Leta1950

The Gallery Part I

leta1950 — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:31:39 +0000

This sketch is based off one of Jacob Lawrence's paintings.

When I work at the gallery, and there is a lull in the comings and goings of patrons interested in looking at the photographs, I like to lock the doors and put up the sign that reads: “Back in 15 mins.” I only do this once a day, for my actual break, but I don’t leave the space to go to lunch. I step out of the view of the windows, remove my shoes so that there is no sound except for the whirl and hush of the air conditioner, and I dance. I dance like I am a real dancer like I am training for a performance on the stage or I lie on the smooth cool surface of the concrete floor, and stare up at the photographs as they stare down at me. I think, “this would make an interesting photograph.” But, it is never seen by anyone not even me because I cannot see myself. I can only sense myself and imagine how this photographic image could look. Its always awesome.

These are my solitary moments, the parts of my life that feel real, the part that is truly me, my wonderful quiet artist that hides her face from the world.

A Rejection Letter

leta1950 — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 20:47:52 +0000

I can’t remember when I was sent this letter. It’s been about a month since I’ve put pen to paper or fingertips to keys. I’ve been going through some working transitions and it has caused me to work four different jobs while trying to move into my newest employment. I’m too tired to write. I know, I don’t have the tenacity it takes to be a “real” writer, but I went to a dinner not to long ago, that was all writers (published writers) and that is what their jobs are: writing and teaching writing. Writing is not my bread and butter, and my bread and butter isn’t much. So, in my defense it is hard to work four jobs, have two days off a month and still manage to have the desire to do anything besides sleep.

Thankfully, one job has finally ended and my evenings will once again open up. I’ll be able to force myself to the table and write again. Till then enjoy this brief rejection letter. It’s a little flat, but polite.

Dear Author,

Thank you for sending us your query. We are unable to ask to see your work as we can only review and take on a few new projects each year. We wish you all the best and thank you for thinking of us.

Wales Literary Agency, Inc.
PO Box 9426
Seattle, Washington 98109
waleslit@waleslit.com

www.waleslit.com

twitter.com/waleslit
Tel.. 206 284 7114

2012 Not Just an Address

leta1950 — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:48:40 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

The fever of talk about the end of the world approaching with the end of the Mayan calendar sort of fizzled out for me after the summer resurrection failed to…uh… rise. Not that I was on the bandwagon or RV, but it seemed like the talk of the world ending was at an all time high. Now that 2012 is rapidly approaching, I’m starting to hear another bit of buzz, but what with crazy politics, terrible scandals, and nuclear warheads (enough to make you wonder if maybe it wouldn’t all be better if it just did end) the Mayan calendar hasn’t been top of the trending news. But, I’ve started thinking about it.

I know some people believe this is the end, but other people believe it is a cosmic time when it is our opportunity to reach our highest potential. I tend to think both theories tall tales and paranoia, but some interesting things have been going on for me just in the past week and a half. I’ve been getting some great opportunities for change. I’ve got a non-profit assistant position at a company that reuses and recycles technology, and I’ve been given the title of Alumni Communications assistant at the writing institute where I have volunteered and taken classes. I know that this year 2012 will be important for me because most of these opportunities are temporary, but they hold incredible amounts of potential.

There is enormous unrest all over the world, but none of it frightens me. I think OWS is incredible and is showing the world leaders that people of the world want change, and the change they want is for opportunity to create a better stronger world. Oh sure this could all go to crap and we can all end up in a 2000 version of 1984, or it will be surpressed like the Czech spring of 1968 and then we’ll have, well, 1984; but there is also the chance that something amazing will come out of all of the unrest. This time, in my opinion, is the paradigm shift. It is happening on a personal level and a global level. It is an uncomfortable time filled with fear, but here it is as it always comes. So, I’m trying to take all these changes in stride and I’m trying to hold the opportunities close to me with honor, and I’m keeping my mind clear to think about how I will be and act and motivate during this upcoming year which I think will be an important year for learning.

So if we don’t get hit by a comet, or invaded by aliens, or blown up by bombs, or called for judgement day or all of the above, I think 2013 will hold some tremendous opportunities. Or not. But I plan to keep my head on straight living in each moment while working toward the future every day in 2012.

