Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Search for Sanity

I've started stalking my postman. No, really. I mean, does it have to take an entire hour to stuff the mailboxes in my neighborhood? That's just counting the time I arrived home from work. Who knows how long he was out there before I saw him.

I'm not normally a stalker. I promise.
You see, at the beginning of March, I sent in my application to the MFA program at Vermont College of Fine Arts. The admissions counselor advised me that I would hear back from them in 4-6 weeks. It's now Week 5; hence, the close relationship with my mailbox. (Actually, it started after Week 1, but who's really counting?)

My impatient waiting has made me question my ability to stay sane when I finally begin the querying process later this year. I know that it could take months (or years!) of querying before I receive a favorable response.


How do you all stay sane throughout the process? I'd really like to stop stalking my postman. (I'm sure he'd like it too!)

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm terribly impatient also. I remember when I was applying to colleges, I haunted the mailbox, waiting for news. It was dreadful.

One solution I've seen suggested is to immerse yourself in a new project--that way, hopefully, the wait won't be so difficult.

Jessica Bell said...

LOL I'm so impatient too. but not to worry! All, if not MOST US agents want e-queries now :)

Matthew MacNish said...

Hi Amy. I noticed you became a follower of my blog so I wanted to stop by and quickly return the favor.

I'll come back to read and comment once you have a new post up.

Thanks!

Andria said...

Things you can do to stay sane:

1. Talk to your friend Andria.
2. Read your friend's writing.
3. Grade lousy poems.
4. Eat a box of Samoas.
5. Rewatch all of the TV shows on your DVR.
6. Fly to Vermont and sit on the admission counselor's doorstep until he/she gives you an answer one way or the other.

Unknown said...

I'd be stalking my postman too -- that's how I roll. Waiting for that kind of news is excruciating! My fingers are crossed for you:)

Thanks so much for your wonderful comment on my blog today. Please, by all means, feel free to share that post and any others you wish with your students. To say I'd be honored and flattered is a serious understatement!

Have a fantastic day :)
Nicole

Shannon O'Donnell said...

Ha ha ha. Wish I could help, but when I want something, I want it YESTERDAY! Patience has never been my strength.

Thanks for stopping by Book Dreaming! :-)

Shelley Sly said...

Haha. This post made me chuckle. :)
When I sent out snail mail queries last year, I leaped up and grabbed the mail as soon as it came every day. Guess I was in a rush to read those rejection letters...
Hope you get some good news in the mail soon!

Angie Paxton said...

Amy Jo, give up any hope right now of staying sane during the query process. It's already a lost fight. My postman was probably terrified of the wild eyed crazy haired lady that came dashing out of her townhouse every day the minute he pulled up and snatched her mail right out of his hands.

Unknown said...

Stalk him!!! Stalk him!!!

Okay sorry about that but seriously I have no hopes of not stalking my postman once I've sent out queries it will be a race to who gets to the mailbox first... biting my nails crowding his personal space and maybe even a tiff here or there with hopes of getting a great response of them wanting a full!

Good luck!

Anonymous said...

Oh my Gandhi! That's hilarious. This post really made my day. I've just started doing this whole blog thing as a kind of 'project'. Trust me, I don't think you're going insane! And if you are, don't feel alone!

Unknown said...

Thanks for joining me, Amy Jo, and I see you are also a member of goodreads, I've just discovered the site. Loved your post. Carole.

Portia said...

Oh, I stalk the postman too! It's awful. I probably watch for him at least an hour before he usually comes around, and when he's late I get nervous. Good luck with your application! I'm excited for you.

#167 Dad said...

I gave up on the query business. I'm looking into self publishing.
500 words after a day of teaching English is impressive.

Lola Sharp said...

Heck, I stalk them even when I shop online and am waiting for anything to be delivered. Today I stalked UPS because books from Amazon , and goodies from Sephora, were due to arrive. Every time I thought I heard a truck coming down my court, I whipped that door open.

They must be used to it.

Did you get it yet?