This manuscript of yours that has just come back from another editor is a precious package. Don’t consider it rejected. Consider that you’ve addressed it “to the editor who can appreciate my work” and it has simply come back stamped “not at this address.” Just keep looking for the right address.
–Barbara Kingsolver

The winners of the Amber Heat Wave contest were just announced. Office Relations didn’t make the cut. I’m feeling surprisingly peaceful about the whole thing. Sure, I’m disappointed, but I still believe it’s a good story. Plus, had begun to suspect I wouldn’t win, so it’s not a complete surprise.

The truth is, I’m not sure I write erotic romance. I write romance with plenty of sex in it (*grin*), but it’s mid-range on the heat scale. This is another thing that made me think it might not happen through this contest. I’m not giving up, though. I will send out OR again. I have a couple of options I’m considering, but first I’ll take a look at the story again and see how I can improve it.

Now I get to order my consolation prize.

Half of my life is an act of revision.
–John Irving

I spent a few hours tonight revising Office Relations. My reader’s comments were helpful, and I think the result is a stronger story. I’m rereading it now, and it amazes me that I wrote this. Some parts of it are quite good, LOL!

Haven’t heard from the second reader. I have tentatively decided that she doesn’t like it but doesn’t want to tell me. I think it’s my way of preparing for the worst. Still, I’m forging onward.

The mere habit of writing, of constantly keeping at it, of never giving up, ultimately teaches you how to write.
–Gabriel Fielding

I’ve begun a new story. It will probably be about the same length as Office Relations, and it, too, is a contemporary.

This makes me wonder if I do better with shorter stories. I hope this isn’t true, but I suspect that I’m more suited to writing contemporaries than futuristics. I’m not setting aside In Her Eyes completely, however. I have a notebook I’m using to jot down ideas for revision. Maybe I’ll work on it two or three days a week and write something new on the other days. As Fielding states in this quote, the habit of writing is teaching me to write. I’m still learning what works best for me.

I love criticism just so long as it’s unqualified praise.
–Noel Coward

I’ve gotten some feedback on Office Relations from a few coworkers. Aside from one comment about my hero being too sensitive (at least in one particular scene), the response has been very positive.

Now, I need to send it off to some romance readers. I may include a questionnaire to elicit specific feedback. Keep your fingers crossed that the news will be good.

The beautiful part of writing is that you don’t have to get it right the first time, unlike, say, a brain surgeon.
–Robert Cormier

I was hoping to spend only an hour or so writing tonight, but I spent closer to 2-1/2 hours on revisions to Office Relations. I was on a roll and didn’t want to stop. The good news is that I feel like the story is a lot stronger. I also think it is almost ready for me to let someone else read it. I’d like to get someone else’s input about whether a few lines are as funny as I think they are.

It’s hard to imagine that I was worried about finding a volunteer to read it. The tough part will be deciding which of the volunteers to choose.

Once I’m done with OR, I will start revisions for the NaNoWriMo story, which finally has a working title: In Her Eyes. I printed it off, and it’s 159 pages. My tentative goal is to expand it to 90,000 words. To meet that goal, I have a ways to go.