrible speller, at the very least

Those first ten were good, but not as good as I was fearing...maybe I do have a chance!

*squashes optimism*

I was chosen to send pages. Holy mother of....