I'm in limbo. I've got some fulls out for FRACTION OF STONE. Promising leads. Slowly querying.I realize its uber difficult to land an agent though, so while of course I hope agents swoop down and whisk me into publishing land, I can't control their entrance.
What I can control is my writing. I figure the more writing I do, the better I get and the more chances I have of flying through the air and landing on a bookshelf.
So that's what I'm going to do. Write another book.
For my next idea, I need your help. It's simple really. I promise. Just answer this question.
You have unlimited wishes. What would you wish for?
Now, before we get all 'World Peace' with this I want you to really think. They can be petty, funny, special, weird, small, large, profound. Anything.
Maybe you'd like Elvis to come back.
Maybe you'd like calories not to exist.
Maybe you wish the world was all one country.
Maybe you wish you knew your mother/father/siblings, etc.
Maybe you wish for love.
Maybe you'd like world peace.
Maybe you really wish there was a Pink Peanut M&M.
So give me all you got. Rub the lantern and have anything granted. What would it be?
Do these wishes come with crazy unforeseen consequences? No?
ReplyDeleteMore kindness in the world. My book published. My 12 year old having a sudden epiphany how important grades are. More honesty in the world. A lifetime supply of chocolate :)
Nope. Not until the book is written ;) haha.
DeleteThe grades thing is so huge isn't it? Ah, how silly we all were back then.
Financial security for the rest of my life (just to get that one out of the way). Assurance that my mother would live as long as I do, while also being healthy. Immortality for my cats. Friends who would never abandon or belittle me.
ReplyDeleteYou know, little things like that.
Wow, Hildred, these are deep! I love them! I like the one about your mother and I would TOTALLY do the same for my dog :)
DeleteYay writing! I already can't wait to read it! Okay wishes. Hmm.. I wish I could go back in time to when my grandfather was in the hospital and instead of saying I'll see him when he gets home, I would have gone to see him because unlike all the times before he didn't make it home. I would have liked to have seen him one last time.
ReplyDeleteAlso he used to tell crazy stories about his life (think the movie Big Fish-that's him) and I wish I would have gave him a video camera and had him tell his stories in front of it, so maybe one day I could have turned his life into a book.
Get an agent, get published, become successful, cure for cancer, world peace, but I have a feeling none of them will help you with your book.
You know what would be great, if I could walk outside my door and be wherever I want to be. I feel like a swim, open my door and I am in the Caribbean. Feel like a hike, open the door and I'm on the mountains in Montana. Oh that would be awesome!
Pink M&M's would be nice too :)
Theresa that's so sweet about your grandfather! And who know, perhaps my character will want to get published ;)
DeleteUnlimited supply of high concept book ideas. A cure to world hunger and aids and cancer. My very own personal library, an annual cruse ship, mine for the filling. Adoptive family's for every orphan. There are a lot more, but those are some big ones.
ReplyDelete~Sarah F.
Very nice Sarah. I like the adoptive families for every orphan. And...can I be on your cruise ship??? haha
DeleteI wish to breath underwater. Then I can enjoy the best of both worlds! :)
ReplyDeleteOoo, good one!
DeleteI wish that language was no barrier at all. I want to know and understand what every other human/gorilla/dolphin/whale/elephant/alien has to say.
ReplyDeleteI'd also like to put in my wish for easily available Tofifay. Do you know how hard those are to find? And they're my favorite.
Ooo, love the language thing. Haha. And I had to look up Toffifay. They look delicious! :)
DeleteVegetables that taste like chips! :D Lol, seriously though, on a worldwide scale, I would wish for a cure for all kinds of cancer because it damages and ends so many lives. :( For myself, I would like to always have great writing ideas, financial security, a house by the sea and a man who isn't commitment phobic! Just call me Bridget Jones! ;)
ReplyDeleteYes, cure of cancer. Definitely! Thanks Bridget ;)
Deletei wish for the mary poppins power: snap, house is clean, snap, kids are obedient, snap, with chores done we can jump into a painting for a fun day =)
ReplyDeleteOoo, that sounds like an excellent idea! :)
DeleteYay for the fulls!! Good luck! Hmm, wishes...
ReplyDeleteI would wish for more time. I always seem to run out of it. Or maybe multiple versions of myself so that I could play with my kids while the other me is cleaning and another me is writing. :)
Yes. More time. I think that would be perfect. Definitely need that.
