(And I can very much relate to that drabble, Amy!)

Allyson, I'll just echo everyone and tell you not to mull over the "why" right now. Just write, because the "why" will work itself out when you least expect it. It's like trying to figure out how the movie's going to end without even having seen it.

Congrats, victor and thessaly! That's rockin'.

Glimmer Train wrote me back:

Dear Sunil,

Although we won't be publishing this particular piece, we do thank you for sending "Shopping". It was a good read. We're not able to give specific feedback, but please take a look at Editors' Input for some ideas. Again, we appreciate the opportunity to read your work!

--------------------------- Good writing. Thank you.

After a marathon conversation with Kristen, and an odd conversation with Fury. I gave up on "why." Just continuing to write and write, and hopefully, "why" will be evident to the reader.

Fury says "why" is because i was funny. He put a bit of trust out, i didn't mangle it, he put a bit more out, and over time, it became apparent that i was A-OK. But it seems to be the funny. So I figure as long as what I write is also funny, the reader will think, "yeah, I'd trust her, too." Hopefully.

P-C, that's the kind of rejection editors send when they think the piece is saleable, only not at their magazine. Given that they must get hundreds if not thousands of stories a month, that they took the time over yours shows how seriously they took it.

Allyson, sometimes the author is the last person you should ask for the "why." :-)

Wheee! to Victor and Thessaly.

P-C, I still have a story of yours to read, but as others here know (hanging head in shame) I am a little overextended. I'm looking forward to it, but trying to find time to read it when kids aren't pulling on me and dinner isn't cooking, et cetera et cetera...

Susan, I did get that email! Sorry I didn't reply. She's not one of my favorites. She's not not, if that makes sense, but some of her stuff seems oversimplified for my taste. (And see above to P-C -- I'm enjoying the book very much, and I will email comments soon, I promise. I tend to say yes to too many things, very often things I really want to do, but with the number of things I have to do lately, I have to learn to leave myself more time to, well, sleep. Eat. Breathe. That stuff.)

Bev, I replied in LJ. Lovely, lovely poem!

And last, go Allyson on the essay-writing for a book! If any of them are anything like the other stuff I've read of yours, I'll be standing in line to buy a copy. I'm not as well-versed with the non-fiction publishing experience as I am with fiction (from both editorial and authorial perspectives), but I'd be happy to share whatever I know if you have questions. Profile email is good.

Allyson, et al, I know that, I swear I do, but I still can't stop asking why. I compare my life to the Adena Watson case for a reason, after all.

Susan, I did get that email! Sorry I didn't reply. She's not one of my favorites. She's not not, if that makes sense, but some of her stuff seems oversimplified for my taste. (And see above to P-C -- I'm enjoying the book very much, and I will email comments soon, I promise. I tend to say yes to too many things, very often things I really want to do, but with the number of things I have to do lately, I have to learn to leave myself more time to, well, sleep. Eat. Breathe. That stuff.)

Understood. As I mentioned over in Bitches, I got the results back from another contest, and feel like I got pretty good feedback. Based on my oh-so-extensive experience of two contests, it seems like of any three random readers, one will so completely love what I'm doing that she won't see any significant faults. So I don't need to worry about her. The second reader just won't get what I'm trying to do--she'll either completely dislike the story, or her comments will show she's just missed the point. I don't need to worry about her, either. The third reader gets what I'm trying to do and likes it, but isn't so blinded by what I do well that she can't see the faults. That's the reader I should be writing for. If I can win her over, I'll be in.

Susan roooooocks.

P-C is good for Susan's ego.

Waiting for Tim's approval on his story, goofily titled: Minearest and Dearest, and then will have that available for beta read for parties interested in doing me a favor, you know, if he approves.

Finishing up next essay tonight. Moving along, moving along. I think so far I have 3 and a half that I'd like to use. I've no idea what is an acceptable length. Thinking out loud.