When it comes to reading Ms. Austen's novels, I'm pretty lazy. I've read
Pride and Prejudice several times, but I'm really bad about zoning out and setting it aside for long periods of time. Then I get frustrated and watch one of the movie versions. Oh, Movie Versions. What would we do without thee?
The other day, I was watching
Persuasion for the millionth time. The version with THIS guy:
And I couldn't help sympathizing with Anne Elliot, our heroine. Really, any of Austen's heroines. With each unfortunate situation, I kept thinking, THIS IS MY LIFE RIGHT NOW.
She's practically querying her manuscript! All she wants is
an amazing agent that loves her book to marry for love (not that it hurts if he's well
connected to the big six off), but with each man she starts to consider as a match, she's disappointed. She goes for a long walk with her family and the possible
agent of her career love of her life, and she's the only lady that's not
asked for the full manuscript escorted over the tiny bridge. Her cousin William starts to make eyes at her, even though he's obviously shady, but all along she's trying to get the attentions of Captain Wentworth. He's her dream
agent come to life. For the majority of our glimpse into Anne's life, the Captain is quite unattainable, despite his own stolen glances and compliments
to her writing and voice.
Before you start querying, you hear about the "ups and downs," but I don't think you quite "get" it until you're up to your neck in rejections and close calls. There are a lot of downs, but there can also be some ups that really mend the damage the downs caused. Take the criticism and learn from it. Take the praise and don't let it go to your head. Continue to study your craft and strive to get better daily.
Let those rejections roll off, because just like in the novels, the heroine always ends up with the right guy.
