Feeling Rejected? Read This.

If you don't do a single other thing the rest of the day, don't fail to call up www.criminalbrief.com and check out Wondermark, a modern-day comic strip shown on Rob Lopresti's column for today. Wondermark is the work of a man named David Malki. The first panel shows a writer who appears to be back in the 19th century leaning over talking to his wife seated at a table. Because I'm trying to acquaint people with his strip, I don't beleive David will mind if I quote the first panel. The writer says, "So, you know that magnet on the fridge where I put all my rejection letters? It fell off. It couldn't take the crippling weight of my failure."

Priceless!

Thanks, Dick. I needed that!

Dear Dick,
As you may remember, I have been re-reading my Agatha Christie books of which I have all. The current one is called Cards On The Table. I had a smile when I read the following from the character Mrs. Oliver whose character is a mystery writer.

" Oh," said Rhonda, a little taken aback. "Because it must. It must be wonderful just to sit down and write off a whole book."
"It doesn't happen exactly like that," said Mrs. Oliver. "One actually has to think, you know. And thinking is always a bore. And you have to plan things. And then one gets stuck every now and then, and you feel you'll never get out of the mess -- but you do! Writing's not particularly enjoyable. It's hard work, like everything else.
"It doesn't seem like work," said Rhoda.
"Not to you," said Mrs. Oliver, "because you don't have to do it! It feels very like work to me. Some days I can only keep going by repeating over and over to myself the amount of money I mignt get for my next serial rights...."

Love,
Betty