Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Wishes

We celebrate hubby's grandmother's birthday this weekend. When it came time for her to make a wish, she paused for awhile before blowing out her candles. And during that pause it made me think about wishes.

Credit for picture

If I had three wishes, what would I wish for?

1. A castle. Completely paid for. Would be so nice to not have to pay a mortgage. I've wanted to live in a castle (or a mansion) ever since I was 4 or 5.)

2. A friendly contract with a huge advance from a large publishing house.

3. To earn out the advance.

Getting an agent is one thing. Getting a contract is a whole other animal. And if you do get an advance, you better earn it out or else you run the risk of the publishing house be less likely to publish more of your works.

So those are 3 of my wishes. I could definitely list more but I'll stop there. What would you wish for?

15 comments:

S.A. Larsenッ said...

I'm going with your two and three and upping the castle to an entire private island. Yeah, sounds about right.

Cherie Reich said...

Great wishes. My main one would be number three: to earn my advanced. If you do, then you are considered a success. Of course, you have to get to the contract stage first, too, so that would be a major wish. :)

I don't think I'd want to live in a castle or mansion, but I would love a room I could dedicate as my library.

Angela said...

Great List! My three wishes look A LOT like yours.

Creepy Query Girl said...

my wishes-

an agent.

a book deal.

a baby boy:)

Great post!

Margo Benson said...

What a lovely post! I'll add a book-lined snug with mulled wine and cosy cats.

Melissa Gill said...

My problem is I can never stop at just three, so I always make my third wish "three more wishes"

I'd wish for the financial resources to fully fund my friends orphanage/mission in Uganda, to fund renovations/additions to dozens of exhibits at the zoo, then three more wishes so I could go on and on.

Elana Johnson said...

First off, I love despair.com pics. We have them all over our school and they are awesome.

Second, wishes? Dude, I know I would screw this up, so I think I would wish for good health for me and my family. You can do anything if you're not coughing up a lung, you know? (Work to pay for the castle, write the amazing book to land the contract, etc.)

Golden Eagle said...

I like your list! Only, as long as we're wishing here, I'd prefer an eco-friendly home instead of a castle. :P

N. R. Williams said...

Nice.
1. The power to grant good health to all including me.
2. For readers to love my characters.
3. For the same readers to be happily employed without too many trials so they can buy my books.

If I had those three wishes, contracts and agents would follow and then I'd have to decide if I wanted them.
Nancy
N. R. Williams, fantasy author

Talli Roland said...

Oh, a castle would be fantastic! I'd like to own a small woodland where I could wander through the woods and sit by a stream... just enjoy nature... alone.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Castle with secret passages I assume? (Would really add to D&D reenactment scenes!)

Carol Riggs said...

What a great list! I like yours. I would like a pretty modern castle though, one with plumbing and carpet. LOL You're so right about getting a contract and earning back that advance. Ha, I like your description of a "friendly contract." :)

dolorah said...

Yep, I could be happy with that list of three.

......dhole

Vicki Rocho said...

There's still part of me that wants to live in a castle. I know it's impractical and probably drafty as hell, but it just seems so big and magical!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Nicole .. how wonderful to celebrate with the family and enjoy grandmother's wisdom .. take the time to make the wish .. so important.

Now the castle would be too big - but I might find a knight or two in there I suppose.. could be goo?!

Being happy, having sufficient pounds, shillings and pence, and having loving family and friends .. and of course some great stimulating work to keep the world going round ..

If yours come true I'm on my way over to one of your rooms as a lodger!! Cheers Hilary