Quick and Dirty Guide

Maggie's Guide to Getting Published

And if you thought something else what are you doing here hmmm? I mean really, should be ashamed of yourself. I'm not going to post anything like That here.
I'm not sure Maggie will either but she's younger and more adventurous than I perhaps. ;) But she does have great writing advice. As most regular or irregular readers here know that I reference her blog site a Lot. So her blog is a good one to check out regularly. [you can check out my Friends list at top here.] But this is on her Facebook fan site, and is too good for any writer to miss. So re-posted here for those that aren't on Facebook or aren't Maggie's friend/fan. And if you aren't, why aren't you? Okay, so if you aren't on Facebook, I understand. I have a page and I'm not there all that much either. But if you aren't a fan of Maggie's.... well, I just don't know about you then. And if her great book 'Shiver' didn't change your mind, maybe this will. Otherwise maybe we do need to talk here. hmmmmm????

Oh and no, fortunately or unfortunately, haven't decided which yet ;), I'm not Maggie. But I am a fan.
And no I don't believe in telling people what to do - I don't Really! - but you should check her out. Or at least her great, and savvy, advice. So here's some of what I'm talking about that Maggie shares.


Maggie Stiefvater (Really, it's me): Quick & Dirty Guide to Getting Published

Maggie Stiefvater (Really, it's me)'s Notes
Quick & Dirty Guide to Getting PublishedShare
Today at 6:32am
I get asked a lot if it's difficult to become an author, so here is my very abbreviated rundown of the process. I'm also going to try to format it prettily so I hope that works.

1. Read. The more you read, the better you'll be as an author. Good novels are your text books. I'm always very suspicious of someone who tells me they want to be a writer but can't tell me five books they've read recently. Read, read, read!

2. Write. A lot. Write all the time. When you're not reading, practice writing. The odds of your first novel being good enough to publish is pretty darn slim. I started writing when I was in my teens and had 30 (horrible) novels written by the time I was in college. But I certainly didn't try to get most of those published. They were just practice and I knew it.

3. Rewrite. The rough draft is just the beginning. No matter how wonderful you think it is, put it down for two weeks -- don't let yourself read it or think of it. Read lots of novels in between. Then come back to it, and slice and dice. Use index cards to write down the scenes, mix them up, see if you need new ones, see if two characters could be made into one to be more efficient, make sure your protagonist is gripping from the beginning. Writing is the fun part. Rewriting is when it becomes a BOOK.

4. Be Honest. With yourself. Are you really ready to be published? You want to make sure that the first novel you send out there is amazing. Don't be discouraged if it's not. As long as you work hard, keep plugging along, keep learning, it's "when" not "if."

5. Google. Be Knowledgeable. Everything you need to know about the publishing process is available online at blogs, websites, and on publisher sites. You'll be competing against writers who have done all their research to make sure everything is formatted properly, so don't be the one that gets tossed aside for looking unprofessional. I have links to sites that I like on my website, on the links page.

4. Query. The next stage is querying. A query is a one page letter describing your novel -- and this is the only thing that you will send agents, who are the people who will represent your novel to publishers. Most of the big publishers will not look at queries from unagented authors. They count on the agents to weed out the ones that aren't ready yet. You can find agents that represent your kind of books at Agent Query. And you can find my recommendations about query letters on my blog here.

5. Be Patient. And keep your spirits up. Be prepared for a lot of "no"s. I have hundreds of them. The fact is, you might not be ready. Or you might not be that agent's cup of tea. You may need to revise more. This part is fun, not stressful. If you're getting a lot of form rejections -- letters back that just say "dear author, not for us" it means you need to revise your query to be more appealing. If you're getting requests for partial manuscripts and then rejections, it means you need to revise your manuscript. Take all requests and suggestions for the wonderful, free advice that they are. And remember, it's a process, it takes a long time, and it's fun. It's also not a gamble -- good novels WILL get requests. It's not whether or not you send it on a Monday or include hershey's kisses with your submission.

6. DO NOT PAY ANYONE TO BE YOUR AGENT OR PUBLISH YOUR BOOK T

There are many, many scam artists out there. Agents should never ask for money up front -- they get their money when they sell your book, and that's it. A publisher that asks you to pay them is called a vanity publisher, and while there are reasons to pay to get ar book published (for example, a cookbook your church is doing for a fundraiser), there is NO reason to pay for your novel, your work of fiction, published. Publishers pay their authors, not the other way around.