DeleteCrossing my fingers for you while querying. I would want to live in Venice for a year. It is my favoritest city and I want to go back there so bad. As a Physics geek who came *this close* to studying to become an astronaut (seriously) I'd want to take a trip to space in one of those up and coming passenger shuttle-thingy's. That would be cool.
ReplyDeleteAn Astronaut!!!??? That is so cool!
DeleteAnd I'm pumped. I get to see Venice for the first time this year! So excited!
This reminds me of the joke about a genie who forbids the person to wish for more wishes, so the person just wishes for more genies;) Power to you for starting another book, that's what I did. We're both very much int he same boat with querying and writing, so my sympathy goes out to you. I'm attending a writer's conference this week, so I hope it'll be more cathartic than tiring:)
ReplyDeleteOh! Good for you Mark. I figure the more books I write the better chance I've got :) Good luck to you! Have fun at the conference!
DeleteI'd like to walk on one of the exoplanets that have been discovered, just to see the plants and animals that exist there.
ReplyDeleteOoo, I have no idea what you're talking about, but it sounds awesome ;)
DeleteThanks Martin!
I would wish for everyone to die old, but not like babies ... I mean, right now it hurts me to see my grandparents and my husband's grandparents growing old and losing their memories, their mobility, their hearing, their mind ... I would wish for us all to die old and with our honor, still being able to take care of ourselves ;)
ReplyDeleteBut I also like the "Vegetables that taste like chips" wish, the "breath underwater" wish and that chocolate was a necessary and healthy food group with no calories lol
Haha. My hope for my life is to be healthy and old and then just one day die. Hit by a bus or something. No suffering. I like that.
DeleteAnd yes to the chocolate :)
Good luck on the fulls you have out!
ReplyDeleteI like the answer above about wishing my mother would live as long as me. (Assuming it doesn't just mean I die sooner!)
I'd wish for my kids to have long, healthy, happy lives.
That's one of the big things right? For our kids to be happy and healthy. Very cool :)
DeleteI wish I had someone to do all of my grading for me.
ReplyDeleteI wish eating chocolate actually burned calories.
I wish my dog could talk to me.
Haha. I would LOVE if my dog could talk. Though, I kinda feel like she wears her emotions on her 'sleeve' but it would be cool to see what her voice sounds like!
DeleteI totally stink at wish questions. I don't want to be a downer, so I won't tell my really serious wish, but my totally vain and self-indulgent wish would be to lose twenty pounds and stay there for the rest of my life, while simultaneously eating whatever I wanted.
ReplyDeleteHey! I want to lose 15!!! Lets wish together :)
DeleteI wish to eat whatever i want and look like Cindy Crawford.
ReplyDeleteI wish to stress less.
I wish everyone had enough to eat.
I wish my son knew how to be QUIET.
Unlimited, right?? lol
Haha... love the son being quiet one. Hilarious.
DeleteAnd yes, they are unlimited :)
WOW! I think this could be voted as the scariest question ever...
ReplyDeleteI just want my book published. I feel like I can do the rest...and maybe that I knew Sign Language...because I don't have time to sit down and practice like I need too.
I think knowing all languages would be very, very cool.
DeleteAnd we can both wish for published novels :)
Oh man, what would I wish for?
ReplyDeleteI'd wish for a private chef and a personal maid. It would also be nice to speak perfect French, Spanish, German, Russian, and Mandarin.
The issue with having an unlimited amount of wishes is that you'd get carried away, and wish for things you didn't really need or want. You'd start going crazy with avarice and nothing would matter anymore, because you didn't earn it.
Anyway, good luck with your queries and new book. ^-^
McKenzie! You are so brilliant. Are you in my head planning out my book for me??
DeleteThe language theme seems big in all these answers. Something I didn't think of but I really like it.
Wow, unlimited wishes. If I told you what I really wanted, you'd think I was nuts but, gee, that would be great fodder for your book. LOL
ReplyDeleteAwesome topic!
Oh! Now you've got me curious! haha
DeleteHmmm... outside of the obvious (body that rocks, published, successful best-seller, etc.), I would LOVE to be multilingual.
ReplyDeleteYou know what book you might like? "It Takes a Witch" ("Wishcraft Mystery" series) by Heather Blake. You can read the first chapter online on her site: http://www.heatherblakebooks.com/p/excerpt.html
I read the book a month or two ago (can't remember), and it was fun. The ending made my jaw drop and I can't wait for the next in the series!
