near wild heaven

This is now, this is here, this is me, this is what I wanted you to see.

Currently re-reading: The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje

It's particularly apropos that I am reading this book now, because ol' Marie Marionette, ol' Errata, has returned from a year's sabbaticial. Her langiud, warm writing is reminiscient of Ondaatje. Welcome back.

I consider it a measure of my growth as a reader, this book. It is the first book I read for graduste school, over five years ago now. An August evening in Ames (yes, the same Ames with the torandos last weekend, and the Iowa Staters clearing out of the football stadium), Sunday, the night before my first gradute classes, and my premiere as a teacher. I liked it then, but found it remarkably dense, overpowering at times, someplace above me. I'm re-reading it now because I think it's good for me to read while I embark upon this novel I've now started to write. And I'm in fuller command of the language I'm reading, able to evaluate as I go, knowing those spots where the writing circles in on itself, or spirals just slightly from the writer's grasp.

My collection was turned down my an agent Monday. She liked the book but she said that short story collections are difficult to sell, and she didn't feel enthusiastic enough to tackle this particular project. I was only bummed for a moment, since, on the whole, it was a positive letter. And I do want an agent who is enthusiastic about my work, and who will represent it vigorously. So, goodbye Agent #1. I've got Agent #2 lined up. SHe'll get the ms next week--along with the first 20-30 pages of the novel.

Hi everybody.

posted by: zithereen at November 16, 2005 13:27 | link | comments (2) |