Great Writers Workshop, Spread the Word

EGADS! This has been sitting in my file – cleverly titled ‘Blog Posts,’ or if I’m really ambitious, it’s in the ‘Previous Blog Posts’ file. Yeah, I’m so original. Not to mention not as ambitious as I have been since it’s been there awhile I guess. But I’m going to post it anyway since this workshop was really good and I don’t want anyone that has a chance to go to one in the future to miss it!!! So this is your heads up, or warning!

I am always amazed at the generosity and sharing of published authors. How willing they are to Make time to help beginning writers. Even while doing writing and researching of their own, and all they have to do nowadays to sell their books. They are still incredibly generous and helpful. Amazing.

One such writer is Steve Berry. New York Times bestselling author…etc…etc… Check out his website for all the accolades.

http://www.steveberry.org/

But Definitely go there and check out his site for his Writers Workshops – and he even donates all the money from them!!!

http://www.steveberry.org/berry-events.htm

The Library of Virginia in Richmond recently had one of Steve’s Writers Workshops and I am really sorry if you missed it. Since it was a good one no matter where you are in the stages of your writing, from beginning, to middle, to more established. I was surrounded by all stages, and they were all asking questions and writing notes. Okay so I was really busy writing notes, a Lot of them, since I am, as of yet, unpublished. But others were too. Published and soon to be published they were also writing down notes.

Steve takes on the basics of writing with his part of the workshop. Yes, as he sees it. But he still has some great ideas and thoughts. He’s a very clever man, Steve is.

Especially since he’s hooked a very clever woman with his wife Elizabeth. A very cute package with the added addition of a very sharp and savvy brain. Quite a package. [including shoes and purses. ;) But it cleaned Steve’s books up. ;) She found mistakes she got shoes and purses. See I told you, clever woman. ;) ] The woman is a whiz with the numbers game of selling books. She leads the second part of the workshop. And does it very well.

See I told you, he’s a very clever guy.

She’s great. I wish All writers had at least one of her!! I don’t think much phases her – oh except the Eiffel Tower, but that’s a story best left for their telling ;) – but I think we all disconcerted Steve a little at times with our deer-in-the-headlights-not-sure-what-question-to-even-ask looks. But it was a lot of good information. No matter where you are in the pecking order of writer-to-published writer chain of things.

And there were plenty of moans [quietly though so Steve wasn’t disconcerted again] from us all, from the ‘egads I need to look at that in my story’ [ok, yeah that was me] to ‘oh my, I need to do another look for that as I edit.’

This was a comment from soon-to-be published Ellen Brown over some of the great advice Steve had on edits and editing.

So while you’re there on Berry’s site check out the article on Berry by Richmond’s and JRW’s own, and new JRW Board member, Ellen Firsching Brown, who has a book of her own coming out. [which she is in deep edits with, and looking at again with renewed vigor thanks to Steve’s tips.]

Ellen Firsching Brown is a freelance writer specializing in stories about antiquarian books. She is co-writing a book about the publishing history of Gone With the Wind, to be published by Taylor Trade in January 2011.

Or just check out this link - http://www.finebooksmagazine.com/issue/201002/steve_barry-1.phtml

And Don’t forget to check out and buy Steve’s books, they are worth a read. Both my husband and I enjoy Steve’s books and almost have a complete collection of them. - correction – we cleaned up our book stacks weekend or so ago and discovered we Did have complete collection, in different stacks. Had three of one book. Ah, well. Steve’s books are always interesting. No matter how many we have of them. And we already spread the contag…er, we cordially gave one of the copies to a friend that is a rabid collector of Another author [that will remain nameless].

Hey, You know I wouldn’t steer you wrong about books.

Or writerly stuff. And Steve and Elizabeth said they would Love to come back to Richmond next year and do another workshop. So hopefully if we clamor enough they’ll be back to do another one. I’d go again. Hopefully my eyes won’t look so deer-like next time.

So keep your eyes open.

And spread the word.

You don’t even have to mention you heard it here – but that’d be okay. ;-D

Personal stories, advice…and a bit of fun

Okay so since it’s Friday. And been rather a ‘tense’ week. I thought I’d put this out there for those of you that have been having ‘tense’ weeks of your own.

I get email blog stuff from agent Chip McGregor [no he’s not my agent but he is of one of the members of James River Writers]

[I’m always researching / collecting agents for when I’m finally ready for that though, hopefully by end of year, so if you have a Really good one to share let me know!]

and his latest has to do with writing or helping with personal stories. So if any of you are in that type of situation, or might potentially find yourself in one, you might want to check out this blog first –

http://www.chipmacgregor.com/

if you just want a snicker or two to lighten the load today just check it out for his great humor here. That’s what I came away with.

