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
