Sometimes I think if my reading slows down, I might start buying books faster than I can finish them, and eventually my book pile will get so high it'll topple on me like an avalanche. They'll find me days later buried under a pile of the latest nonfiction. (I could think of worse ways to go really. Like under a pile of trashy paperbacks maybe.)
On my way to work I used to pass by Random House. It was the best part of my day to be honest (ex-boss was a total psycho, but that's another story). I'd try to imagine what it must be like in there at 8:15AM (I was always late)-- who's reading manuscripts, who's publishing, who's being turned away. And now I'm writing a novel.
Yesterday night they had a re-run of the Scotiabank Giller Prize Awards (Canadian equivalent of the Pultizer) on CBC. And this man won.
And when he made his speech I teared up. Not because it was particularly good or anything (wasn't listening), or because of his novel (hadn't read it), but because I suddenly realized just how badly I want to be where he's standing.
I just spent the past 8 years, two degrees and several thousand dollars on an eco career that honestly doesn't mean much to me. And now I have tiny pieces of a draft manuscript saved on my desktop that could mean so so much more if only I work on it hard enough. I want in on the book business. Now if only I can find the guts to make that happen.
I don't know why I'm writing this. I don't even think I should publish it. But if I don't, it's going to sit on my blogger draft list indefinitely, and everytime I scroll pass it it'll look straight at me and remind me just how much of a coward I am for not publishing it, or for not walking into Random House.
So here. Here's to the book business. And the Pulitzer.
your book stack looks EXACTLY like mine :)
ReplyDeletelindsey do you know the worst part?? after I took the picture I bought 3 more books, and now they're stacked on top...
ReplyDeleteif they fall on me it would be totally worth it :)