And I didn’t even have to pee my pants. ;-D
Check out the blog for that reference – it’s funny. At least I thought it was. And this is my blog. ;)


Er, I’m not sure I want to know if you wet your pants or not.

A Follower of Rules? Or a Drifter of Rules?

Man, I never realized people had such a ‘thing’ with rules! Okay, granted I’m not enamored by rules by any means. But even with my ‘personal code,’ I recognize there are ‘Rules’ and then there are ‘rules.’ I mean I follow the Rules – go the speed limit, do not speed. Of Course I Don’t speed! I don’t lie! Don’t cheat either. Don’t steal. Don’t kill. Okay so as a writer I might get around to that with a character or two – and No I’m not Telling, you’ll just have to wait and read! And no, don’t hold your breath. That’s not going to help you and really, I can’t see you. You might could tell me in the comments though. ;)

I believe in following rules like marriage vows and promises – and no, I did not promise to love, honor, obey, etc… We had ‘special’ vows. I mean really, did you expect anything less? Really? Just read my blog here. Uhm, okay, so maybe it should reflect my personality a bit more? Or not? ;)

I’m talking, or babbling depending on your view, about the previous blog post on writer’s rules link I posted. And just because something says ‘writer’ doesn’t mean it Couldn’t apply to others. Right?

So a friend sent me the link. And I definitely should mention here since another friend, thanks Denise, thought I had posted them all – since I had such a Long and wordy post, obviously I could use some work on editing. – and NO that’s only a Few of the ‘rules’ from the list.
So you should go and look at it yourself. Especially since obviously what stood out to me didn’t strike the same response in others.
Like Work-In-Progess blog write, Author Leslie Pietrzyk, posted –
Writing Rules, and Writing RULES!
Posted: 24 Feb 2010 06:36 AM PST
I love lists, and I love lists of writing “rules.” Taken with a grain of salt—(as one of my teachers used to say, “The only rule in writing is to be interesting”)—such pithy advice can offer guidance, open your mind, and sometimes speak exactly to a problem of the moment.
Here’s a great two-piece article in which Elmore Leonard offers his ten rules for writing, followed by more writers riffing on that list, adding their suggestions.
Just a quick sample of the range of advice:
Roddy Doyle: “Do not place a photograph of your favorite author on your desk, especially if the author is one of the famous ones who committed suicide.”
Anne Enright: “Only bad writers think that their work is really good.”
Richard Ford: “Try to think of others’ good luck as encouragement to yourself.”
(Thanks to Perpetual Folly for the link. And if these types of proscriptive lists make you crabby, you’ll be interested in the discussion over at The Elegant Variation.)


A Lot of people evidently have Very Strong Opinions on rules! Or 'rules' on rules. Zowie. I didn’t realize there would be so much ..uh, discussion…on it. I mean yeah, ‘Rules,’ but ‘rules’ – uhm, I can distinguish between the two. And choose on the ‘rules’ what I Might want to follow. Or not. [Remember I already told you I follow the ‘Rules’ like speed limit.] I am a drifter of those that aren’t ‘Rules’ just ‘rules.’ I guess I do think of the ones put in this list mere ‘suggestions’ rather than rules. They are interesting and thought-provoking perhaps but something I ‘have’ to follow… uh, Why? So I drifted them.

But this list provoked some definite reactions in some people. How about you?

What ‘rules’ of the list did you like? Dislike? Reacted strongly to?

You a rule follower, or a drifter?

Writers Rules to Live By? Or just a go-by?

I recently was sent a great link to great advice for writers by a good friend.
Thought you all might appreciate it as well.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/feb/20/ten-rules-for-writing-fiction-part-one

The advice is by many different authors. Some interesting. Some thought-provoking. Some like this -

Roddy Doyle
1 Do not place a photograph of your ¬favourite author on your desk, especially if the author is one of the famous ones who committed suicide.

Just very good to know. Right?

I admit I did not recognize some of the names but that didn’t keep me from finding things to think about or appreciate in their list. Even if I didn’t know them to respect them as this one advised –

Jeanette Winterson
2 Never stop when you are stuck. You may not be able to solve the problem, but turn aside and write something else. Do not stop altogether.
6 Take no notice of anyone you don't respect.

I thought her 2-advice was very good even if I didn’t know her to follow her #6 one.
I have tried to do what she has suggested even before I saw her advice.

