Dear Santa,
Please overlook the things I overlooked in 2009. Overlook the horrible cursing at Sam Adams when my car got towed last week for street sweeping, because I overlooked the big warning signs on the sidewalk. And whatever you do, don’t white-glove the apartment, because E and I get busy and don’t like to clean.
Direct your attention, if you can, to the worthwhile things I’ve done this year–because it’s the holidays, and even the vainest and most preening bugger who’s snarling for the last parking spot in the gym garage has done something selfless in his life. Remember that it’s human nature to be pushy; but also to get joy from making someone’s day a little easier. To hold a door. Or even to give books to a kid you’ll never meet.
I don’t need anything for Christmas. Life is fine. I will ask one thing, though, even though I know you’re not usually in the business of bringing luck.
So, you’re surely aware that I deal with a lot of writers; heck, I’m even one myself. You also must know that I read a lot of unpublished manuscripts this year, and that no writer’s keyboard produces an uninterrupted stream of genius–we’re all human here. But I will say, every single one of them had something inhumanly wise to say. In every single one, there was at least one line that had the power of genius, which made everything go quiet for a second. Those lines are magic doorways in a noisy, crazy landscape and there are not enough of them in the world.
As 2009 winds down and we start another one, give those manuscripts a chance. If you can make reindeer fly, maybe you could spare some of that magic sparkly Christmas dust for those yet-unpublished stories. (Or, if you’re short, you can borrow the dust that is coating the tops of our furniture and windowsills.) Anyway, the more open doors in the world, the better.
Fly safe, avoid the Duraflames,
Sarah
Tags: submissions, Writing
I’m sure Santa will take your letter under advisement. Since you aren’t asking him to add to his already over-loaded sleigh I feel certain that he will do all that he can to make your wish come true!