And CONGRATS on the fulls, Kelley! Good luck! I hope you get good news soon. :)
Thank you Tracy. My fingers are crossed which makes it very hard to type ;)
DeleteI will definitely check out the series you mentioned. Thanks!
Selfish wish: I would love to live in a giant tree house. I've seen some extreme homes like this on TV. I want one!!!
ReplyDeleteUnselfish wish: I wish that all of those religious freaks who want to: rule the world, kill others not of their religion, want to take arms against non-believers, and constantly condemn others would end up on their own little island, away from the rest of us.
Yes! Treehouse. Good wish!
DeleteHow did I miss this post?
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the fulls and crossing everything for you!
Hmm... I wish to live in Hogwarts, cuz my drink and plate would never be empty. I wish my house self cleaned itself. (Also another perk to living at Hogwarts.) And I wish my cat would stop pooping on my floor.
Ummm, lets both go live in Hogwarts shall we? :)
DeleteGreat optimist, Kelly. No one can stop you from writing. Hmm so as far as my wish goes... I wish we could end hunger. Like all over the place. I think it affects so much. Okay, I know that's a dorky answer, but when I was a teacher, there were students who only got meals while they were at school, and I can't even imagine what that would be like, to try and think on an empty stomach. So yeah, end world hunger that would be mine with something tasty if possible.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great wish Jess. I can't imagine what it must be like to go hungry. :(
DeleteI'm in the same place, Kelley! (I think there's comfort in that) Hopeful while querying but worried and throwing myself in another project because the best thing to do is keep writing! My wishes...to have homemade ice cream made for me every night, to get a book published, and to see more tolerance in the world.
ReplyDeleteYes! Homemade ice cream! I think I'm going to get some ice cream for lunch...:)
DeleteHmm, I wish chocolate was the only food group. I wish everyone had really learned the ability to share when they were young so there wasn't poverty or hunger. And I wish I could catch I ride on Cassie's broom and go live at Hogwarts. OR hear Susan's horn and end up in Narnia.
ReplyDeleteOops. Forgot to say. Congrats on the fulls and on starting a new book. It sounds like it might be a fun one!
DeleteWell, lets hope. This 'research' here has really helped though. Yes, some of these ideas will be used in my tale :)
DeleteI wish for a new season of Shaun the Sheep at the library. It is a family favorite. Oh, and peace in the hearts of all. That too.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... never heard of that season. Peace, yes. Peace would be wonderful.
DeleteOOOH! Excited about your fulls being out. If they don't whisk you away soon they are idiots! *did I just say that?* But I love your book, so I mean it!
ReplyDeleteAs for a "wish". Hmmm. I pink peanut M&M would be cool. OR purple! Like lavender not the dark purple. I wonder what her personality would be. It'd have to be a girl.
Right now my wish would be for unlimited energy supply for me. Yeah! I would be super woman! And I wish my house was always clean and I didn't have to do it!
Ooo lavendar M&M's love it! Totally would have to be a girl :)
DeleteWaaaiting is so hard, isn't it??? Ugh! :D
ReplyDeleteMy wish? That self doubt didn't exist. I'd love to feel like a child when I believed I could do anything and everything seemed so magical all the time. Oh the woes of being a real person! Looooved this post!!!! :D
Ah! SO hard. But I get it....I do. Just SO HARD! :) haha
DeleteI believe that anything you got by magic would be cursed because you didn't deserve it. Same with the lottery. But I'm obviously over-thinking the prompt and perhaps a little warped from working on my wizard WIP. :) I still don't think I'd wish for something straight out. I'd wish for the Felix Felicis potion from Harry Potter. That way I'd still felt like I earned it, I just tweaked my circumstances.
ReplyDeleteOh Sharon, you and I should cowrite my book idea :)
DeleteOh so excited Kelley! Sending out wishes and good thought for you!!!
ReplyDeleteI wish I didn't have to sleep.
I wish the dishes would do themselves, a dishwasher is not enough.
I wish that my cupboard was a desert delivery machines and would produce whatever my tummy craved.
I wish there was an EDIT button on my laptop.