I liked a lot of insight here…. That description is hard, and to remember that all description is an opinion about the world. I’ll have to mull over that but it seems pretty profound. But maybe that has something to do with the late hour and lack of sleep?
The rest of her advice was …interesting as well. Or maybe it had something to do with the whiskey reference. Although I don’t whiskey and rarely even drink a glass of wine. So maybe it is the late hour. So moving along now….

Anne Enright
2 The way to write a book is to actually write a book. A pen is useful, typing is also good. Keep putting words on the page.
3 Only bad writers think that their work is really good.
4 Description is hard. Remember that all description is an opinion about the world. Find a place to stand.
5 Write whatever way you like. Fiction is made of words on a page; reality is made of something else. It doesn't matter how "real" your story is, or how "made up": what matters is its necessity.
6 Try to be accurate about stuff.
7 Imagine that you are dying. If you had a terminal disease would you ¬finish this book? Why not? The thing that annoys this 10-weeks-to-live self is the thing that is wrong with the book. So change it. Stop arguing with yourself. Change it. See? Easy. And no one had to die.
8 You can also do all that with whiskey.
9 Have fun.
10 Remember, if you sit at your desk for 15 or 20 years, every day, not ¬counting weekends, it changes you. It just does. It may not improve your temper, but it fixes something else. It makes you more free.

Okay, so what about PD James – there’s a name I know. Have read a lot of her books. Not necessarily my favs. but obviously are of a lot of people. Including a dear friend. But there is some good advice here I think.
I especially thought #2 was interesting. Although I’m not sure what I think about it. I often learn more from books I don’t like than ones I do since it’s easy to get caught up in a good book and miss the ‘mechanisms’ behind it. But bad writing? I don’t know. How is that determined? From what I can tell it’s all just a matter of opinion of whether a book is good or bad. And even sitting a table with a bunch of I’m sure very good writers, they all had very different opinions on good and bad books, and were very often talking about the same book.

PD James
1 Increase your word power. Words are the raw material of our craft. The greater your vocabulary the more ¬effective your writing. We who write in English are fortunate to have the richest and most versatile language in the world. Respect it.
2 Read widely and with discrimination. Bad writing is contagious.
3 Don't just plan to write – write. It is only by writing, not dreaming about it, that we develop our own style.
4 Write what you need to write, not what is currently popular or what you think will sell.
5 Open your mind to new experiences, particularly to the study of other ¬people. Nothing that happens to a writer – however happy, however tragic – is ever wasted.

I do follow this advice – at least #1 and #2. And will keep #3 in mind.
Diana Athill
1 Read it aloud to yourself because that's the only way to be sure the rhythms of the sentences are OK (prose rhythms are too complex and subtle to be thought out – they can be got right only by ear).
2 Cut (perhaps that should be CUT): only by having no ¬inessential words can every essential word be made to count.
3 You don't always have to go so far as to murder your darlings – those turns of phrase or images of which you felt extra proud when they appeared on the page – but go back and look at them with a very beady eye. Almost always it turns out that they'd be better dead. (Not every little twinge of satisfaction is suspect – it's the ones which amount to a sort of smug glee you must watch out for.)

I’m not sure I know who this is either but he sure has some good advice. Especially #8. I was talking with a writer friend and mentioned that I think that’s one reason I for some unfathomable reason feel absolutely compelled to complete the long-drawn struggle of a story I’ve been working on. It’s been teaching me to face my fears. She nodded as I was speaking so I asked her if it ever got any better. With many books under her belt, she would have confidence if anyone would. She looked at me and laughing said, no, it’s that way every time, like an actor and stage fright, but you get on with it and you’re okay. Until the next time.

AL Kennedy
1 Have humility. Older/more ¬experienced/more convincing writers may offer rules and varieties of advice. ¬Consider what they say. However, don't automatically give them charge of your brain, or anything else – they might be bitter, twisted, burned-out, manipulative, or just not very like you.
2 Have more humility. Remember you don't know the limits of your own abilities. Successful or not, if you keep pushing beyond yourself, you will enrich your own life – and maybe even please a few strangers.
3 Defend others. You can, of course, steal stories and attributes from family and friends, fill in filecards after lovemaking and so forth. It might be better to celebrate those you love – and love itself – by writing in such a way that everyone keeps their privacy and dignity intact.
4 Defend your work. Organisations, institutions and individuals will often think they know best about your work – especially if they are paying you. When you genuinely believe their decisions would damage your work – walk away. Run away. The money doesn't matter that much.
5 Defend yourself. Find out what keeps you happy, motivated and creative.
6 Write. No amount of self-inflicted misery, altered states, black pullovers or being publicly obnoxious will ever add up to your being a writer. Writers write. On you go.
7 Read. As much as you can. As deeply and widely and nourishingly and ¬irritatingly as you can. And the good things will make you remember them, so you won't need to take notes.
8 Be without fear. This is impossible, but let the small fears drive your rewriting and set aside the large ones ¬until they behave – then use them, maybe even write them. Too much fear and all you'll get is silence.
9 Remember you love writing. It wouldn't be worth it if you didn't. If the love fades, do what you need to and get it back.
10 Remember writing doesn't love you. It doesn't care. Nevertheless, it can behave with remarkable generosity. Speak well of it, encourage others, pass it on.

