There’s been a bit of a shift in blogging focus here since I fessed up about the impending baby. Lots of pregnancy talk. A bit of knitting talk. Pretty much nothing about writing or the first novel or the second novel. Have you noticed? Go on. You can admit it.
The reason? The first novel, Drowning Practice, is still in the shopping-around-to-publishers phase under the expert supervision of my fantasticwonderfulIloveher agent to beat all agents. I’m still waiting for word. Why such a long wait? Well… A) That’s the process, folks. Yeah. It kind of sucks. It’s torture. B) No one works in book publishing during the holidays, or really in the weeks leading up to the holidays. How do I know this? I’m sitting right now in the more than half-empty office of a major book publisher. (No, I didn’t break in. I work here.) Or, that is to say, very very few acquisitions editors work during these weeks. So I won’t be hearing anything before January. And then there’ll be a backlog of work so….
Basically, I sit around very nervously and try not to think too much about the book or wonder who is reading it right now and loving it or hating it.
No, I haven’t been terribly successful at not thinking about that. Though the baby-in-progress has been a good distraction. Nothing like pregnancy to put other major and minor life issues in perspective. But the book is still a very big deal to me. And I’m nervous. Oy vey.
The second book? The novel that I started at Ragdale? Haven’t done much writing at all since getting back from Ragdale. I could blame the editing work I had to take on, or the distraction of the impending kid, or the way my sudden need to go to sleep at a reasonable hour has cut into my writing time, but really I think it’s the not knowing what’s going to happen with the first book that has me thrown off my normal writing schedule. I want to get back to it this week if I can. I finished my last editing job for the next little while yesterday, so that means Friday I’m free to go back to my writing schedule. And I will. Gulp.
And maybe next week I’ll have some good news about the first book? Or maybe not. Or not yet. But one can hope, yes?
Sending good karma waves your way 🙂
Posted by: Libby
See, you are such a good writer that I got nervous just reading this.
😉
Posted by: claudia
Sounds like you have more than one birth in your future. Good luck!
Posted by: margene
Yes, we can hope for good news on all fronts. Personally I hope the book births soon since I can’t wait for the moment I’m in the bookstore and I can say, OH! Look it’s Cari’s book as if I am this close to someone famous and this close to someone who writes so brilliantly well that others will be impressed. Then after I read the book, I can’t wait to be impressed with the brilliant writing. My, that’s a lot to live up to but even if you don’t, I’ll still like you and I’ll still go into stores and request your book until they publish it! Yep, I’m persistant that way.
Posted by: Rebecca
Cookie? Or, um, jelly beans?
Seriously–it makes a ton of sense to be off writing while your first novel is still in limbo. I am envisioning seeing the book on the shelf at St. Marks right now. I hope that helps.
Posted by: Em
If I could go back in time and give one piece of advice to my pregnant self, it would be to write and knit as much as you possibly can before your baby comes.
Not to add any pressure or anything.
(I don’t know if I’ve ever commented here before, but I love your blog. It’s one of the few I still read in my wee bit of spare time.)
Posted by: Brooke
fingers crossed, toes crossed, eyes crossed. Ok, I’m uncrossing my eyes. but I’m keeping the fingers crossed. Except when I’m knitting a (hopefully) replica of The Socks You Knitted For Me. ;-D
Posted by: Norma
At least you found an agent for your first book, and the second? I’m more than willing to admit that growing a baby is enough of a creative endeavor to warrant putting growing a book on the back burner . . . but just for a little while!!
Posted by: –Deb
Best wishes on finding someone to publish your work!
Posted by: emily
Thanks for the update (I was wondering).
Good luck getting back to the schedule. Send some of that discipline my way okay? I need to get back to writing too.
Posted by: Steph
Keep the faith girl.
Posted by: LaurieM
I think the whole blog world has their fingers crossed for you. (I don’t comment too often but I’m still here!) Hang in there!!
Posted by: molly
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for good news regarding the first novel – not that you *need* it or anything. Personally, I think growing a baby is a pretty amazing accomplishment all by itself. 😉
Posted by: elisa
Novel #1 is going to get picked up by some smart editor. I just know it. You yourself point out that the publishing industry is basically on hiatus until the first week of january, and even then, it’ll take a minute before people fully get back in the swing of things. I’m crossing everything for you, but I am convinced that all is going to turn out well for the book.
Posted by: regina
Everyone is sending good thoughts out for you, for everything. And although growing that baby is a job in itself, I’m sure you’ll settle down and focus on writing soon. I’m willing to bet that Ragdale itself was something that required re-entry time. It’ll all come around to a new normal schedule again soon.
Posted by: Cassie
Sending good karma waves your way 🙂
Posted by: Libby
See, you are such a good writer that I got nervous just reading this.
😉
Posted by: claudia
Sounds like you have more than one birth in your future. Good luck!
Posted by: margene
Yes, we can hope for good news on all fronts. Personally I hope the book births soon since I can’t wait for the moment I’m in the bookstore and I can say, OH! Look it’s Cari’s book as if I am this close to someone famous and this close to someone who writes so brilliantly well that others will be impressed. Then after I read the book, I can’t wait to be impressed with the brilliant writing. My, that’s a lot to live up to but even if you don’t, I’ll still like you and I’ll still go into stores and request your book until they publish it! Yep, I’m persistant that way.
Posted by: Rebecca
Cookie? Or, um, jelly beans?
Seriously–it makes a ton of sense to be off writing while your first novel is still in limbo. I am envisioning seeing the book on the shelf at St. Marks right now. I hope that helps.