I'll stop now :)
Ooo, love the dessert delivery. I'll take one of those too! :)
DeleteAs a mom, I want to be able to sleep until the afternoon like I used to do when I was a teenager!!!! I'm getting giddy just thinking about it:)
ReplyDeleteYes! I LOVE sleeping. And I'm super good at it. ;) Don't have kids yet so I get to sleep a lot, especially on weekends. I'm sure kids are worth the shortened sleeping schedule though :)
DeleteI'd wish to be able to fly, that I no longer had eczema, an end to world poverty and terminal illness, to write anytime I wanted without trouble and that everyone could have a wish of their own (but it has to not cause harm or force someone to do something they're unwilling to do).
ReplyDeleteOh and that I could draw. And that I could see God without dying (just wishing to see God sounds like a death wish). Yes those are my wishing. Fun post and best of luck querying. I announced the winner of my giveaway and my writing status on my blog.
It would be very neat to see God, have some tea, ask some questions. Then head back home to write down the experience :)
DeleteTotally and I'd ask him to see my grandma Movie (her real name was Valerie) before I went back. Just to say a quick hi.
DeleteI'd wish for more time to write during the day! :) And not to be sick during my pregnancies. It slows me and everything else down for nine months. ;)
ReplyDeleteGood luck with querying!! :D
Ooo, that sounds like no fun Chantele. :( Nine months of being sick. Bummer!
DeleteGood luck with agents! I'd wish for my body to automatically replenish itself, thus drastically reducing the need for sleep. That way, I'd only have to sleep for a couple hours a night, and I could spend the rest of the time doing things. I'd also wish for unlimited frequent flier miles so I could travel all over the world.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'd wish for Mexican food to have negative calories :).
Yes!! Travel. I'd also wish for unlimited vacation time to go along with those miles ;)
DeleteAh, Kelley, I could come back and give you wishes everyday. But, for today, my wish is for two things (well, three).
ReplyDelete1. My surgery goes smoothly--no crying or escaping when they break out the IV needle and recovery goes well.
2. You land an agent swiftly!!
Oh Candy, I hope your surgery goes well too! (I know it will.)
DeleteAnd I definitely second your second wish :)
I wish I could fly. I wish I could meet my bio dad (I was adopted by my step-dad at age 3, my real dad died when I was two) 3. I wish that I make the bestseller list in 2013. Not too much to wish for huh? Thanks for the wishes. Good luck on your manuscripts that are with the agents. You are well on your way and I think writing another book while you wait is a brilliant idea.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear that Melissa. I'm sure your bio dad wishes he had more time with you.
DeleteAnd can I also have your #3 wish? :)
I'd definitely go for a billion more wishes, but if that wasn't possible, I'd ask to own the world, and everything in it. After that, everything is unlimited as to what I can do! :)
ReplyDeleteThey're unlimited Jack :) You don't need to wish for more ;) haha
DeleteHmm...I don't know. My dad told me never to go for something I didn't earn so genie wishes wouldn't work well for me. That being said, my big secret wish would be to no longer struggle with seasonal depression. I hate it and I hate having to stand in front of a happy light every day from Nov-March.
ReplyDeleteI'll likely change my mind on this tomorrow.
OMG! I struggle with seasonal depression too! It hasn't been as bad this year because we've had such a mild winter but...
DeleteDoes the happy light work?
oh man, nothing makes waiting on fulls easier than writing a new novel. Then, if you get rejections on those fulls, usually you're so in love with the new MS that the rejections are easier to take.
ReplyDeleteAt least, that's how it worked with me
Sarah, that's exactly what I think :)
DeleteUmmm, I'm liking that calories don't exist thing. I think that's a great idea!
ReplyDeleteYes, getting an agent is so difficult. The whole process is because even when you get one, there are still so many hurdles. But, I couldn't imagine doing anything else!
I can't either! I love writing. The struggle, the journey.
DeleteCheers with a diet soda! ;)
I'd wish everyone could love unconditionally. Simple yet powerful.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great one. Very powerful Emily
DeleteI think I'd wish for a newer, bigger car. (We have duct tape on our back windows right now. I've nicknamed it the Ghetto Mobile.) I know this is probably a short-sighted wish, but I think I'd like to work hard for all my other wishes.... Makes them more gratifying. :)
ReplyDeleteOh my! That's definitely making it work! The Ghetto Mobile. That's awesome :)
Delete