Maybe after spending the night he is trying to hurry up and get out there.  He is trying to explain this complicated situation without it sounding like a lame excuse to bolt after a one night quickie. 

I'd make him fail and sound lame.  She could be pissed and later find out the truth in a flooding bank vault.

or Not.

     So after taking a break from writing, I am back.  I call it taking a break but really life's interferences combined with my own temper tantrum and viola, I quit writing anything not work related for five months.  Writer's get to be temperamental, right?  

     So my question to you is... do you find reading too much about writing counterproductive?  On second thought, I guess it is really reading about the publishing process.  I will be cranking along, writing everyday (never the word count I should though).  Inevitably, I will end up reading something or listening to a writing podcast and the topic of getting published comes up.  Listening to published authors speak about the difficulties of getting published just depresses me.

     Don't get me wrong, I have no thoughts of getting rich or becoming best selling author but it would seem the logical conclusion to writing a story would be to get it published.  So does this happen to you?

    

Well, I received my first rejection letter today.  Oddly enough I feel...rejected.  sigh

The letter was from an assistant editor.  It was polite, short, and unsigned.  He said that my story wasn't what he was looking for right now but good luck.  I wish knew if I was writing crap or utter crap. 

Save it.   I have my four or five saved, including the personal one from Gordon Van Gelder that's tacked up above my desk.  Some rejection letters are the next best thing to an acceptance letter!

Yep, that was the very name on the envelope.  Actually completing, editing, formatting and mailing off the short story felt like an accomplishment itself.  Dang I hope mine's personal! 

I try to explain it as my story has an energy that is used in the writing of it and talking about it steals that energy.  I just quit talking about it.  "I am on chapter ##" is pretty much all I will share.

What steals your Mojo and what do you do about it?  (I define Mojo as the enthusiasm and motivation to write)

For me there are 2 main Mojo Bandits:

1.  Insecurity.  All those little voices that insist that I am laying down bland, boring drivel and calling it a story or chapter.  They whisper things like "You actually think you are creative?".  I've gotten better at resisting this particular thief by viewing my novel as a marathon.  Right now it doesn't matter how good it is keep writing until you get to the end.

2.  Oddly enough, writing and publishing advice.  While some of it helps (Jim's Blog, Stephen J. Cannell's lecture on screen-writing, and writing excuses podcast) much of makes me feel overwhelmed.  Too much to accomplish with too little talent.  How can I keep all that in mind when I am writing?  Getting published sounds nigh impossible.  I try and recognize this negative influence and limit my reading to select items.  As far as taking advice seriously I mainly use 2 criteria to strain through the sources (1) Are they published professionally (2) do I like their writing.  I also remind myself that I am not trying to write literature, just tell a story I would like to read.

cool story Gritti!  I especially liked the whispering to the sand trick.  Gotta let this one brew for bit.

He did indeed.  I apologize for bringing the angst.  Life really is good.  I am happy, just more...determined now.