I finally got a new website/blog and I’ve yet to do anything with it. I know I’m not the most consistent blogger, and I’ve come to accept that. Part of the problem is that I have a million things going on between work, kids, life, you know the drill (right now as I try to type this my son’s asking me to put a dress on an Arial doll. Yes, he has a very strong feminine side, but that’s for another post).

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The world of publishing has got me super depressed right now. Nothing was happening with my novel, so my agent and I parted ways. It’s hard when you’ve worked for over a year with someone, feeling like it’s going to get you to that next step and then it doesn’t work out. I went into writing with the misconception that once you get an agent your career will take off. It isn’t so. (And I appreciate all the people I’ve met online the last few months who have been happy to share their several agent experiences with me so I won’t feel so alone…I’ve only had one…some have racked up several).

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So now here I am again, trying to find another agent in a market that is super competitive and is especially prone to take on anything that walks and breathes paranormal (which I don’t write).

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Any advice on how to keep pushing along even through these times of rejection that I seem to attract these days would be greatly appreciated.

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In more positive news about me… (BTW, I usually don’t go on and on about myself, so you’ll have to forgive my one self-indulgent blog)…I am considering applying to a PhD program. I’ve always loved school and research, and I’ve talked for years about going all the way (HA! that sounded funny!). But I haven’t had the time, money, whatever, fill in the blank. But since my husband is a few months away from finishing his master’s, I’m thinking about it again. In another week I’m going to a seminar on taking the GRE, and I’m ordering some GRE study books. I’m a horrible test-taker, so I most fear the GRE.

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The goal would be to take the dreaded test, and then apply to programs. But the two top programs I am interested in are a little ways away from home. One is the PhD in Creative Writing at Texas Tech, and the other is a PhD in Children’s Literature at the University of Florida. I’ve looked at a few general English ones in Arizona and California, and also online, but they don’t interest me as much. But I’m not sure if I want to up and move my family across the country for three to four years.

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Anyone know any pros/cons to getting such a degree (besides being able to teach full time at the university level)?

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So much to think about.

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Hope you have created some of your own goals this year, especially for reading and writing. I’d love to hear them. I don’t get a lot of comments on my blog, but I love hearing from you all, including my students (and now you know your teacher does not have a perfect life!).

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Have a great weekend!