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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

In Search of Dreams: WIP & Irish Soccer

Aloha,

Writing is much like the pain, the happiness, the anguish and the love that happens when I support the Irish national soccer squad as I have since Euro 1988.

I did not know this before today (because Ireland hadn’t played in a major tournament for ten years), but read for yourself… there are too many weird coincidences for this not to be true, like.

Look, Ma, I'm on the Telly :)
I’ve worked on WIP for about two years, and during the same time, the Irish played about a dozen games in their hopes to qualify for the 2012 European Cup.


Ireland clinched a tournament spot in November 2011.
I finished my non-fiction book proposal about the same time.

As the New Year came and went, I submitted a few queries, while the Irish subbed a few players in several “friendly” games.

As the Irish prepared to play their three (guaranteed) group matches in early June, I thought back to a recent writer’s conference where three agents asked for more material.

I’d love Ireland to win one game in order to advance.
I’d love one publisher in order to get an advance.

Ireland lost its first game.
I got a reject letter.

Ireland played its second game – they got a whuppin’ via a four - zero score.

I got a second reject – and a whuppin’ via a form - Xerox letter.


With two losses, Ireland could not advance – but there’s still hope – to win for national pride.
With two rejects, I wouldn’t earn an advance – but there’s still hope – to write for personal pride.

Courtesy: Sportsfile
Ireland’s third and final chance was this past Monday.

The anticipation as I watched the game unfold was unbearable.

At half-time, I walked to the mailbox.
The anticipation, as I reached in and saw a strange, white envelope was (somewhat) unbearable.




Ireland lost its third game.

Inside the envelope was a (forwarded by the USPS) offer to extend the warranty on a car I sold two years ago.

Ireland’s latest hopes and dreams were squished – but the next round of qualifiers begins in three months. My hopes and dreams remain alive.
I plan to finish WIP soon, and expect edits and revisions to begin in three months. My hopes and dreams remain alive.

(See the video bar on the upper right hand side.) Ireland’s fans are the greatest. They will never quit in their dream of seeing the squad one day hold a Cup aloft in the air.
I’m not the greatest, but I’ll never quit on my dream to one day hold published WIP aloft in my grubby little hands. 

And, as for you, yes, you with that dream of yours.






Don’t you lose hold of that dream, neither, like.










*I’m not Dave, but I’m just sayin’.

(*Used with kind permission of DPK other world productions.)



24 comments:

Martin Willoughby said...

The car warranty letter made me laugh. With a build up like that you should consider comedy. :)

It's always good to see the Irish at tournaments as their fans are brilliant.

Kyra Lennon said...

That is a weird series of coincidences!

Irish fans really do rock, and I was cheering right along with them the whole way through. :D

S.P. Bowers said...

Hate those car warranty letter! Hang on to the dream, both of them. You'll get there!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Not just coincidence!

David P. King said...

Wow. If I didn't know any better, I'd say the universe was trying to communicate something. It's fun saying "leave me alone universe" and keep perusing your dream, isn't it? Keep at it! :)

Green Monkey said...

;))))) big smile here! you wrote that for me, didn't you! I really have to get out of my own way and get the dream thing going again. Always so nice to read you Mark!

M.J. Fifield said...

Those are some pretty weird coincidences. Love that the third envelope contained a car warranty letter.

Hang on there... You'll get the right letter one of these days.

Jennie Bennett said...

There has to be a correlation! Ireland is depending on you to get published. You better get crackin' :)

Cassie Mae said...

You really do bleed green, don't ya? :)

Elizabeth Seckman said...

CAR INSURANCE!!! I was like half as disappointed as you must have been. :(
You'll make it. You're a talented man and it's not a matter of if; it's when.

Leigh Covington said...

Mark, you ROCK! Love this! Well, bummed they lost, but it happens! As long as the dream remains alive, that's all that matters! Hopefully that book request and agent pop into your mailbox with open arms very soon! :)

Empty Nest Insider said...

I also loved the car warranty bit! Sorry they lost, but I have faith that your writing dream will come true before you know it! Julie

Lara Schiffbauer said...

Oh my gosh! You had my heart pounding about the car warranty extension - well, leading up to knowing what was in the envelope.

All right. I'll keep my dreams alive as long as you keep yours alive! :)

Anonymous said...

Hang in there, Mark.

Clever post, btw. :)

Nicole said...

Maybe you should start querying as "Ireland." :)

cleemckenzie said...

We'll just have to cheer those Irish on to victory. It's time to turn their luck and yours around. As to the car warranty . . . the positive spin is it wasn't a bill, heh?

Mary Aalgaard said...

Great comparisons. Keep the fighting spirit alive!

Play off the Page

Melissa said...

Extended warranty - LOL xD
Hang in there, Mark. ;)

Morgan said...

Ohhhh... this warms my heart!

Hold. True. To. You. (Got that from your comment on Cass's blog and laughing)

Mark, thanks for this. I do love your humor, but I really love when you get real. You will do this. It will happen. The talent is there and so is the dedication. I'm excited for you.

And I *love* the DPK shout out at the end. SO FUN!

Jerry said...

Soccer = Just another reason to get a bunch of drunks(Irishmen)up early in the morning to drink :-)

Bonnee Crawford said...

:) An interesting comparison. Good luck to both you and to Ireland for the future!!!

Maurice Mitchell said...

Mark, these are fantastic words.
- Maurice Mitchell
The Geek Twins | Film Sketchr
@thegeektwins | @mauricem1972

Andrew Leon said...

Thanks for stopping by and championing me in the Star Wars thing!

Unknown said...

Keep those dreams alive, Mark! It's the only way to go. :)

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