Draft Letter to my friend L.D.:
How’ve you been? Me? The same. I write every day and have nothing to show for it. Yes, the hit Arbor Moon—my bane. It puts food on the table but makes everything taste… hopeless. Is hopeless a taste?I don’t mean to be all doom and gloom. Things will change. I have to get the new book done. Impossible for it to be as big as Arbor, but my agent is breathing down my neck. This new agent is fine—at least they aren’t you know who.
I hate that… I shouldn’t. My therapist says I’m placing my own feelings of shame on her. So, I won’t. I’ll be a healthy, almost-famous author today. One who is going to write a great book that no one will read. Ha.
Thanks for listening.
—M.E.
How’ve you been? Me? The same. I write every day and have nothing to show for it. Yes, the hit Arbor Moon—my bane. It puts food on the table but makes everything taste… hopeless. Is hopeless a taste?I don’t mean to be all doom and gloom. Things will change. I have to get the new book done. Impossible for it to be as big as Arbor, but my agent is breathing down my neck. This new agent is fine—at least they aren’t you know who.
I hate that… I shouldn’t. My therapist says I’m placing my own feelings of shame on her. So, I won’t. I’ll be a healthy, almost-famous author today. One who is going to write a great book that no one will read. Ha.
Thanks for listening.
—M.E.
Day 1:
I walked into the café this morning, ready to write. A book club in the corner thought I was their new member. The leader—a large man in a blue parka (who wears a parka indoors?)—waved me over.At first, I thought he was a fan who had recognized me as the famed author of Arbor Moon. He looked like the dystopian type. So I waved back, walked over, maybe ready to sign an autograph—then realized they were just a book club.
How cool would it have been if they were reading my book? They weren’t.
My agent called. Again. She’s freaking out. The old one freaked out too. Agents freak out—it’s what they do.
Got a pastry. Shouldn’t have. Not like I’m working out.
I walked into the café this morning, ready to write. A book club in the corner thought I was their new member. The leader—a large man in a blue parka (who wears a parka indoors?)—waved me over.At first, I thought he was a fan who had recognized me as the famed author of Arbor Moon. He looked like the dystopian type. So I waved back, walked over, maybe ready to sign an autograph—then realized they were just a book club.
How cool would it have been if they were reading my book? They weren’t.
My agent called. Again. She’s freaking out. The old one freaked out too. Agents freak out—it’s what they do.
Got a pastry. Shouldn’t have. Not like I’m working out.
Day 2:
The power went out yesterday. I didn’t even get to start writing before I had to leave.Not today. Today, I write before I get caught up in food and book clubs.
Well… I was a little hungry. No harm in a quick bite before getting down to business.
Of course, I picked up the wrong order and took a big bite of something that wasn’t mine. It was for some lady’s kid. The look on their faces—like, how could I not check the name or notice it wasn’t what I ordered?
I’m under a lot of pressure.
Anyway, I was horrified and went home without getting anything done. So much for day two.
The power went out yesterday. I didn’t even get to start writing before I had to leave.Not today. Today, I write before I get caught up in food and book clubs.
Well… I was a little hungry. No harm in a quick bite before getting down to business.
Of course, I picked up the wrong order and took a big bite of something that wasn’t mine. It was for some lady’s kid. The look on their faces—like, how could I not check the name or notice it wasn’t what I ordered?
I’m under a lot of pressure.
Anyway, I was horrified and went home without getting anything done. So much for day two.
Day 3:
Well, that book club is nothing if not persistent. I guess their new member never showed, and they really want me to join. Not going to—no time.Got a fruit cup and sat down to write when the Wi-Fi went out. No research, no cloud save, nothing done today.
I’ll try again tomorrow.
Well, that book club is nothing if not persistent. I guess their new member never showed, and they really want me to join. Not going to—no time.Got a fruit cup and sat down to write when the Wi-Fi went out. No research, no cloud save, nothing done today.
I’ll try again tomorrow.
