Watch Out When You Call A Writer

I've been working on a book proposal for weeks. It is a lot of work.

Before I started this writing project, it seemed so simple....contact a publisher, pitch your idea, get a contract (and a big fat advance...lol) and write the book.

WRONG!

There are pages and pages of things you must submit to the publisher before they even consider your idea. It takes weeks, sometimes months, to do it right. You spend your days doing research, writing sample chapters, figuring out marketing ideas, deciding on a title.....and, you do this alone, at your computer, without any other human contact. It's enough to make you crazy, or at least make you desperate to talk to someone....anyone....about anything!

Anyway, I am working on this proposal.....and, the phone rings.

It's the phone company, wanting me to add new service to my account.

The poor telemarketer was a lamb led to slaughter. I spent 20 minutes on the phone with her, not talking about call waiting or caller id, but about my book idea and I did all the talking!

lol

She couldn't get a word in edgewise. I was a man possessed, desperately seeking somebody to talk to. I executed the perfect "Enough about you...let me tell you about me" phone call.

She never had a chance to sell me anything.

Please be warned....when you call a writer, who is in the middle of a big writing project, you will find yourself faced with a talking fool. They will rattle on, with great exubrance, about themselves, their writing, their world, their dog....anything and everything.......

Sadly, like a drunk who can't quit the demon alcohol, they can't help themselves.

We are sorry.....really.

JB