And, here’s the pitch!
Two posts in two days! I know, I know. Ambitious. I’d say don’t get used to it, but since I’m on Fall Break and just getting started on the page, I should probably give it some time and attention. In the future, I picture myself posting about once a week. My life is pretty hectic already, after all, and I do have a couple of novels to finish. There are exciting things afoot, though.
I get to meet with my first editor and agent in about a week, and part of getting ready for that is writing a one-page pitch for each of my novels. This type of thing is completely foreign to me, but hopefully worth it. Do I think I’ll be signed on my first try? Most likely not, especially since neither novel is finished. BUT it’ll be a great learning experience, and you never know. God has worked miracles before. :0) I just tell myself that JK Rowling was turned down for her little book called “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” about 100 times before someone was smart enough to snatch it up (Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for all of you true Potterheads out there). Not that I’m saying any agent who wouldn’t like my stuff isn’t smart or anything. Really. I’m not saying that. That sounds really, really bad. Nicholas says it sounds cocky. I was going for snarky. I guess it gets lost in translation. Sarcasm is truly my love language. All said, I’m really excited to get the opportunity to finally take real steps in the direction I’ve wanted to travel pretty much my whole life. Even if they turn out to be steps taken in place.
I’ve been reading in my devotional today about Peter and his experience on the mountain when Jesus is transfigured and Moses and Elijah show up. Peter is like my favorite open-mouth-insert-foot guy ever. “Hey guys, I’m glad you invited me, how about some tents?” He totally didn’t know what to say, so of course, he opened his mouth to talk. That’s me. I’m like him. I am my favorite open-mouth-insert-foot lady ever. Except it’s not as funny when I do it. The cool thing is, God used Peter. In all of his disbelief and doubt, with all of his speak first and think later impulses, he was loved by Jesus and used to speak the Gospel. How humbling is that? For most of my life, I’ve wanted to write because I wanted my words out there. In the past couple of years, my ambitions have shifted. I want God to use me to get His words out there. I want everything I write to promote His agenda, His message. I want Him to reach people. Yes, my human nature still gets the best of me at times, and I have to check that initial desire at the door, but my heart is saying, “Please use me, God.”
It gives me hope that God used Peter, because it means that my personality faults aren’t going to get in the way of what God can do through me. The very things that were stumbling blocks initially for Peter were strengths later on, as he spoke boldly to proclaim the truth. The things that get me into trouble sometimes are also traits that God can refine and discipline to use. I am not just impulsive- I’m a work in progress. As Aladdin would say, “A diamond in the rough.” Or was it Genie who said that? Or maybe it was that the funny little guy who was selling stuff at the beginning of the movie and made the Tupperware toot? Oh, well. What’s the diff’ really?
So, with all of that said, I’m off to write two pitches. I was never good at baseball. Aren’t puns fun? I’ll leave you all with a quote that has drawn near and dear to my heart. Jackie Hill Perry once wrote, “The creative has the imagination to make something out of nothing but also to make something out of nothing.” Which has nothing to do with anything else I’ve written here, but is pretty cool, right?
Toodles!