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 :) |
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 |
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:
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.
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
Hate those car warranty letter! Hang on to the dream, both of them. You'll get there!
Not just coincidence!
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! :)
;))))) 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!
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.
There has to be a correlation! Ireland is depending on you to get published. You better get crackin' :)
You really do bleed green, don't ya? :)
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.
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! :)
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
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! :)
Hang in there, Mark.
Clever post, btw. :)
Maybe you should start querying as "Ireland." :)
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?
Great comparisons. Keep the fighting spirit alive!
Play off the Page
Extended warranty - LOL xD
Hang in there, Mark. ;)
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!
Soccer = Just another reason to get a bunch of drunks(Irishmen)up early in the morning to drink :-)
:) An interesting comparison. Good luck to both you and to Ireland for the future!!!
Mark, these are fantastic words.
- Maurice Mitchell
The Geek Twins | Film Sketchr
@thegeektwins | @mauricem1972
Thanks for stopping by and championing me in the Star Wars thing!
Keep those dreams alive, Mark! It's the only way to go. :)
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