Plei, you're a wise woman. It's a pity she managed to be so damned irritating about it, because I felt the same sort of irritated sympathy toward her that I would to a spoiled kid who, good at heart, was suddenly confronted with something he/she couldn't get just by wanting.

Oh, I can totally see that. To which my mother's respose, btw, was always a shrug and a "life's not fair."

Yeah, we've most certainly got a POV difference. *grin* I don't do sorrow. To Ralph Wiggums it, it's unpossible. Sorrow, to me, is endlessly more irritating than a rage-on. It's just so... passive.

I don't mind the sorrow or the rage, although I'm disinclined toward a pure version of either - mine tends to be a sense of shocked outrage at a perceived injustice, and then I steamroller. As you may have noticed, I'm neither passive nor passive-aggressive.

She just managed to phrase things in a way that would easily ping the "uh-oh, whingeing self-entitled yuppie brat, here!" buttons. A pity; as I say, I do think the story is valuable, in its base information.

probably ensuring a cocaine problem.

I'm not a huge fan of that level of starry-eyed naivete, and I don't think anyone ought to go into this business with their eyes scrunched up.

Yes, this. I think the $150K first-time advance may have sort of encouraed her to be starry-eyed, though -- I know it would me.

And I agree with Plei that the article sounds like it was written by someone who doesn't much feel like writing, lately.

And AmyLiz, not worries on the comments on my comments :-). It took me long enough to get the chapters back to you in the first place.

Betsy, did you read the article on chick lit from Ireland?

I missed that. Salon?

Yes, this. I think the $150K first-time advance may have sort of encouraed her to be starry-eyed, though -- I know it would me.

Oh, thoroughly. Thing is, she's had ample time to come to terms with the reality of the Monolith That Is American Publishing - and she needs to learn how to deal, at least if she intends to continue writing.

So, Dear Jane: either put this experience to use and keep writing, or give it up and maybe just write about why you gave it up.

I think I just mean that she's got no business being crushed and disappointed after this little go-round.

LJ, I think it was in the Toronto Star online, last Thursday or Friday. Entitled something like "Chick Lit Invades Ireland" or something.

I don't mind the sorrow or the rage, although I'm disinclined toward a pure version of either - mine tends to be a sense of shocked outrage at a perceived injustice, and then I steamroller. As you may have noticed, I'm neither passive nor passive-aggressive.

I have two real states. No, three. Apathetic, hyper, and cranky.

Yes, this. I think the $150K first-time advance may have sort of encouraed her to be starry-eyed, though -- I know it would me.

It's so tech boom, if you translate industries. Which is scary.

So, Dear Jane: either put this experience to use and keep writing, or give it up and maybe just write about why you gave it up.

You know, I bet that would actually sell well...

(Go Cavs!)