I am looking tired, aren't I? Not to mention dual-horned and wrinkly... It all began with the six am dance party. No, I'm not kidding. My children wake up at five everyday, and by six, they're ready to dance. Our dancing isn't pretty. It's completely absurd, competitive, and rhythm-proof actually, and yet, we can't seem to stop ourselves. Picture it, if you will, six kids and me shaking our money makers. We push the couches out of the way and hop around without shame on the tile floor. (My muse, Daniel Craig, refuses to participate. He just shakes his head and looks at his Omega.) These little shindigs occur a couple times a month, and we always begin with the same song. Supermassive Black Hole by Muse. (You can almost hear it, can't you?)
The minute the first note hits the air, it begins. The Cabbage Patch, Sprinkler Head, Running Man, Grocery Cart, Worm, etc. Ah, the six am dance party. Once you go there, it ruins you for the rest of the day. What do you guys do when you're being silly? (Really, whatever you say can't be worse than me doing an ugly pop-and-lock.)
This has been a funny day all the way around. I got a rejection this morning from an agency I queried in October of 2009. They said that we didn't fit and encouraged me enthusiastically to continue looking for representation. Things were good, I wasn't upset, but I Googled the agency and looked over their client list, reading small samples of their work. The women's fiction category consisted entirely of erotica. Did you hear that? Erotica. So not me. Or my book, for that matter. I smiled to myself all afternoon about this. My point in mentioning this rejection? It taught me to research not just the agency I'm interested in querying but the authors they currently represent as well. Yep, read up on those authors.
Have any of you ever queried the wrong place?
I have a few awards to hand out, but I have followed the example of Lindsey at Dangerous With A Pen and decided to hoard them until tomorrow. I am also planning a contest. A give-back to my blogging-buddies contest. (I'm not calling you followers because if you follow me, I could lead you into a ditch, and we don't want that.) The first prize is going to be a gift card from my favorite clothing and shoe store. I won't say the name, but it begins with a Nord and ends with a strom. I love shopping, don't you? I love the way a good store smells kind of like potpourri and baby powder, the way the lighting creates the perfect atmosphere, the way the soft piano music filters into my dreamy, shoe-and-handbag addled brain... Oh sorry, Daniel's frowning at me. I'm back now. Expect a B&N gift card for second and third place, too. (I like B&N as much as I like that other place I wouldn't mention.)
But all that is for tomorrow's installment. Stay-tuned, worthy bloggers...
Hi! Just by reading this post I already think you're awesome. I love that you all have dance parties like that. Sounds like you have a fun family.
ReplyDeleteWhen I'm silly I talk in strange voices or dance. I have my own happy dance and my husband does the Charlie Brown dance.
Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Roxy,
ReplyDeleteIf I see any erotica on their list, I don't bother. I figure I'm probably too tame for them.
I feel like I spend a lot of time researching agents and publishers. It's hard work figuring out if you think you'd be a good match. Good idea...checking their client's work. :)
Hahaha... I haven't gotten to the querying point yet, but I'm sure I'll make tons of silly mistakes. Querying the wrong place will probably be the least of my problem. LOL.
ReplyDeleteYay for dance parties! Happy Wednesday!
I love the idea of a 6 AM dance party. So fun!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love Nordstrom. Love love love. I'm all about the love today. :)
I had that same query rejection from the same agency. I KNOW exactly who they are even without you telling me. And they purport "romance". I'm sorry you got rejected, I've got some chocolate left, want some?
ReplyDeleteAs for 5am -- not. If she gets up before me, I pretend to still be asleep, even though I know she's up to no good. Eventually I know she'll come back to bed. As for dancing -- only in the car because I'm sitting down.
Sorry about the rejection. I'm not querying, but I'm sure expecting a lot of those when I do. And you contest sounds way cool. Can't wait for it. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of that dance party, it sounds as though the rest of the day would be invigorating in some sort of way! Sorry about the rejection, but at least it didn't sting too badly with your research. Happy writing (and dancing) to you :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun coming up!
