Cafe Crowd Diaspora

We’ve been wandering for nine weeks now

The old place closed without notice

The weekday usuals scattered

by twos and fours

to several sites

around the area

but the weekend regulars

have all landed

at the sister café

three miles

down the road

some staff

from the old place

are here

smiles, hugs, laughter

trying to make

it feel

like it did before

wanting home

in a new place

Contests: Pitching for Profile

Looking at my Instagram feed before settling in to write this morning, I saw a post from someone’s “Auntie.” She posts videos of herself using household items to sing to 1970’s rock songs. Today, it’s Joe Walsh, “Life in the Fast Lane.” In less than three months she’s acquired 2+ million followers.

I’ve been sending queries for my novel for about three months. Agents want to know how many followers I have on social media. They don’t ask directly, but they ask for my sites.

So, this morning I’m “pitching for an increased profile” by submitting to contests for writers. I’ll still use social media and I’ll still write everyday.

I joke that “writing is the easy part. Publishing not so much.”

Onward.

Do I Offer a Meal?

I have had to find a new cafe for my morning writing sessions as the old one permanently closed.

The new cafe, though just across the road from the old one, has two or three regulars who appear to be without permanent homes. Their clothes are frayed and their possessions are plastic bags. One is a woman who does have a bicycle and a black daypack (like me). She sits in the corner charging an old cell phone. I’ve never seen her with food or even a cup of coffee.

I’m new to this place and wonder the management’s protocol about paying for other guests’ food.

I want to just say to her one morning, “Can I buy you breakfast?”

How hard would that be? I’ve done it before in other places. Why hesitate here?

What do I fear? Engagement?

Maybe tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow.

Cheer Us On (please)

New York, United States – May 14, 2017: people study in the New York Public Library in Manhattan, New York City. New York Public Library is the third largest public library in North America.

When you see us sitting, day after day, huddled over our manuscripts, searching and submitting to agents and publishers, please cheer us on.

This morning someone walked by me and said, “You still haven’t found an agent for your book?!”

She meant well (I think)