ODDS 'N ENDS

New Years day . . .

I walked into Barnes and Noble  . . .

Gift card in hand.

I hadn’t been in this book store for a while.

Normally, I go to Borders.

Herds of book lovers wandered the aisles . . .

Occupied all the chairs . . .

Sat in the Starbucks with their laptops.

I went in specifically to buy the 2010 Guild To Literary Agents.

Buying it was one of my 2010 writer goals.

In 2009, I did searches for agents on the Internet . . .

But there are so many websites, it was annoying to keep it all organized.

Having used the Guide To Literary Agents in the past for my first novel, I found it calming to have all agent listings in one book . . .

In my hand . . .

So I could read it in any room I want . . .

Even on a plane.

Not familiar with what aisle the 2010 Guild To Literary Agents might be in,

I strolled . . .

My eyes feasting on . . .

All the new releases . . .

The 50% offs . . .

And all the beautiful coffee table books.

My eyes danced in their sockets dazzled . . .

Like when I watch the reels spin in slot machines.

My mind jumbled as images of books bounced around . . .

Like lottery ping pong balls in a drum.

I couldn’t concentrate . . .

Too many book titles . . .

Too many book covers . . .

I was experiencing . . .

BOOK OVERLOAD!

So many books  . . .

So little time to read them.

And I want to read all of them.

But I needed to focus . . .

And so I asked the store employee to point me to where the 2010 Guide To Literary Agents would be.

OMG!

Just one copy left . . .

And another person was hovering by it . . .

I didn’t want to lose this opportunity . . .

Especially when I had a fifty dollar gift card . . .

And so I . . .

Snatched it!

Right off the shelf . . .

Right in front of the other woman . . .

Sorry!

But this is my first writing goal for 2010  . . .

No, not to rude . . .

But to . . .

FOCUS!

Focus on methodically researching agents.

Focus on methodically sending out query letters.

Focus on finding and attending writer conferences.

Focus on establishing a better on-line presence.

And by focusing . . .

I know I'll increase the odds of . . .

Getting published.

Always, Em-Musing