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The
Writer's Journey -- or How I Got the Call
Author: Annie Solomon
Original Publication Date in Love Notes: November 2001
The Ordinary World
Well, the day before I was pretty low. I’d just been rejected for the
eighth time, the book was at one more place — Warner — and I didn’t think
I had much chance there since the editor had already rejected an earlier version
when she was at another house. I was pretty sure it was the end of the line. I’d
given this my best shot. I told my husband that I didn’t think God wanted me
to be a writer and that I was going to take a break from it for a while and
explore other things to do with my life, like the Master of Theological Studies
at the Vanderbilt Divinity School, which I’ve been thinking about for the past
few years. I’d already begun writing my application essay in my head, and in
fact, told myself I would ask for an application the next day.
At the same time I was deciding to quit, I had all these stories in my head
and even though I couldn’t seem to get my rear into the chair to write them, I
couldn’t stop thinking about them. So I told myself I’d try the hour-a-day
method. One hour in front of the computer and my work was done. So Friday
morning I sat down, worked on one of my ideas, and when the buzzer went off
after an hour, brring...I was done. I felt pretty good, declared the day pajama
day, and started reading some stuff for a class I’m taking...on God. So I’m
reading this stuff, and it’s pretty dense, but hey, it’s what my life is
going to be about from now on, and brrring...the phone rings.
Well, for the past few months my heart has leapt into my throat every time
the phone rings. Since the latest rejection, though, that hadn’t happened. In
fact, this time — since I’d given up — I didn’t even think that it might
be The Call.
Until I answered the phone and an unfamiliar voice asked for me. Hope never
dies easily, I guess, so my heart did a little flip--one of those dead fish on
the dock type flips — even though I expected the person to say, “This is the
Salvation Army and we’re collecting on your street this week. Do you have
anything to pick up?” But instead, the strange woman’s voice says, “This
is Pam Ahearn.”
The Call to Action
Well...You can imagine.
I knew if my agent was calling me, it couldn’t be BAD news. She sent all
the bad news via e-mail. But, I didn’t want to assume it was good news either
— you know what they say about assume...
Meanwhile, my heart is flipping faster and faster. Then Pam says, “Are you
sitting down?”
And I wanted to say, “Yes I’m sitting down, for God’s sake TELL ME WHY
YOU’RE CALLING!!!!!” But of course, all I said was a meekly cautious, “Yeeess...”
And she dropped the bomb. “Warner wants your book in a two-book deal.”
Refusing the Call
I clamped my hand over my head and said in a disbelieving, almost
horror-struck voice, “You’re kidding.”
She insisted she wasn’t.
“Oh my God,” I said. “I don’t believe it.” To which I’m sure Pam
replied with something or other. To which I replied, “Oh my God, I don’t
believe it.”
This brilliant phrase I repeated about a jillion times throughout the
conversation, most of which is kind of a vague blur.
The Mentor
Eventually I stopped asking her if she was kidding and took a few
shaky-handed notes about what she was saying (a few changes, etc., etc.,
royalites, etc., etc., send out for quotes, etc., etc.). Then she said she would
be calling the editor later to finalize the deal and would call me back.
Into the Special World
I hung up the phone and just...well, sat there. I mean I’ve always assumed
that nothing fantastic could ever happen to me. Now that it had...boy, did I
have to develop a new world view.
Tests, Allies and Enemies
Then I started calling everyone. Of course, no one was home! But I did get
hold of my husband, who was equally dumfounded — especially since the last he
heard, I was quitting — and equally excited. In fact, he told me later he didn’t
do a stitch of work the rest of the day. I eventually got hold of my parents,
who were delighted (I’d also called them the day before and they’d told me
not to give up!). Then I got hold of my critique buddies (they win the loudest
scream award), and we went out to lunch to celebrate, and the two of them said
that the best thing about this is now they can forevermore say, “I told you
so.”
Later, my agent called again and this time I was a lot more ready to listen.
She’d closed the deal. I don’t get cover consultation, but the editor
promised to get input from me. She said she wants the book to have a “bigger
book” look, which sounds good to me. They’re iffy on the title, but don’t
have other ideas yet. I can keep my name, but if I want to change it to
something else, I could do that, too, and keep control of it.
The Inmost Cave/Emotional Cave
I can say I’m equal parts excited/happy and anxious/a wreck. But as my
husband is fond of reminding me, I yam what I yam. I mean even in the midst of
hearing that the book sold, I’d already started worrying about the second
book. And once the first is published, will anyone buy it?
The Supreme Ordeal
So now I await a call from “my editor” to see what needs to be revised
and to pitch the next book. They want revisions in two months, but I get a year
to deliver the second book. Sounds like a lot of time, but I’ll probably need
every day.
The Return With the Elixer
So here I am. A soon-to-be-published writer. It’s still pretty amazing.
Pretty unbelievable. And pretty great.
***
Find out more about Annie Solomon and her book here.
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