Posted by: Em
If I could go back in time and give one piece of advice to my pregnant self, it would be to write and knit as much as you possibly can before your baby comes.
Not to add any pressure or anything.
(I don’t know if I’ve ever commented here before, but I love your blog. It’s one of the few I still read in my wee bit of spare time.)
Posted by: Brooke
fingers crossed, toes crossed, eyes crossed. Ok, I’m uncrossing my eyes. but I’m keeping the fingers crossed. Except when I’m knitting a (hopefully) replica of The Socks You Knitted For Me. ;-D
Posted by: Norma
At least you found an agent for your first book, and the second? I’m more than willing to admit that growing a baby is enough of a creative endeavor to warrant putting growing a book on the back burner . . . but just for a little while!!
Posted by: –Deb
Best wishes on finding someone to publish your work!
Posted by: emily
Thanks for the update (I was wondering).
Good luck getting back to the schedule. Send some of that discipline my way okay? I need to get back to writing too.
Posted by: Steph
Keep the faith girl.
Posted by: LaurieM
I think the whole blog world has their fingers crossed for you. (I don’t comment too often but I’m still here!) Hang in there!!
Posted by: molly
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for good news regarding the first novel – not that you *need* it or anything. Personally, I think growing a baby is a pretty amazing accomplishment all by itself. 😉
Posted by: elisa
Novel #1 is going to get picked up by some smart editor. I just know it. You yourself point out that the publishing industry is basically on hiatus until the first week of january, and even then, it’ll take a minute before people fully get back in the swing of things. I’m crossing everything for you, but I am convinced that all is going to turn out well for the book.
Posted by: regina
Everyone is sending good thoughts out for you, for everything. And although growing that baby is a job in itself, I’m sure you’ll settle down and focus on writing soon. I’m willing to bet that Ragdale itself was something that required re-entry time. It’ll all come around to a new normal schedule again soon.
Posted by: Cassie
Thanks for the update on the books (yes I had noticed the shift in content, but you write about it in such an entertaining way, it really doesn’t detract from the blog reading pleasure!).
Do you think you can distract yourself from book 1 a bit more with more knitting?
Posted by: di
Cari, you can blog about goldfinches or Porsches for all I care and I’d still be so happy to read your entries. Not that I’m comparing your baby to a bird or a car – I love reading what’s happening to you, remembering my own pregnancies and mumbling oh god yes that’s what it was like, all happy and tired and so annoyed at times.
Posted by: marrije
Well, I had been wondering but thought it impolite to ask. You just gotta keep that hope alive, that’s the best thing to do. And getting back into the writing schedule, though probably not what you really want to do, will probably be calming for you. You can savoring those lovely crative moments before your life gets totally upended.
Next thing you need to tell us is which hearbreakingly adorable baby sweater you’re knitting!
Posted by: Jenna
I’ve enjoyed reading about all aspects of your life – the book (that I can’t wait to read) and the baby (that I love hearing about) are parts of that big picture like points on a continuum.*
Though I’ve never been to as intense a place as Ragdale I treasure the things I created and thought up during weekends away in retreat spaces; time helped me to string together what I worked on and even if it wasn’t my original idea. I hope that your writing falls into place and my fingers are crossed that a publisher sends good news soon.
(* I google, spell checked and double checked this spelling but it *still* doesn’t look right…)
Posted by: Kristen
I feel for you! Family should be safe and happy. The unkind Uncle, is er, male, so that could be one reason for his lack of tact. Deep breath, hold, release – just breath, forget about it.
Drink LOTS of water to help flush out your system – may help with zits. Try a cleanser for allergies and moisturizer too – they should both be mild enough.
Cheers!
Posted by: knitty_kat
Fingers crossed!
Posted by: Gina
Thanks for the update on the books (yes I had noticed the shift in content, but you write about it in such an entertaining way, it really doesn’t detract from the blog reading pleasure!).
Do you think you can distract yourself from book 1 a bit more with more knitting?
Posted by: di
Cari, you can blog about goldfinches or Porsches for all I care and I’d still be so happy to read your entries. Not that I’m comparing your baby to a bird or a car – I love reading what’s happening to you, remembering my own pregnancies and mumbling oh god yes that’s what it was like, all happy and tired and so annoyed at times.
Posted by: marrije
Well, I had been wondering but thought it impolite to ask. You just gotta keep that hope alive, that’s the best thing to do. And getting back into the writing schedule, though probably not what you really want to do, will probably be calming for you. You can savoring those lovely crative moments before your life gets totally upended.
Next thing you need to tell us is which hearbreakingly adorable baby sweater you’re knitting!
Posted by: Jenna
I’ve enjoyed reading about all aspects of your life – the book (that I can’t wait to read) and the baby (that I love hearing about) are parts of that big picture like points on a continuum.*
Though I’ve never been to as intense a place as Ragdale I treasure the things I created and thought up during weekends away in retreat spaces; time helped me to string together what I worked on and even if it wasn’t my original idea. I hope that your writing falls into place and my fingers are crossed that a publisher sends good news soon.
(* I google, spell checked and double checked this spelling but it *still* doesn’t look right…)
Posted by: Kristen
I feel for you! Family should be safe and happy. The unkind Uncle, is er, male, so that could be one reason for his lack of tact. Deep breath, hold, release – just breath, forget about it.
Drink LOTS of water to help flush out your system – may help with zits. Try a cleanser for allergies and moisturizer too – they should both be mild enough.
Cheers!
Posted by: knitty_kat
Fingers crossed!
Posted by: Gina