Post-dentist randomcity

I don't know if dentists are more skilled these days or if there have been dramatic advances in the field but the last couple of times I've had dental work done--including today--I didn't have any pain or anything. I mean, I didn't feel anything, not even the tugging and pulling the dentist and his assistant did. It's starting to ache a little bit now, several hours later, but I don't think it's going to be all that bad.

This contasts to previous dental visits from years past where I could feel the drilling and all that, even if it didn't hurt.

I'm maybe halfway through the first chapter of this novel thing (still untitled). So far it's okay--it's going to require some extensive rewriting, I can tell. I'm just not going to worry about that at this point--right now the object is to get the story out there. I can chisel and shape and sand and whatever later.

Which reminds me, I'll be rewriting Seer II this weekend. Maybe by then it'll be long enough since I finished the first draft for me to have some perspective and know what needs to be changed.

It's funny, what a lot of nonwriters think when they find out I am a writer. Here's how they think the process works:

1. Write the novel
2. Send it out to publishers
3. Publishers knife fight each other to publish it.
4. Winner sends a check for several hundred thousand dollars.

In reality it's more like this:

1. Write the novel
2. Send it out to publishers
3. Publishers send it back, unread, with a form letter saying "Thanks but no thanks."

Another funny thing--say you have a friend or acquaintance who loves novels about serial killers. I mean, he or she has a wall full of them, and has read them all. This person finds out that you write novels about serial killers. From that point on this person will think it's the weirdest thing in the world that you do that, and that you are probably a serial killer yourself. Sure, other people write them, too, but those people are writers, not you.

I hope all that made sense. Remember, I went to the dentist today.

Messing around on my iPod I found an old reminder for a vet appointment for Atari. I could feel my heart breaking all over again. I don't know why--I look at pictures and videos of him all the time and feel the loss but it's not as devastating as this was. Sheesh, I'm such a basket case.