So to follow his #10 advice. Since I can’t do #9. I don’t love writing. I come to it kicking, screaming and flailing. Yeah, it’s too loud sometimes, huh. And I have no idea why I’m compelled to continually try to put the perfect words on paper to translate what is playing out in my head out of there into a different form to play around in other people’s heads. Yeah, rather annoying sometimes, huh. But it is what it is. And to get to his 10 advice, writing is a tool and good writing can take you out of where you are and who you are. It can give you the world. Maybe this is a way to give back.

So don’t give up on who you are. Or on what you want to do. No matter what it is. Don’t let your dream die, whatever it is. Or dry up. Cause maybe a something in you dries up at the same time.

Read the ‘rules’ here and take away what means something to you.

And come back and talk to me about it, okay?
After all, you’re supposed to be encouraging and pass it on as well. So…I’m waiting. Here. Now. Okay, so I need to take a break and get some sleep. But I’ll be back to check.

Books are better

Of course I know they are. But every so often you just don’t have the energy to turn the pages. Come on, I Know there’s got to be Someone out there that has let themselves get to that point at times. I try not to let myself get to that point. Or get like that anymore. But sometimes….

Sometimes there’s just not any more energy than to lift a cup of hot tea. When there’s been energy to make it, or even reheat it in the microwave cause you took too long to lift it when it was hot. Where even clicking buttons on the remote is just all too much effort so you just lie there swaddled in a warm throw or blanket glazed-ly staring at nothing. And sorry and all, but there really isn’t a whole lot to watch on tv that’s really all that interesting, is there? Okay so when you’re in that state of almost catatonic-tired there’s probably not anything really all that interesting. So you need fluff and stuff like that to relax with. When I have the energy to flip pages and just want to be entertained with grinning silliness I often turn to a Janet Evanovich ‘Stephanie Plum’ book. Stephanie Plum is surrounded with crazy funny characters - I'll just say, Lula - oh and not talk about Stephanie's funeral-going-casket-peeking grandma - and is always bound to end up in something funny. And a laugh is Always good for what ails you, right? Or I'll pick up a Donna Andrews humor logged 'Meg Langslow' mystery - pssst, #6 the Penguin one is still my favorite! Just go to Donna's website and read the first paragraph. My Favorite paragraph of just about all time I think! And lest anyone get offended - Please don't! I read LOTS of books, believe me. My house and shelves overflow. Really. Ask my husband. No, Please don't ask him. It'll just remind him how many books 'we' have around here. And how many more I need to read.

But for some reason, I was talking with some writer friends some time ago about movies. Don’t remember how we got on the subject of movies, we’re writers so obviously the talk is mostly about books. But being writers our conversations jump and stray around as our minds do trying to corral characters, plots, and story lines. So anyway we somehow ended up talking movies – we probably ended up there talking about story and plots and things like that, now that I come to think of it. And I remembered a very old movie that was fun at the time. Not sure it would stand a look now but it had its moments ‘back then.’ Mainly because it was sort of vaguely about writers. A woman winning a contest with her writing, and getting away from her over-bearing husband to accept the prize, and along the way she accidently gets knocked out and wakes up thinking she’s her favorite detective in her favorite books. I’m not doing a very good job talking about it so if it sounds vaguely interesting just google it. It was called ‘American Dreamer’ and had JoBeth Williams? And Tom Conti in it. Don’t think it has very good reviews. And like I said it Has been a long time since I saw it.
Another movie that was cute at one time but not sure stands up a lot anymore is ‘Foul Play’ with Goldie Hawn and Chevy Chase? Oh and Dudley Moore…etc….

