Thursday, February 3, 2011

IF YOU SEND A WRITER A VIRTUAL COOKIE

One of my critique buddies, Laura Malish, over at THE NEW EMILY blog wrote this great take on the book, IF YOU GIVE A MOUSE A COOKIE. She also happens to be a fantastic MG and YA writer, with so many works under her belt, it makes my head spin!

So, take it away, Laura!

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IF YOU SEND A WRITER A VIRTUAL COOKIE:

If you send a writer a virtual cookie, she'll return the love, but will notice that you’ve updated your profile. Clicking on your new smiling image, she’ll see that you’re on Twitter. She’ll decide to send you a tweet which will remind her that she forgot to post a tweet on her account. Closing her blogger friend’s page, she’ll remember that she was supposed to be blogging.

Sitting in her quiet office, waiting for inspiration, the dryer beeps in the background. Avoiding ironing at all costs, she pops out of her chair and quickly hangs up the warm clothes before the dreaded wrinkles can set in. On the way back to her desk, she’ll notice the stack of unopened mail on the table by the back door. Sorting through ads and bills, she finds a professional looking envelope with the name of an agency she queried.

Sighing, she resigns herself to the expected rejection letter which reminds her that she needs to query that agent she found online yesterday. Tossing aside the not quite right for our agency letter, she dashes back to her desk to dig through the pile of notes, desperately trying to find that email address. In the pile, she discovers the science paper that her daughter had been searching for last night. Grabbing her keys, she’s out the door. She turns on the radio and hears a beautiful love song that reminds her of the scene she’s writing in her latest manuscript. Repeating it over and over, she hopes to cement the lyrics in her brain so she can remember it when she sits down to write.

Returning home, she tries to remember what she wanted to write. Hurrying to her desk, she notices the empty screen still waiting for her blog post. Staring at the flashing line, she ponders what the heck she can write about. Maybe, organization? Maybe a more professional entry would be better in case a prospective agent checks out her blog. Agents and editors! She forgot to send a query to the editor from the fall conference. Quickly, dragging out her binder of important papers, she shuffles through until she finds the submission guidelines. Three months? She swallows and counts how many weeks since the conference and remembers she needs to make an appointment for a haircut.

Going to the mirror, she looks to see if any gray roots are showing. Looking at her reflection, she wonders if she will ever get her manuscript published – there are a few wrinkles appearing around her eyes. That’s what her character needs! Wrinkles. Back behind the desk, she brings up her work-in-progress. A soft ping announces she has mail. Opening the email, in case it’s the agent she queried last week requesting a partial, she finds a big chocolate chip cookie from her critique friend. Thought you could use something sweet today. Oh, no!
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YAY LAURA (story of my life)! ((hugs))

BTW, I know (believe me) how time-consuming it is to hop around to different blogs everyday, in addition to getting everything else done. So if you don't have time today, no worries at all.

BUT, if you have a minute to say hi to Laura over there (you can do it instead of here) at THE NEW EMILY or to click her followers link, please do. Remember how strange it felt the first few months of blogging? *HELLO, IS ANYONE OUT THERE?* :D

HAVE A GREAT DAY!

11 comments:

Matthew MacNish said...

This is a great post. As a person (and writer) who knows full well that I simply cannot multi-task, I don't really have days like this, but I can imagine what it must be like.

Off to follow Laura ...

Misha Gerrick said...

Phew!

I'm not there yet. ;-P

Heading over right now.

storyqueen said...

I think I have read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie about a jillion times....but now it will always have special meaning!

Too Funny!

Shelley

Kelly Polark said...

Ha! Love it!!! It sounds a lot like my life!

Stefanie Wass said...

Very cute post! Laura is a top-notch writer and the sweetest person ever. I'm hopping over to her blog right now!

Chazley Dotson said...

So funny, and you're right, that's exactly how it feels some days!

Melissa said...

Story.of.my.life!!!!

This post was awesome.

Lourie said...

That reminds me, I've got laundry in the dryer. ;) haha.

Anonymous said...

LOL! Yes i can relate to this. Poor Cookie Monster, I suspect he's having ongoing counselling! :O)

Joy@TPMG said...

I loved her take on the children's book! It made me laugh because I am always getting distracted.

Stina said...

I love this (it's so me!), but I keep expecting a big agent announcement at the end. ;)