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely hysterical. My kids and I do a dance party too that includes Supermassive Black Hole by Muse but not at 6am.
ReplyDeleteSorry about your rejection but Erotica? *me cringing a yikes smile* I am no where near the querying stage so good to know.
I really love hearing about your conversations with Daniel. I may have to post some with my guy :) I can't wait to hear about that awesome contest with a prize from that store you did not mention--love it;)
Thanks!
I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this post! LOVE IT!! I dance with my kiddos all the time. One of the greatest joys of my life. But I've never thought to start a day this way. I bet it would really liven us up.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the rejection, though it sure does take the sting out of it when you realize they don't even publish what you write!
Woooot for the 6am dance partay! That would totally fly round here. Except at 6 am we are dragging our sleepy butts out of bed because we all leave the house for 4 different schools at 7. :) Our dance partays commence later in the day. (Although I am known to have such things with my first graders as well).
ReplyDeleteErotica... *giggle*
Wait, did I just read that you are following my example? Oh, honey. Talk about leading you into a ditch, lol! We may be the blind leading the blind, as my mom would say. Cool, though... if we get lost, we can play Marco Polo.
I'll be back to see what fun you're cooking up! :D Yayyyyy!
okay seriously.. 6 a.m.? Really? Oh my! There may be a reason that children only VISIT my home...yikes. lol ;o)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like fun...
Sounds like an awesome contest...
Oh & don't worry I have not forgotten about your email - I plan to read it on an airplane tomorrow afternoon. ;o)
Visit My Kindom Anytime
That would be a sight to see, shaking of the money makers! You are such a fun mom!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to start the day!!! But 5 am...wow.... I can barely drag myself out of bed at 7!
ReplyDeleteSorry about the rejection...but a good lesson to learn I guess.
Thanks for your funny comments! Let the record show, I do not like waking up in the morning. My teenagers have an inner clock, however, which tells them they have to eat, shower, and be ready to go by six because the bus comes early and waits for no one. I don't have to wake them up or do a thing. I stagger out of my bedroom and they are sitting there immaculate looking at me with pity in their eyes. I am absolutely serious. They put me to shame, and I am the family slacker. (Actually, those kids can be pretty annoying at times.)
ReplyDeleteI salute you for being able to have a 6am dance party. It's 7:13am, and I couldn't imagine dancing right now.
ReplyDeleteWe never had formal dance parties, but here and there, my two children and I have done some pretty spectacularly bad dancing. It's fun and means we can't take ourselves too seriously.
That's a funny rejection.
This reminds me of when i was little and my mom would burst in our room singing "Good morning" from singing in the rain. We'd jump out of bed and race around and dance.
ReplyDeleteYour kids will never forget these 6AM dance parties
I giggled throughout this entire post. Thanks so much for brightening my day! The dance parties sound amazingly fun, and probably really help to wake you up. The closest I come to that is blasting rock music while I dry my hair and pretending I'm a rock star (who apparently holds some device above her head while she sings.)
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a good week! :D
How cute are your dance parties???? My husband, son and I too have dance parties sporadically...I'm always worried the blinds are open and someone will call 9-1-1 thinking there is something seriously wrong with us! It's good to feel silly, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI loved this post! And do you wonder what took the erotica company so long to realize they weren't suited for you? Must be a long list! :-)
Have a great day!
Oh we bust a move here too...but NEVER at 5 am. My teenager needs multiple wakings every morning.
ReplyDeleteI dont do 5 am unless someones hair is on fire.
Great post.
Hello! I am so impressed by your 6am dance parties, and the fact your teens are up and ready to go at that time so they catch their bus. If they continue like that then they will succeed at everything they put their mind to in life, and good luck to them!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about that rejection, but your story was probably saved from being bundled with erotica! Hopefully it will find a more suitable home soon.