With conference season, there also comes the arrival of the pitch. (Da, ta, ta taaaaaa) This is where you (the writer) must convince an editor and/or agent that your work is the next best thing to Nora Roberts. And all within seven to ten minutes.

Not an easy thing to do.

It’s extremely difficult for some writers to put their work out there for scrutiny, criticism and possible rejection. The good news is that agents and editors are human, just like you and I. They have their good days and their bad days. But when they’re attending a conference, they fully expect to listen to the twenty or thirty hopeful writers who wish to see their books published … be it electronic or traditional print. Many agents and editors will listen to your pitch and automatically request the first three chapters and/or synopsis. This is probably easiest in the long run for both you and them. You’ve got the pitch out of the way (with a request) and they will have the leisure of checking out your submission once they’re home in their office.

I’ve heard tell of writers who were invited to submit the first three chapters and a synopsis, but then didn’t follow through with the submission. How foolish is that? You sign up for the pitch in order to sell your book. The first step is to let someone else (besides mom, sisters and friends) read it. Even if you’re rejected, no experience is wasted. As a writer you develop a thicker skin. This is also where you go back, discover what you did wrong and fix it. Then you’ll be ready to pitch that puppy again.

Had my weekly clinic appointment yesterday. No, I didn’t get my tumor markers. Normally Dr. D has them done when I’m due to see him, but apparently he didn’t this time. That’ll teach me to assume. I’m sure that’s scheduled for the near future.

Anyway, apparently my protein level was good enough this week that I was given the Avastin cocktail and top of the Abraxine. I’ll look forward to the crash and burn on either Sunday or Monday. Joy beyond words.

What I’m finding interesting is that due to the Decatron (or however you spell it) that they give me to avoid nausea, I find it impossible to sleep the night through following treatment. This is the second Friday morning in a row where I slept deeply until about midnight or so, and then I’m wide awake. I’d lay in bed for about an hour, hoping I’d doze, but no luck. I even got up to drug myself up with Advil PM … again no luck. So, rather than waste my time staring at the insides of my eye-lids, I got up and am now writing this blog at 3:00 in the morning. May as well do something constructive with my time. I have no doubt that my day at work is going to be an absolute treat.

And remember to repeat after me …“YOU ARE A CANCER WARRIOR”

Moving day … I know, is a pain in the ass at the best of times. Nowadays, most people hire a moving company that will come in, pack everything up and haul it off to wherever you’re moving to. No muss, no fuss. My kind of move.

Not so lucky with my in-laws. They announced last Sunday that the moving company was arriving on Friday for their move to an adult facility. We’re talking over 60 years of living in one place, downsizing and then deciding what needs to go to the new apartment and what needs to stay for the estate sale … all in less than a week. Aaaaaaargh! Been there for two evenings and it doesn’t look like we made any progress. Friday is not going to be pretty.

The one and only time I did a massive move of my own household was to our present house nearly twenty years ago. Fortunately this did not involve more than a dozen years of accumulated stuff and I had several weeks to sort, box, and mark said boxes. Everything was unpacked and pretty much put away before the end of the first weekend. Not counting on that happening this weekend.

Wish me luck.

Finally got a chance to go see the movie “Avatar” this past Saturday. All I can say is “WOW!” What a well done movie. The story? Not so much. Old story with a new twist.

It was the World Building that had me drooling. It was like putting a feast before a starving woman. It was so rich, so visual that I couldn’t get enough of the scenery. The use of 3D was very well done and brought the visual to even greater heights. I loved that the forested planet of Pandora was basically an untouched paradise. Sure, it had its dangers, but the people of Pandora respected those dangers and appreciated the beauties.

For a romantic science fiction writer, this gave me so many ideas of what can be done with my own scenes when writing of a different planet. Ways I can enrich my own visuals to make the reader see it through my eyes.

I’ve heard “Avatar” described as “Dances with Wolves” set on another planet. Like I said — still a good story, but that was completely secondary as far as I was concerned. The computer generated scenes were masterfully done in such a way that I had some trouble realizing where the actual actors and the computer scenes ended and began.

All I can say is well done James Cameron and your team of special effects experts.

Had my doctor’s visit yesterday morning. Should have new numbers in a few days … so will update when I get those.

Anyway, because today was a combo chemo cocktail day (i.e., Abraxine and Avastin), I had to give ‘em a urine sample. They won’t give me the Avastin if I have excessive protein in my system. Can’t remember why and I really gotta ask about that. Well, because of the cold last week, an impending bladder infection (oh … joy) and whatever circumstances, I had excessive protein. So … no Avastin today.

To top it off, Dr. D wants to monitor the protein. He now wants a 24 hour urine collection. A collection … I kid you not. I asked if he just wanted samples of each time I pee and he said no … he wants all of it. Ewwww. I go to labs and they give me this huge jug and a contraption which fits over the toilet so I can pee into it and then pour it into the jug. Talk about bizarre.

So guess what I’ll be doing on Sunday? I may as well spend the day at home because with the bladder infection, I feel like I have to pee every five minutes anyway. No way am I gonna get caught out where I have to rush home to pee in a pot and then transfer it to a jug.

Needless to say, I’m not particularly happy with this. At least I got a prescription to start clearing up the bladder infection. Just another fun filled event in the cancer war.

On a side note … Sharon, who I see periodically at the clinic informed me that yesterday was her final chemo treatment. Way to go, Sharon. No offence, but I never want to see you there again.

And remember to repeat after me …“YOU ARE A CANCER WARRIOR”