But a more recent movie that has a vague reference to writing – of sorts – is ‘The Holiday’ with Kate Winslet, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Jack Black. Cute movie. Some great memorable thought mulling lines in it also. And I must not be the only one liking it since it was on tv not only at Christmas/holiday time a couple / few times, it was on Valentine’s day or the day before. And technically it takes place during Christmas / New Years – thus the title ‘The Holiday.’ Altho’ maybe someone just saw the title and thought it would do for Any holiday. But it is a good movie no matter when you see it. So much so that I bought the DVD. And we so rarely bother to watch the movies we have we don’t often buy any more.

For a different type of movie, going for a lot more ‘non-serious’ fun, ‘Undercover Blues’ with Kathleen Turner and Dennis Quaid is a good one to watch. ‘Don’t miss the gators’...chomp, chomp. ;)

A movie a bit more wacky ;) was ‘Vibes’ with Cyndi Lauper and Jeff Goldblum. And Peter Falk. Fun. At least last time I saw it was. Course then again, that was rather long time ago.

As I said we don’t usually really watch – we read. Even when ‘watching’ I’m usually ‘reading’/sorting thro’ mail/papers/etc…. That still counts as ‘reading’ doesn’t it? Sort of? Altho’ my favorite thing to do is still to read a good book. even a so-so book, but I like good books better. ;) What can I say, I’m a writer. I’m always looking to see how I can write better, and how someone else handles their ‘job.’ And see if I can pick up tips on how to do mine better. So if you have any good books to suggest I’m always looking and putting lists together of books I should look at. And to add more 'insulation' to the house. ;)

And now to get this done before I get to that catatonic-tired state, since obviously you see I’ve drifted past coherent into rambling. But I’ll be checking back looking for good book recommendations.

Travel weary Cold Worn

First a Big thanks to all of you writing and expressing concern about my where-abouts, and lack of ‘public activity’ here. THANKS - hey I did say a Big thanks, right.

I am indeed very blessed to have such good friends – and good Sherpas …ok, Sherpa-people for the red-line-happy-Word that doesn’t like that. See previous blog entries for those of you new here. Uh, believe me, there’s not that many to go through. This year anyway. Yet. Who am I kidding, I’m not sure there’s that many in the blog at all really. I Have really good intentions though! Really. But sometimes it sure seems rather echo-y here. Especially in the wee hours that I’m usually writing this stuff. The empty trying hours between busyness and the tussle of sleep. Even though sleep was in short supply last few weeks between cancelled flights, and horrendous lingering cold – both of head/chest variety and the weather type. All bookended and covered with snow, and more snow. And even more snow. That might still be around in mountainous form in June you know. Wantta bet? Have you Seen those gi-nourmous mountain ranges of snow in parking lots all over???

I’m sure I’m not the only one cold weary. Weather wise and health wise. Am finally getting over the dreadful one that has dogged me for ever-so-long now. Talking about stuffy-head coughing type of cold but I guess it’s applying to the snow and weather type cold as well.

To bring those that would like to know up-to-date in the shortest form possible I bring you the following ditty. In its quick-and-dirty-rough form. It’s much too late for any other brilliant wit on my part. I did tell you I was getting over a cold, remember. Not to mention as well all kinds of traumas and sagas and all kinds of stuff too dreary to mention.

Sagas upon Sagas

Sagas before the holidays

Sagas after the holidays

Bookending craziness of said holidays

Became more trying than even past years

[I won’t even mention all the tears]

Unprecedented thought of getaway break

Delirious plans of a vacation to take

Pushed to rush by cancelled flights and impending snow

Everything seemed to finally work out and be okay, how were we to know

The worst was yet to come.

All the well-worked plans to come undone

Leaving stranded in Atlanta, all those trying to get home.

Everyone rushing to phone

A hotel for the night.

Leave to the next day the fight for a flight.

Whew, got that hurdle, got a place to stay.

Stagger to the room, without luggage, what’s there to say

Not so happy, not so gay

Especially when on a handle there’s biggest roach I’ve ever seen

Ick Ick Ick. Husband trolls room to keep it clean.

Convincing that it’s just a short stay

since it’s really almost day

Rush back to airport as soon as can

Beg and plead, that’s the plan.

No problem we have a flight

Just can’t get out until later that night.

Oh, well, we’ll take it

So we sit and sit.

Run out of Zicam, nothing to keep cold in check

Sitting and sitting, wondering what the heck

are we going find when we do make it back

how much snow are we going to have to hack

late at night to make it home

when we finally get to make it to home sweet home.

With cold and hacking that came along

Here’s hoping it will all soon be gone, gone, gone.