Monday 2 November 2009

P.S.L.D

Following on from Suzanne's suggestion that we should campaign for Competition Obsessive Disorder to be recognised as a legitimate ailment I've identified another affliction - Post Sending Let Down.
It's a bit like that post exam feeling - you've revised, got through the exams and now you've got to wait and try and forget about it until you get your results. Almost as soon as I hit send on my competition entry the slumps hit me, although to be fair my being post viral hasn't helped.

I also think the M&B competition is much worse than any exam - you can revise your socks off, read every writing book available, absorb every forum comment going and still not get any feedback at all (gosh, I'm really cheery this morning aren't I? ;-).
Last year I sent off an entry I really quite liked and waited hopefully, in vain as it happened. This year I'm savvier (I hope), I am also completely sockless (literally as it happens, the sock monster is very active in my house) and suffering from PSLD.

It will pass I'm sure. I've prescribed myself listening to 'Azur Like it' to get back into French Riveria/'Secret Billionaire' mode and also much watching of Michael Weatherly in my NCIS dvds :-)

12 comments:

Rachael Johns said...

Oh Lorraine - you describe MY disease - lol! I haven't entered the contest this time round but having just (well exactly a week to this day ago) pressed send on my latest partial, I feel exactly the same!

Sending cyber hugs! And if it makes you feel any better - all five of us in my house are usually sockless!!

:)

Sally Clements said...

Hi Lorraine! I agree, I wish they'd just put us right out of our misery and give us all contracts! So that's what I've been suffering from, but I think that the pic you posted seems to be alleviating the effects somewhat. Take twice a day with meals?
xS

Judy Jarvie said...

Hugs Lorraine. Yes competitions are a bit of a 'slump' after sending aren't they.
Yes yes yes to Michael Weatherly. He works for me.
Hope you find some socks soon.At least you're not missing undies. Too cold for that.

Jackie Ashenden said...

I know what you mean re the let-down - and I didn't even enter! Maybe I've got post-submission let-down instead.
Here, have a cyber-sock.

Caroline said...

Oh Lorraine. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" (A Harry met Sally moment here!) 1000% with you on this all the way. You are so right. But for me it's not just competitions. I've been on tenderhooks for months since I sent off my partial and synopsis. I really have stressed out about it, to the extent that I was sleeping poorly just wondering what the outcome would be. And then last week the big "R". Yes I was upset - perhaps too much(!) but that night I actually slept the whole night through as I'd had my "answer" so to speak. In truth the comp. Chapter hasn't stressed me out too much as I honestly don't think it's that good - but it was the best I could do at the time. So again totally with you on this one! Take care. Caroline x

Suzanne Ross Jones said...

Hugs, Lorraine.

It may help to know you're not alone...I'm going to take Jackie's advice and try NTAI.

XX

Julie Cohen said...

You will be very pleased that the post-submission slump continues even several novels after one has first been published. (Or it does for me, anyway.) I have a suspicion it might carry on for the rest of one's life. There's just no easy way to let go of something you've lived and breathed for a chunk of your life, only to wait for criticism or rejection.

I've developed strategies to deal with the slump which include chocolate, the movies, long walks, time with my DH and (this time) a massage.

Hooray for sending—it's a cracker of a story!

Will we see you on Wednesday to celebrate?

Angie Peters said...

Hi Lorraine,

I can sympathise with what you're going through. I've got N.S.L.D. Not Sending Let Down. I let my doubts and insecurities prevent me from getting a comp entry ready in the first place!

I think you should be very proud of yourself that you actually submitted your entry into the comp. The outcome is out of our control.
Michael Wetherley is a tantalising distraction though.

Lacey Devlin said...

So yours is a Post Viral Post Sending Let Down (PVPSLD) ;). If chocolate is recognised as a legitimate condition I think Competition Obsessive Disorder should be too! I'll see you at the meetings ;)

Lorraine said...

Looks like PSLD is practically an epidemic!

Good luck on your partial Rach, I have to say being sockless in Australia sounds preferable to being sockless in Scotland (sounds like a lonely hearts ad!) where I once had to visit a neighbour to thaw out when I could no longer feel my feet.

Sally - increase the dose to three times a day if necessary ;-)

Thanks Judy, think PSLD applies to anything you've been intensely focused on and then have to let go of.

Am I only allowed one sock Jackie??? Ah, you're a harsh woman. Perhaps I should buy myself some NTAI socks :-)

The waiting is horrible Caroline but I suppose we have to get used to it somehow. I hope you're feeling a bit better now, post R.

Hi Suzanne, fingers crossed we both get some kind of personal feedback this year.

Hi Julie, thanks for the encouragement. The chocolate and the movies definitely work and the dogs are campaigning for the long walks you mentioned :-) The massage sounds nicer though, particularly as it's bucketing it down... Sorry, can't make it tomorrow, have an assessment thing I can't skive, much as I'd like to.

I'm sorry to hear you didn't enter, Angie. But the comp isn't the be all and end all anyway (that's my official line for November BTW ;-) and there's always the normal submission process for when you've beaten off those crows.

LOL Lacey, it's a wonder we're sane. Actually I'm not entirely sure I am...

Sally Clements said...

Oh put me out of my misery someone. I've got IDKWNTAII syndrome. (I dont know what ntai is) God, i bet its something really obvious I should know. Reminds me of asking Trish Wylie what HEA was... (hides head in hands)

Lorraine said...

Hi Sally, no it's not obvious, not even a writing acronym really. It's 'Not Thinking About It', i.e. not thinking about your sub, or at least trying not to. Some blog residents buy NTAI shoes to take their minds off things, I can only stretch to socks ;-)

I didn't know any acronyms when I started on the forums either.