a too-close neighborhood

We put posters on the window when we realized that anyone washing dishes in the kitchen of the next house had a perfect view of the bed. The only thing separating the houses is ten feet of weeds and a driveway. Not enough.

"So I told the summabitch I didn't want him in my house anymore, and the kid probably i'n't his anyway."

"Oh, God," Hubby mutters. "It's an episode of Trailer Park Stories again."

I peek through the gap to see the neighbor woman toss back her badly bleached hair and switch cellphone and cigarette from hand to hand. Hubby turns up the stereo.

"Hey!" Miss Trailer Trash yells. "Turn that down, my kids are trying to sleep!"

"So maybe you don't want to share your opinion of the son of a bitch so loudly, then," I call back.

"Huh?"

"Close the curtain, sweetheart," Hubby sighs. "She'll be kicked out soon enough."

It's funny, 'cause the "out the window" immediately triggered that apartment for me. But when I thought about it, it had nothing to do with the view. But I loved being able to stick my head out the window and listen to the soundchecks. I loved being able to walk down the street to hear the bands. It was a great "view," just not one I could see.

Meanwhile, today the dog & I went out and romped in the yard, joyfully messing up all the pristine whiteness. So much fun.

I'm losing my mind waiting for word from the editors who requested a full and my marketing plan.

It'll be two weeks on Monday. I'm bursting out of my skin.

Longer is better. No is short, you know?

My mind is going to all the bad places! Maybe they forgot to tell my agent they're not buying!

You're sweating after two weeks?

Allyson, oy. Ask the nice agent lady how long this particular editor generally takes on a submission. If she says two to three months, you'll get a glimmering of why the rest of us develop ulcers. Because that's pretty common.

But longer is better. She didn't read the first chapter and send it back with a "no thanks".

deb, I'm awfully concerned about appearing like a craxy/needy person. Well, not to you guys, obviously.

Heh. I know the feeling; I'm pretty sure Jenn thinks I'm, um, let's use a phrase I generally hate and say "one of a kind" (as in, NUTS). But you're a first-time writer, and your agent knows it. She'll know how nail-bitey new clients get.

When was the last time you spoke with her? Have you spoken with her since the submission of the completed ms?

Allyson, what Deb said. Especially since you're new at this, it's perfectly reasonable to shoot her an email asking, "How long does this process usually take? Or this editor?"

Done!

Thanks.

I let her know that it'd make me less nuts if I had some sort of general idea with these two editors...but seriously, I think I'll be nuts anyway.

This is so very exciting.