Day 4:
CR:1
IP:2
Ordered a cappuccino—not my regular drink, but maybe it could be. And let me tell you, the cappuccino worked because I completed two chapters today. Two out of five—not so bad.Speaking of bad, though, I was so engrossed in writing that I didn’t notice my laptop’s power cable dangling a little too far out into the main floor. The UPS guy tripped on it. Luckily, he didn’t get hurt—delivery people are quick on their feet.
Oh, and I saw the ex. Not that ex. The actual ex. The one before that ex. The one that ended well. She looked nice. Happy. It wasn’t a long conversation, and I was glad.
I was a little distracted, though, because there was this art student—at least, I hope they were an art student—sketching me in their book. Is that weird? It’s not uncommon in a bigger city, but it did make me self-conscious about my pose.
CR:1
IP:2
Ordered a cappuccino—not my regular drink, but maybe it could be. And let me tell you, the cappuccino worked because I completed two chapters today. Two out of five—not so bad.Speaking of bad, though, I was so engrossed in writing that I didn’t notice my laptop’s power cable dangling a little too far out into the main floor. The UPS guy tripped on it. Luckily, he didn’t get hurt—delivery people are quick on their feet.
Oh, and I saw the ex. Not that ex. The actual ex. The one before that ex. The one that ended well. She looked nice. Happy. It wasn’t a long conversation, and I was glad.
I was a little distracted, though, because there was this art student—at least, I hope they were an art student—sketching me in their book. Is that weird? It’s not uncommon in a bigger city, but it did make me self-conscious about my pose.
Day 5:
IP:4
CR:-1
CR:1
You know me—I’m a cappuccino fiend now. I guess it is my new drink because I ordered another one today. They go quick—that’s the only problem. So then you have to get another one.I’m feeling inspired today. Probably the success from yesterday. But it’s possible—very possible—that I’ll finish another two chapters today. Here’s to hoping.
So far, not so good. There’s a guy behind me on a business call with no sense of how loud he’s talking. Or maybe he does know and just wants everyone to hear the heroic details of running a pool cleaning business.
I saw a review—an old one. A “Top 10 Dystopian Books of the Last Five Years” list. I was number eight. Woohoo. Unfortunately, the review thought Arbor Moon wasn’t as good as my debut, Gilda. Totally different books. Not fair to compare.
A lady with a very fancy purse glanced at what I was writing and immediately pitched me her idea for a book. What do you do in those situations? I just smiled and said, “Sounds great, you should write it.”
Today was a great day at the café—another two chapters done. Just one more, and my agent can stop sweating.
IP:4
CR:-1
CR:1
You know me—I’m a cappuccino fiend now. I guess it is my new drink because I ordered another one today. They go quick—that’s the only problem. So then you have to get another one.I’m feeling inspired today. Probably the success from yesterday. But it’s possible—very possible—that I’ll finish another two chapters today. Here’s to hoping.
So far, not so good. There’s a guy behind me on a business call with no sense of how loud he’s talking. Or maybe he does know and just wants everyone to hear the heroic details of running a pool cleaning business.
I saw a review—an old one. A “Top 10 Dystopian Books of the Last Five Years” list. I was number eight. Woohoo. Unfortunately, the review thought Arbor Moon wasn’t as good as my debut, Gilda. Totally different books. Not fair to compare.
A lady with a very fancy purse glanced at what I was writing and immediately pitched me her idea for a book. What do you do in those situations? I just smiled and said, “Sounds great, you should write it.”
Today was a great day at the café—another two chapters done. Just one more, and my agent can stop sweating.
Day 6:
CR:-1
Consider the streak over. I guess.The Wi-Fi in this place is terrible—second time this week it’s been out. I was super distracted by it, and since I’d already accomplished so much, I called it quits, went home, slept.
CR:-1
Consider the streak over. I guess.The Wi-Fi in this place is terrible—second time this week it’s been out. I was super distracted by it, and since I’d already accomplished so much, I called it quits, went home, slept.
