It’s been a while since I’ve posted. I finished the first (or second?) draft of the novel around Thanksgiving, and although there are things I still want to change, transitions and scenes I want to tweak, sentences I want to polish a little more, I had to step away for a while. Despite the urge to continue manipulating and recreating, I knew I had to let this one go, at least for now. I asked for and received feedback from readers rather than writers, and I think that feedback has helped make a better story overall. When I come back to it and complete another round of revisions, I will ask for feedback from writers and people with editorial experience.

In the meantime, I have received another two kind rejections (from New England Review and Crazyhorse) of a short story that was a version of an excerpt from the book. I have also read “Cat Person” by Kristen Roupenian, learned of her six-figure book deal, and have eaten my heart out with jealousy.

In the weeks after I set the book aside, I have wandered around the house like Betty Draper (a thicker, less polished Betty, to be sure), finishing Christmas shopping and sweeping and making peppermint bark and staring off into space.

I need another project, and soon.