Any takers want to guess? *laughs* Okay, here it is...
Woo-hoo! My first payment for my first book! Okay, a partial payment, but still. I know it loses the effect on screen with the personal info blocked out but I had to post it here as part of my journey. This is one of those wow moments like when I accepted the contract. I don't think being a published author will really sink home until I have the actual book in my hand, but this is a good start. ;D This is how it went down...
I spot the Fedex truck park in front of my house. We get all kinds of deliveries on my street everyday. It could be for anyone, I think as my heart starts to pound. The guy goes to the back of his truck for what seems like an eternity. Then the phone rings, darn it. I run to the kitchen. It's my husband. He tells me some stuff and I ask questions, then there's a knock on the door, and I start jumping up and down. "It's for me, it's for me! I'll call you back!"
I hang up on my husband, and open the door to the package. Yes, it's from my agent. FROM MY AGENT. Which I'm only expecting one thing. I rip open the package and I see the check and my copy of the contract. Yessssss. Me and the kiddies do some happy dancing and I call my husband back and scream in his ear.
*laughs* I do want to be honest and say first time authors don't usually make big first advance sales, so don't think wow, she's rich! Of course, it happens on rare occasions but not here, folks. I'm just happy because this is my first payment for any of my writing. For those of you who are new visitors, I've never won a big contest or been published in a magazine. So this is a huge moment for me, a rather awesome accomplishment I never thought would happen. To be paid for a story that came from my mind. ;D
And you know, there will be times no one will really understand or share your enjoyment for your writing accomplishments as much as you do, but that's okay. Because a warm glow brightens inside you and stays there for a long, long while. And that is a great thing to feel. =)
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19 cool comments:
Lunch is on you then?
Congrats!!!!!
Hey, congrats!!! :)
Definitely put that up on your wall, just like restaurants do with their first dollar.
You did it Kelly! Congrats!!!
How cool!!! Did you get a celebratory pizza to mark the occassion?
I had an article published in a romancing writing book which I wrote for something else but the author liked it enough to include it in her own book. I didn't realize I was going to get paid for it. In the mail comes a check for $50. I was so excited. But I never cashed the check.
In college I did some freelance journalism but needed the money too much so I definitely cashed all the check immediately. Ramen and Mac & Chees cost money after all.
Congratulations Kelly. My advice. Cash the check. If you want a momento to hang on the wall, use the money to buy a painting. Don't forget to set aside the chunk for the tax man.
lol, FM! I guess it is!! Thanks!
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Thanks, Tori!!
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Jason, I think I'll put a copy on the wall, this one needs to go in the bank. lol. Thanks for the congrats!!
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Rene, I'm going to do a celebratory something this weekend, just don't know what yet! That is so awesome about your article. Way to go!! Unexpected accomplishments are always nice. =D
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Kalbzayan, good advice!! Yep, the check will be cashed but the memory will last a lot longer, I assure you. =D
I totally understand, believe me. Congratulations!! :)
wow, kelly. i'm impressed that they got it there so quickly.
that first check is really exciting. i remember making a copy of mine.
I definitely plan on taking pics of my first...and my second...and my third *g*
Thanks, Amy!!
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Anne, I know! I've heards stories of having to wait months, but I guess it varies per pub house. Whew, glad I got mine as promised. =D
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You go, Sharon!! Sounds like a good plan to me!
I got goosebumps reading this because I'm so excited for you!
Congratulations, Kelly! :)
Congratulations!!!!! Enjoy :)
Oh, yes, I meant a copy! You don't want to lose any of the well-earned ka-ching. :)
Thanks, Jeff!! Such a good feeling. =D
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Thanks, Allison, I am!!
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lol, Jason!! Nope, wouldn't want to do that. =D
Huge congrats, Kel!
anya
oops. Can't even spell my own name!
TANYA
Congrats! That's so cool. I feel like Zuzu at the end of It's a Wonderful Life when the bell finally rings.
"Every time a contract's signed, an angel gets its wings"--something like that.
Thanks, Tanya! Yep, this keys can be tricky. ;D
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*laughs* Jamie, good one! Thanks for the congrats!
Some people would read something like this and say, "Damn! She got it and I didn't."
Not me. I read this and think, "Woo-hoo! She really did it! Kelly got signed! And by god, someday I'm going to get there, too!"
Thanks for the inspiration, Kelly! Like Jeff said, I got goosebumps.
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