Day 7:
IP:2
I think I’m done with this café.The Wi-Fi went down again, but not before I ordered a mocha—yes, I was getting tired of cappuccinos. Iced mocha, to be more specific. And I’m only being specific because the little plastic lid wasn’t on tight enough. When I went to take a sip, the mocha spilled onto the table… and then dripped onto a lady’s backpack next to me.
It was an awkward conversation. She said it was fine, like, a hundred times, but I could tell she was bummed. I felt like a total heel.
Regardless.Big news. Huge. Chapter five is done. I called my agent—she’s thrilled. We’re meeting tomorrow.
Fingers crossed.
IP:2
I think I’m done with this café.The Wi-Fi went down again, but not before I ordered a mocha—yes, I was getting tired of cappuccinos. Iced mocha, to be more specific. And I’m only being specific because the little plastic lid wasn’t on tight enough. When I went to take a sip, the mocha spilled onto the table… and then dripped onto a lady’s backpack next to me.
It was an awkward conversation. She said it was fine, like, a hundred times, but I could tell she was bummed. I felt like a total heel.
Regardless.Big news. Huge. Chapter five is done. I called my agent—she’s thrilled. We’re meeting tomorrow.
Fingers crossed.
The PR Event:
I went to a PR event and had to answer a bunch of questions from a panel of vloggers and influencers. For the most part, good questions—stuff about my work habits.Yes, I write every day, but not everything I write makes it to the next day.
How do I stay productive? Well, I drink cappuccinos now.
Someone asked if I thought dystopian books were on their way out. Maybe. I said no—there will always be a place in people’s hearts for hopeful misery.
And then someone asked the same question again, and everyone kind of chuckled.
I thought it went well, but my agent said the reactions were mixed. Not sure why. Maybe I talked about coffee too much?
I went to a PR event and had to answer a bunch of questions from a panel of vloggers and influencers. For the most part, good questions—stuff about my work habits.Yes, I write every day, but not everything I write makes it to the next day.
How do I stay productive? Well, I drink cappuccinos now.
Someone asked if I thought dystopian books were on their way out. Maybe. I said no—there will always be a place in people’s hearts for hopeful misery.
And then someone asked the same question again, and everyone kind of chuckled.
I thought it went well, but my agent said the reactions were mixed. Not sure why. Maybe I talked about coffee too much?
Initial Reactions:
Well, the new agent thought the book treatment was pretty good. Maybe she’s just tough, but she seems to be taking it seriously—she asked for some revisions, which I take to mean she sees value in it.Details on the imminent release even started trending for a day on social. The author of Arbor is back.
Now just some pressure to finish the rest.
Well, the new agent thought the book treatment was pretty good. Maybe she’s just tough, but she seems to be taking it seriously—she asked for some revisions, which I take to mean she sees value in it.Details on the imminent release even started trending for a day on social. The author of Arbor is back.
Now just some pressure to finish the rest.
The End
Total IP: 8
2,3,1 -Raw
5,3,6 -With IP
Well, it’s been six months since the book was released. How’d it go? I mean, really great. Arbor Sun is being called one of the best books of the year, according to critics—and who am I to argue?Oh, and I can’t believe it, but this girl I had a huge crush on in high school is a market exec at the publishing company, and she’s been in several of my meetings. It’s fun talking to her about old times.
She helped get the comic book adaptation of Arbor Moon and Arbor Sun going. That’s right, it’s going to be a comic book series.
And to think it all started in that little café with terrible Wi-Fi
Total IP: 8
2,3,1 -Raw
5,3,6 -With IP
Well, it’s been six months since the book was released. How’d it go? I mean, really great. Arbor Sun is being called one of the best books of the year, according to critics—and who am I to argue?Oh, and I can’t believe it, but this girl I had a huge crush on in high school is a market exec at the publishing company, and she’s been in several of my meetings. It’s fun talking to her about old times.
She helped get the comic book adaptation of Arbor Moon and Arbor Sun going. That’s right, it’s going to be a comic book series.
And to think it all started in that little café with terrible Wi-Fi