The Clarions application deadlines are over, and now the waiting for results is driving the applicants (like me) a bit crazy. Or crazier, as the case may be. (Odyssey doesn’t give their results until later, so that isn’t hanging over my head the same way as the Clarions are right now.) It’s the worry that is always in the back of my mind: will I get in? When will I hear? And oh, do I fear acceptance or rejection more?
Like I said on one of the CW forums, with non-writers, it’s like trying to ignore the dancing elephant in your living room because only you can see it. I look out my window at all the snow that fell today (yes, snow, despite the forecast calling for 52F tomorrow, there’s over an inch of snow melting off the ground right now!!! Oh, wait, now I’m veering into a parenthetical weather-rant. Sorry.) and I think about Clarion. I open the fridge to see what’s for dinner tonight and I think about Clarion. It seems like some strange form of OCD (Clarion). And I’ve just about concluded that there’s no hope for me this year, no way that I’ll be accepted…and yet, I can’t quite bring myself to make other plans yet, either. *sigh*
So, that’s been my week. Worry. And, oh yeah. I managed to get to my writing this week. After the last 2.5 weeks being complete wash-outs, writing wise, I was ready to kick butt and take names! And I did. I started, completed and submitted to the Shock Totem Flash Fiction contest, and I finished two other stories started before/during the move. Woo-hoo! This feels so awesome! Good distraction, too.
So now I get to go look in the Clarion and see what’s for Clarion. (My poor hubby!)
Everyday Magic | M. E. Garber 
I’m crossing all the limbs I have!
How about your Monsterpede? Can it help 🙂
Hi! I am just here checking out/stalking your blog. You’ve probably seen me around the CW forums this year. I keep going between thoughts of how much I suck to cautious hope. How could I have ever thought I had a chance this year? Maybe they will see potential? My husband is sick of my mooning about I imagine, and it’ll probably all be for naught this year. However, as I said on the forums I am going to try not to focus on the outcome, and just get what I can out of applying. This is proving a lot harder to do than I expected, especially as we get into the the double-digits of March.
I wish you the best of luck. You have already been through this. I hope it works out for you.
Hi Danielle! Welcome to my insanit…er, blog. I have *just* come to an understanding with myself about all this. I will stop freaking out and just get back to work. Whatever will happen, will happen. If I get in, I can rejoice and feel elation. If I don’t I can be bummed and try again next year. Until I hear, though, I have lots to do. (but like you said, don’t hold me too tightly to this closer to the 15th)
Good luck to you, too! If nothing else, we were brave enough to apply.
Waiting is often the hardest part, and I find the best plan is to lose yourself in your writing. Take control of something you can control and best of luck.
Thanks for the good wishes, and the advice. I’m throwing myself headlong into writing this week so I don’t explode with worry and fretting!