It's in the mail.

[temporus]

Late (too late) last night I finished up my final revision on a story, printed it out, printed out the cover letter, packed it up with a SASE, and sealed it up.  This morning I dropped it in the post office box, after double checking the postage on the postal scale.  Now it's on its way.

Okay, let me back track a little.  I finished up the revision late last night.  Then I tried to go to sleep.  Then I felt compelled to get back up, type up a cover letter, and have that ready to go, thinking that I would be able to get to sleep.  Clearly  I was wrong, because then I had to dig out my #10 envelopes, and my large manila envelopes, and my stamps.   Then I had to address everything, then I packed it all up, and weighed it on the scale we bought for the Little Man, which by-the-by happens to weigh things nicely in ounces.  Then onto the USPS website, to verify postage for the pack, stamp, then double check all contents were in the envelope (Cover, SASE, Manuscript) and seal it. 

Then I was able to get back to sleep.

I think I forgot what this was like.  My most recent prior submission was electronic, which was a different kind of exciting,  Something about the whole mailing process feels a lot like wrapping a gift.  Yeah, I'm sure once I get back into many more of these, the feeling will wear out.  But for now I'll take what little joys I can, if it keeps me moving in the right direction.

Good luck little manuscript.  Find a home soon.

Comments

[l-clausewitz.livejournal.com]

Well, the feeling and the weight of a physical manuscript does give a rather different sensation from that of electronic bits coursing the cyberspace...

[dqg-neal.livejournal.com]

Do you have a checklist for the order you do things in?

I don't really trust emails for submissions, only because I know how often my spam filters put aside something important. Not that I trust the postal service all that much either, but it has more of a satisfying feel.

[temporus.livejournal.com]

No, I don't. Probably worth making one.

1) Print clean copy. Examine to make sure all pages are there.
2) Update Cover letter.
3) Print Cover letter.
4) Print labels for SASE, and SUBMISSION
5) Affix address for SASE, and Stamp
6) Affix address and return address for Mailer.
7) Place manuscript, SASE and cover in Mailer.
8) Weigh package.
9) Affix appropriate Postage.
10) Update Write Again tracking software with all relevant details.
11) Mail package.
12) Fret.
13) Repeat step 12 ad nauseum.
14) Get over self, and move on to next project.

How's that for a list?

I hear you about the email submissions. In this particular case, it was the option presented to the group. I know the submission was recieved by the editors. I'm more paranoid about the acceptance/rejection letter disappearing to the ether. I'm trying not to dwell on it. And mostly failing miserably.

Manuscript

[(Anonymous)]

You're getting as neurotic and OCD as me now! I'm waiting on two e-mail submissions. The waiting, as Tom Petty says, is the hardest part. It's like...I just want to fucking know already!

Manuscript

[(Anonymous)]

BTW...that last comment was from me.

-KB

[dqg-neal.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I'd mind the rejection letter going to the ether. after a while there are some publications you just give up on anyway for taking an horrendous long time, right?

It would be the acceptance letter I'd be extremely anxious about losing.

[temporus.livejournal.com]

Ah, but the dilemma is much like Schroedinger's cat. Until the letter shows up on my doorstep (or inbox) it is neither a rejection, nor an acceptance but both. It is the act of my seeing the letter that transforms it into an acceptance or rejection. So, a letter being lost to the ether has just as much potential to be an acceptance as a rejection. But I can't see it, so I'll never know.

And according to GI Joe, knowing is half the battle. ;)

Re: Manuscript

[temporus.livejournal.com]

Nah. Its not nearly as bad as it sounds. I think mostly it was just a situation of me being all caught up in the rush to completetion. The waiting sucks. But usually, I just get on with the next project. This month has been tricky. I expect that I'll get back into a groove soon enough. Ultimately, the goal is to have as many stories and submissions out as I can possibly manage. That way, I can't obsess about any one in particular.

Or at least that's the theory I tell myself. :)

[dqg-neal.livejournal.com]

*laughs*

So does your group of friends still used the GI Joe line, too? We can't get rid of it... it is an automatic responce to a statement that involves the phrase knowing.