Spacing Out in '09

Barbara Poelle

Greetings and salutations! I realize I have some wildly brilliant, kitten-heeled shoes to fill as the Lady Reid click-clacks her way off into the sunset, so I will do my best to try not to single handedly annihilate the readership.  However, I cannot promise that I won’t attempt to casually try out new words because can someone please tell me what is going on with being “inept” or “disgruntled” but nobody is ever “ept” or “gruntled”? All I am saying is, I will do my darnedest to dazzle and inform, but be prepared for some turns of phrase that may leave you feeling sullied and alone.

Serial blogging is a bit of a new adventure for me. I have done several guest blogs and I love to hear myself verbally pontificate at conferences and workshops on the finer points of, oh, say, the sub-genre specific  euphemisms in romances or the necessity of a multifaceted publicity approach for new authors, but the weekly exploration of industry, craft and creativity is going to be a new one for me.  However, what a perfect time for new adventures and risk taking- it’s a new year! A clean slate!  A freshly tapped keg!

The double whammy is that our agency just moved into new digs. I have a fancy new office with a fancy new desk that has that new car smell, and all the bells and whistles that are mine to ring and blow. I sit in my brand new leather swivel chair and survey my kingdom of covers and queries cackling with glee… but when the glass door closes and I feel mildly ill from the spinning, I realize that I am in a brand new space- and I mean that in every sense of the word-so how do I make it the right space for me?

The “space” for a proper, creative working environment is so important in ALL aspects of this industry. As a writer, you have to be “scribbling away” in a proper environment, and I have to be reading in one. This new office has amazing flow and energy (yes, I am one of THOSE people), and it is stunning and sparkly and absolutely conducive to success for all of our agents. But what is that thing, that feeling, I can’t quite put my finger on, of how to make the “space” mine in which to produce astounding feats of agenting? Of course, there is one specific thing the new space does not provide- specifically the Ethel to my Lucy, the incorrigible Holly Root of the Waxman Agency- there was nearly a full scale surgical procedure to remove us at the hip. But what was it about my stinky old chair, my doorless suite, my chipped desk that created such a positive environment? Think, Poelle! Think! Do I need a goldfish? Should I burn some sage? (Root, you know I did.) What does “creating space” mean?

Well, let’s break it down. Creating my space means of course, the right chair (ooh, swivel-y!) a solid work surface (smell that? That’s the smell of winning) and some shelves to brag upon (Check out that A Hint of Wicked cover, eh?)Hmm, okay. Let’s see. Creating my space also means attacking my queries with the same voracity I attack my contracts- because queries become contracts. Creating my space means attending conferences where I listen as much as I speak. Creating my space means taking a chance on a new voice. Creating my space means cutting back on coffee, laughing more than yelling, having chocolate at 3pm, praising more than cursing, brainstorming more than just storming and simply loving every single minute of being an agent.

Well, look at that. This is my space after all.

How gruntling! (hey, I warned you...)

Whether a promise to create the space in a busy day full of kiddies and carpools to have some time to finish that novel, or to purge the home shelves to make space for the manifestation of that 2009 Edgar, make the space for something in your life this year.  Even if it’s simply a new swivel-y chair.

Wheeeee!

Comments

[Janet Reid]

Funny you should write about this! I made space in my office for a bar. No more drinking from the bottle stashed in the bottom drawer, scrambling for glassware in the breakroom.

Yea baby!

[Jeff Cohen]

Welcome to DEAD GUY, Barbara (and hi, Janet!)! Hope this blog has the kind of space you'll enjoy inhabiting--we're certainly glad to have you here.

[Maria]

And here all these years I thought I was a gruntling at my day job. You know, not really big enough to be a grunt worker, not quite small enough to be disposed of, but one of "those people" that are on the bottom rung of the ladder aspiring to become a grunt. Or hop over the grunts and land in the clouds if I was quick and no one was looking...

:>)

Welcome!

[Pepper Smith]

LOL! Okay, now you've got me wondering about the origins of those words. I'll probably end up spending time hunting them down, if possible.

Oh, and welcome, Barbara!

[bookwitch]

Gruntled to meet you! You seem to be fairly ept at this blogging.

[asmeredith]

What a great way to start the new year! It's kind of like getting a new car. Once you get settled in, post a picture of your digs.

I'm a new reader of this blog. Thank goodness Janet Reid left the link up on her blog...

[lianabrooks.blogspot.com]

As sad as I am to see Janet go, I'm delighted to meet the woman behind the shark smile. Anyone who uses a great white as their profile picture has to be wonderful.

Welcome to the Dead Guys! I shall be watching this space with interest...

[Robin Agnew]

Great blog - welcome to Dead Guy!

And how about the word "feckless"? Does it mean you have no "feck"?