As far as publishing goes, I haven’t received a rejection letter in a few days, and this weekend I hope to sit down and try and send a few more queries out. Who knows maybe someone will want to publish my book- then I can be a great big sell out! Screw the future- I’m rich! Just kidding.

The Paper Rejection

leta1950 — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:08:12 +0000

Long gone are the days when a writer can take all of their rejections and tape them to a wall or pin them to a curtain. I suppose you can print out your e-mail rejection letter, and then tape it to the wall, but it still misses the action of opening the letter, and having the feel of that letter head paper in your hand. Oh, alas, where are the days of turning your rejection into an artistic expression?

Guess I’ll have to post them here. Although I think it lacks the element of “art”.

I sent out three more query’s recently, just to agents, you know, I’m hoping to get someone to help me to do the hard part. I’ve sent out a mere eight, and have received six rejections so far. I really just want to mass e-mail them all out, so badly. I read every bio and page and website and check out the books they publish, it takes about an hour to send a query out. I know I get a mass rejection e-mail. I’m cool with the mass rejection, but god damn do I want to just mass e-mail my query out in the same manner. You know, bam! 120 agents hit up in one hour! Stick It! I know it doesn’t work that way. Blah. Blah.

Anyway, these are my paltry eight: Snowbooks (publishers), Kristin Nelson at Nelson Literary Agency, LLC, Ethan Ellenberg at Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency, Barbara Lowenstein at Lowenstein Associates, Katherine Boyle at Veritas Literary Agency, Frances Collin at Frances Collin Literary Agency, Liza Dawson at Liza Dawson Associates, Elizabeth Wales at Wales Literary Agency.

Honestly, I don’t expect any one of these agency to represent me. I kind of feel like everything is just a little to conservative in the publishing world anyway. I want the experience of sending stuff out. I’m good with the rejection part, hence the desire to just mass e-mail everyone, but that would be stupid, I should at least try somewhat.

What’s really a bummer is that it is unlikely I will ever get a scathing rejection letter like people used to get, it’s all pre-written now, but wouldn’t it be awesome to get something like:

“this is the worst piece of writing I’ve ever had to sloth through. You call this literature? I call it toilet paper, in fact, I did use it to wipe my ass and it was such garbage it clogged my toilet.”

That would be rad. And! I would post it here in all its debasing glory. But, again, alas I just get nice polite things like this:

Dear Author:

Thank you so much for sending the Nelson Literary Agency your query. We’d like to apologize for the impersonal nature of this standard rejection letter. On average, we receive about 100 email query letters a day and despite that, we do read each and every query letter carefully. Unfortunately, this project is not right for us. Because this business is so subjective and opinions vary widely, we recommend that you pursue other agents. After all, it just takes one “yes” to find the right match.

Good luck with all your publishing endeavors.

Sincerely,

Kristin Nelson

Sara Megibow

Anita Mumm

NELSON LITERARY AGENCY, LLC

www.nelsonagency.com

Query Letter two

leta1950 — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:30:02 +0000

This is my second query letter (actually the number is higher, but it is the second not counting all the rewrites for the first one). This one is simple.

Image via Wikipedia

Annabelle is lost. In two year’s Annabelle will turn thirty, and she hasn’t hit one American woman adult milestone; no house, no career, no car, no husband, no kids, and she didn’t even graduate from college. The worst part? She isn’t certain she wants those things- but what else is there? Fortunately, Annabelle saw this coming, and like any self-respecting citizen, she ran away to the European continent for romance and adventure. Now, four years later, at the edge of the millenium after traveling through nine countries, working several jobs in the black or working on U.S. military bases, Annabelle is as lost as ever, and still doesn’t own a car. Is it time that she returns to the States to suck it up and become a “real” adult or will the mysterious district of Zizkov in the alluring city of Prague help her find what it is that is missing from her life?

Zizkov is my first novel. It is 104,947 words, and based somewhat loosely on my life in Prague. Zizkov is a literary fiction with autobiographical roots, but may also work as women’s travel fiction (if that genre exists).

I’ve recently completed a certificate in the Mastery of Writing from The Attic Institute. I have a B.A in English and writing from Portland State University, and a B.A. in Theatre performance from Chico State University. I am currently working on a second novel (YA fiction) and a play about women beat writers.