by James Scott Bell
@jamesscottbell
Portrait of Santa Claus, by Thomas Nast, published in Harper’s Weekly, 1881
’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the room
Was a feeling of sadness, an aura of gloom.
The entire critique group was ready to freak,
For all had rejections within the past week.
An agent told Stacey her writing was boring,
Another said Allison’s book left him snoring.
From Simon & Schuster Melissa got NO.
And betas agreed Arthur’s pacing was slow.
“Try plumbing,” a black-hearted agent told Todd,
And Richard’s own mother said he was a fraud.
So all ’round that room in a condo suburban
Sat writers––some crying, some knocking back bourbon.
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter,
That Heather jumped up to see what was the matter.
She threw the door open and stuck out her head
And saw there a fat man with white beard, who said,
“Is this the critique group that I’ve heard bemoaning?
That keeps up incessant and ill-tempered groaning?
If so, let me in, and do not look so haughty.
You don’t want your name on the list that’s marked Naughty!”
He was dressed all in red and he carried a sack.
As he pushed through the door he went on the attack:
“What the heck’s going on here? Why are you dejected?
Because you got criticized, hosed and rejected?
Well join the club! And take heart, I implore you,
And learn from the writers who suffered before you.
Like London and Chandler and Faulkner and Hammett,
Saroyan and King––they were all told to cram it.
And Grisham and Roberts, Baldacci and Steel:
They all got rejected, they all missed a deal.
But did they give up? Did they stew in their juices?
Or quit on their projects with flimsy excuses?”
“But Santa,” said Todd, with his voice upward ranging,
“You don’t understand how the industry’s changing!
There’s not enough slots! Lists are all in remission!
There’s too many writers, too much competition!
And if we self-publish that’s no guarantee
That readers will find us, or money we’ll see.
The system’s against us, it’s set up for losing!
Is it any surprise that we’re sobbing and boozing?”
“Oh no,” Santa said. “Your reaction is fitting.
So toss out your laptops and take up some knitting!
Don’t stick to the work like a Twain or a Dickens.
Move out to the country and start raising chickens!
But if you’re true writers, you’ll stop all this griping.
You’ll tamp down the doubting and ramp up the typing.
You’ll write out of love, out of dreams and desires,
From passions and joys, emotional fires!
You’ll dive into worlds, you’ll hang out with heroes.
You’ll live your lives deeply, you won’t end up zeroes!
And though you may whimper when frustration grinds you
There will come a day when an email finds you.
And it will say, Hi there, I just love suspense,
And I found you on Kindle for ninety-nine cents.
I just had to tell you, the tension kept rising
And didn’t let up till the ending surprising!
You have added a fan, and just so you know,
If you keep writing books I’ll keep shelling out dough!
So all of you cease with the angst and the sorrow,
And when you awaken to Christmas tomorrow,
Give thanks you’re a writer, for larger you live!
Now I’ve got to go, I’ve got presents to give.”
And laying a finger aside of his nose
And giving a nod, through the air vent he rose!
Outside in the courtyard he jumped on a sleigh
With eight reindeer waiting to take him away.
At the window they watched him, the writers, all seven,
As Santa and sleigh made a beeline toward Heaven.
But they heard him exclaim, ’ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good write!”
***
Yes, good writing to you, and may this season be full of joy for you and yours. We at TKZ have greatly appreciated your support and comments over the past year. We now begin our annual two-week break. See you back here on January 2, 2017!