R-E-J-E-C-T-I-O-N

R is for the relief of getting my query letter and first three chapters submitted.
E is for the expectation of making it out of the ‘slush’ pile.
J is for jealous-my first reaction to someone else signing a book deal.
E is for the effort it takes to be happy for someone else signing a book deal.
C is for caffeine and chocolate--a writer’s two best friends.
T is for time – seconds, minutes, hours, days, months, but a year before I hear?
I is for inbox-“maybe today is the day I’ll get an email saying my story is accepted!”
O is for the ONE right submission reaching the ONE right publisher.
N is for ‘NO’.

Put them all together and what do you get? The reason I have a day job.