I have a thing with fortune cookies. I rarely eat Chinese food and when I do, I like to think my fortune cookies will come true. And really, wouldn’t it just be wrong for a fortune wrapped in sugary goodness to not come true?
So last week I got another one- I think that makes three this year.
You will find your horizons suddenly broadened.
Hmmm… In the short-term, I’m getting some killer suggestions from beta readers, definitely broadening my horizons. In the long-term…
Well, I think getting an agent and having HATSHEPSUT published would broaden my horizons, don’t you? Sometimes I set goals half-heartedly, knowing they’re not going to pan out and yet, not really caring. This is probably the first long-term goal that I know I’m going to meet despite the astronomical odds the universe has stacked against me. It’s going to be a brutal year as I survive rejection after rejection, but I just have this feeling that by this time next year I’m going to have an agent. And hopefully a book deal.
What about you? Where will you be this time next year?
God willing, somewhere in the same vicinity, career wise. And, I very much hope, no longer living in Connecticut…
My fortune cookies seem to end up being more like words-of-wisdom-and-common-sense cookies. But my blog title comes from one! Good to begin well, better to end well. It just seems fitting for a writer, doesn't it?
I'd like to be somewhere similar but I'm not holding my breath. I think it might take me a bit longer but looking back on how far I came this year, 2010 is going to rock anyway!
I love fortune cookies 🙂
I generally set a lot of concrete goals for myself. I prefer to just do what I can at the time. Probably because my life is kinda chaotic most of the time!
A couple weeks ago I decided that this upcoming year will be my year to get an agent 😀 We can exchange cyber hugs over our rejections 😀 Good Luck!
I'm in Jade's boat…but you never know.
Actually, if I even just finished reading half the books I intended to, I think I'd be sitting in a good place.
I have a feeling that this time next year I'll be revising my book, sending out queries (yikes!), and struggling to overcome my impatience.
It's kind of overwhelming to think about, tbh. D:
Yeah, hopefully I'll be in Jessica's boat at this time next year too. *crosses fingers*
I'd love to finish, revise and then query. If I happen to be successful in landing an agent in 2010, that would just be icing.
Specifically, though, this time next year I hope to be commenting on your blog applauding you on your 3-book deal.
The Queen of Egypt's got your back, so you're going to stand strong as you venture into those horizons. I'm sure of it.
First off, I think it's cool that you started your post off with fortune cookies. My boyfriend and I have this long running joke about "Misfortune Cookies" and how we're going to invent and market them. How would you feel if you opened up a cookie and it said, "When the sun rises in the east you will be mauled by a giant hairy beast." It could be profitable, don't you think?
As far as where I think I will be at next year…based on how things are going now…I wonder if I'll even have my rewrite done. And if I have it done it probably won't be good because the time to make it good will be lacking. Sigh. I hope I'm wrong.
Don't worry about the rejections, keep your eye on the prize!
Voidwalka say: The road to success is paved with failure-stones and rejection-stones.
Voidwalker- I like your fortune! I'm going to need to remember to look back at this post over the next year!
Anita- If I'd been drinking anything when I read your hairy beast fortune I would have snorted it up my nose. 🙂 I hope you're wrong too!
Tricia- I'll remember that! It's kind of cool to think the Queen of Egypt has my back.
Renee- Thanks for the smile today! A 3-book deal would rock!
Matt, Jessica, Bethany, Just Another Sarah, & Jade- I hope by New Years Eve 2010 we all have agents. If we do we should have a party to celebrate!
Jemi- I feel your pain- chaotic defines my life!
Amalia- That is a good fortune and I had no idea that's where your blog title comes from. Cool! Good luck moving out of Connecticut. And on publishing too!
I love your blog, Stephanie! You are such a ray of positive sunshine. I hope with my whole heart to find an agent who loves The Naughty Boy Factory. Publication would be sweet icing, but this year I'd settle for the agent. (are you listening, Emily van Beek?) ha ha ha 😉
Anita, I love your idea–I'd buy misfortune cookies! I, too, love fortune cookies, although I feel like anymore I get more of a lame statement as opposed to a fortune in my cookies. I guess the bonus is I can always flip it over and learn a little Chinese.
Anyways, by this time next year, I think we'll be getting ready to launch Pemberly Brown and hopefully will be working with an editor on our current WIP! Good luck in 2010–may it bring you an agent AND a book deal!
In San Antonio, most likely, and hopefully further along in my writing career. May everyone else's fortunes come true.
Anita– my boyfriend and I call them "Fact Cookies" because they are so rarely fortunes: "You are a person of strong virtue". "You are a kind and generous friend". Those aren't friggin' fortunes! Those are facts! I would TOTALLY buy your "Misfortune Cookies" haha.
Stephanie– I got your email, sorry I didn't reply. I've been swaaaaaamped. So this is me saying, got it, and I think after Friday (i.e., this weekend) I'll be able to go through it for you. I'm still excited! Yay!
Also, I have plenty of goals for the new year. But I'm trying to keep quiet about them because I don't want to get my hopes up. It's always awkward explaining failure, haha. I'd rather keep mum and share when I have good news!
Shannon- We can both party when we sign with agents!
Lisa & Laura- I'm excited for your launch! I can't wait to read your book!
Bane- I'm hoping you sign an agent this year for TLCC.
L.T.- Those are fact cookies- no fair! I'm with you on explaining failure. That's why I haven't told a whole lot of people that I'm trying to get published. I'm excited to hear what you think of HATSHEPSUT- good or bad!
Stephanie – I have another award for you at my blog! (This one's brand new, so I know you don't have it yet) 🙂
Awww… Thanks, Shannon! It's so pretty! I'm saving up a ton of award posts for either just before or right after New Years. Thank you, thank you!
Lorel say you will get an agent this year…
I can't tell my own fortune, so I hope this is the year for me as well. I'm finally working on a book that I feel will be great, so fingers crossed.
My favorite fortune cookie messages were "You will be travelling and coming into a fortune" and "You will spend an old age surrounded by material wealth". It's the "old age" part I'm not sure about. Just how long will it take for me to become a fantastically rich, best-selling author? If it's going to be a while, I'd better enjoy the process of getting there.
Good luck on all your goals! 2010 is going to be a good year for us penners, I just know it.
Then again, I just got a fortune cookie that said "You have made a big mistake. Look back on your life and try to figure out what it was." No joke. But at least it wasn't your cookie, right? Good luck! 🙂
That's a great fortune! 2010 is going to rock!
Stephanie, I like your fortune and your attitude! By the time this next year closes, I'll have found an agent for my novel, and found literary homes for several of my short stories/poems. I hope 2010 is a wonderful year for all of us!