note to my past self, and anyone still 17

Remember how eager you were to wash the dust of high school from your heels (and every other part of your body)? It was a good idea, oh my younger self. You needed that time away, to grow, to get over the various traumas, to let living-life center you and settle you and lighten you all at once. High school is meant to be survived, not relived.

And yet...

Drinks with Old Friends tonight, and it's amusing, oh past self, how very little has changed...and yet everything has changed. The faces and the voices are the same and yet We who were 16 and 17 no longer exist -- the frustrations and fears that drove us like spurs are burned away and in their place live calmer, more easily amused-by-life souls. It's good.

But the shots of Southern Comfort? Those were bad. Very, very bad. *kicks Patrick for ordering them*

EtA: I am informed that, after I left, two more rounds of shots were ordered. Another thing, oh my past self, we have learned: when to say "no mas."

we interrupt this manuscript to bring you another manuscript....

I can haz editorial letter for VINEART, which I suppose I should start calling by its actual title now. It is due back 4 February.

*eeeeeks*

All right, we are officially back in Work Hard Mode.

The 10 Stages of Revisions, LAG-style

1. skim letter.
2. print letter out.
3. procrastinate.
4. go over letter with the highlighters of 'easy,' 'okay,' and 'eeek.'
5. go over manuscript with red pen and letter.
6. procrastinate.
7. enter changes into manuscript.
8. read over manuscript again.
9. fix things that got broken while fixing things.
10. hit 'send,' and panic.


I also need to com up with some ideas for cover conference, so they can reject my suggestions. ;-) So... anyone want to tell me what would make YOU pick this book up off the shelves?