Just because this book isn't selling now doesn't mean that it will never sell. A writer has to look at the big picture, the long haul.

A manuscript is like a spec house. An unsold manuscript doesn't just go away any more than an unsold house does. It sits there waiting. Some day, the economy changes, the area's population changes, the area becomes more desirable and the house sells. Maybe by that point it needs a few updates or maintenance, but it sells.

The same thing frequently happens with manuscripts. Something will change. You will sell something else and an editor will say, "Do you have anything else you're working on?" Or for some reason the topic you were writing on will become really hot and you'll have a manuscript ready to go.

If this book doesn't sell now, all that means is that it goes onto a back burner while you work on other projects. It will always be there, ready when you need it.

Seven months isn't that long, actually, nor are the seemingly endless amounts of revisions and additions. It took my agent two years to find the right editor for GOTHIC. In hindsight, it was worth the wait and endless revisions. At the time, tho, I felt like it would never sell and I would be condemned to an "always the bridesmaid" writerly life.

I think the flip side of the ability (or, more honestly, expectation) to deal with disappointment is an equally strong ability to have hope.

My two cents, of course.

And I forgot to add my favorite August Wilson quote, sent to me by my Dad: you are entitled to the work, not the reward.

Having just come through this, and having just received my own manuscript back, and having shoved it into a file and having thought... "Oh, I'll start revisions in, say, October..." hoping to give myself some time to bandage my wounds and stop wincing...

I know.

One of the gifts of getting through the editing process once is the belief that revision can change things, that you can still retain the integrity of your work but revise it to fit within some invisible and unknown parameters no one can explain. It can be done, and you may find that your work is even more amazing after a revision. But, it is an awful and heavy road before that moment of epiphany occurs.

This is not too much to hear, and you know where to find us if you need readers.

Self-publishing. If your book is wonderful, it isn't less so because some clueless publishers can't see it or don't care. You're letting the opinions of people whose opinions aren't worth your anguish get you down.

All of these are very useful comments and I do appreciate them - part of why I post on this writerly stuff is because not being physically surrounded by writers means that a lot of times I just don't know how my own situation compares to everyone else's.

So it is helpful to hear what others think/know/believe.

Having said that though, well - right now it is just a wee bit tough. I am working on two other books; I am moving forward; I am getting that I need to be patient. But don't expect to like all that, you know? :)

And Dan I am thinking about what you said. I'm talking to my agent next week and I'll get a clearer picture of where the book stands. Then I'll decide where it goes from here.

And let everyone know of course!!

And thanks TadMack - for everything.

Colleen, I admire and envy all of you who have taken the step from "I could write, if I had the time..." to being authors, even if - so far - unpublished ones. You are far braver than I, and I salute you!

It makes me sad to hear YOU so sad and down.

Don't stop.

Keep writing.
Keep hoping.
Keep trying.
Keep believing.

Thanks guys - this means the world to me...... :)