A letter
January 15, 2010 at 3:45 am (Creative commentary, Interesting stuff, Short stories) (redrfating, rejection, Writing)
Dear draft number eight,
are you the one? The one I’ve been working towards all my life? Could it be? I thought draft number seven was the one, I really did – what a disappointment. Then again, I thought number six was the one too but what a mess that turned out to be. Draft number eight, if you’re not the one, can you please tell me up front? Spare me the hell of the redraft only to have the world reject you again and again? Because I really don’t want to do it again. I really don’t want to wake Ella and Robert and George and relive it all again, I really don’t. I don’t want the sleepless nights, and the muddling of me and the others. So please, please, tell me now if you’re not the one and we can part amicably.
If you are the one, that’s perfect! I’ll put up with the transformation writing you will bring, and once again I’ll sacrifice my family and friends to write you just as long as you’re the one. I’ll play my music and the words will hum out of me. I have this vibe that you are the one because with the others I rewrote them completely but with you, I only have to tidy you up, improve the language and rewrite the ending. If you are truly the one, I’m sure it’ll just happen, like in the movies. Do you think we’re meant to be me and you? If you do I’ll give you my all, and we’ll show the world, we’ll show them what we’re made of.
But only if you’re the one.
A yes or no answer would be great.
Looking forward to your response,
your author for life
Koraly
xxx
Marc said,
January 15, 2010 at 1:36 pm
Eight drafts is an impressive effort. A few friend of mine got together to make a band (it started off being called Verdict, then Endo Venira [I think Beavis was a bit pissed when he came up with that {yeah we call him Beavis because he was so obsessed with Beavis and Butthead he fashioned his hair like Beavis}]) and then finally Dream of Apathy.
As Dream of Apathy they submitted a demo to a so called “metal” label who turned around and told them “yeah … we’re not looking for metal right now, we’re looking for that generic emo bullshit the world is obsessed with right now.”
After that one attempt there is only one original band member in there. They’re actually quite good, they sound a bit like Pantera.
Anyways, long story short, the fact they gave up after one shot (except for Gre C who’s still going strong) made me lose respect for them (except for Gre C who’s still going strong [he's called Gre C because of an arsehole [who used to give me shit as well] who kept having a go at him calling him a greasy wog, so he just said “alright, fuck you and clall me Gre C” and the shithead who was giving him grief did not like that one bit.)
Anyways, moving on. Character is not created by success, but by sticking your finger up to the world and refusing to die despite the seven shotgun wounds to your chest. Most people would not be able to believe your still going after seven rejection letters but you’re still standing and glaring at that son of a bitch what shot ya. And we all know how that story ends: you tear his throat out with your teeth then howl to the moon with a careless abandon fuelled by blood lust and victory.
Koraly Dimitriadis said,
January 15, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Thanks Marc, unfortunately dealing with rejections is hard. There is so much competition out there and you can’t help but think, will I ever make it. I am hoping that draft number eight is ‘the one’ to get me a contract. I don’t know if I can manage a number nine.
Draft number eight said,
January 16, 2010 at 10:56 pm
Dear Koraly,
I can’t tell you for certain if I’m the one, all I know is that I’m different to the others. Like you said, there isn’t much to do, and you’ve come so far. Also, I know you pretty well – you couldn’t stop yourself from writing me even if you tried. You have to remember that I’m just part of your journey. Even if I am the one and you do get an an agent or a contract with me, there will be others after me.
So, my answer is: write me. We’ll create magic.
See you in the pages.
Love, draft number eight.
xxx