I first started writing in the summer of 1998. Back then I was a teacher. After years of dreaming, I decided it was finally time to write a book. For 10 years I wrote, ______ four middle-grade novels and six pictures books almost only to editors. This was ______ in the snail-mail age. Remember the ______ you experienced as a child waiting for birthday presents to arrive in the mail? That was me for the better part of a decade.
In Spring 2009, at the last minute, I decided to hand in a middle-grade historical novel-in-verse to a ______ at a local writing conference. I knew in my heart that it was my ______ work, but I wasn’t sure how it would be ______ alongside pieces meant for the adult market. But then ----I won. My prize ______ a one-on-one interview with an editor who, after ______ my manuscript, asked, “Why don’t you have a(n) ______ yet?”
Not long after that, I ______ with my first agent. Then in 2013, after parting with my first agent, I was again faced with the ______ for representation. This time I submitted to three agencies and got two ______. Over the span of 20 years, I’ve got 18 completed manuscripts and was ______ almost 350 times. It took me 14 years to see my first book ______ the shelf. You could look at these numbers and get pretty ______. I can look at these numbers and feel the same. I know plenty of people with a ______ apprenticeship(学徒期). I have friends who have been more ______. All sorts of authors I ______ with in 2012 have published far more than I have. But here’s the ______ thing I’ve learned in the last 20 years: My process is mine. My journey is mine. Each book finds its way on its own.
The writing life is a long-term journey. There is no right way. There is no ______ fix. There is no easy road. There is a lot of frustration and disappointment, but there is joy and satisfaction, too.
1.A. submitting B. lending C. keeping D. presenting
2.A. soon B. back C. already D. later
3.A. appreciation B. entertainment C. anticipation D. embarrassment
4.A. publisher B. newspaper C. reception D. competition
5.A. initial B. casual C. innovative D. subjective
6.A. criticized B. processed C. received D. distributed
7.A. followed B. concluded C. ensured D. confirmed
8.A. correcting B. polishing C. monitoring D. reviewing
9.A. agent B. client C. instructor D. fan
10.A. signed B. bargained C. dealt D. reasoned
11.A. excuse B. affection C. hunt D. request
12.A. offers B. substitutions C. professions D. complaints
13.A. registered B. rejected C. defeated D. deserted
14.A. under B. beside C. off D. on
15.A. amused B. inspired C. touched D. frustrated
16.A. longer B. heavier C. shorter D. newer
17.A. famous B. intelligent C. enthusiastic D. productive
18.A. debated B. mixed C. cooperated D. disagreed
19.A. key B. handy C. funny D. lively
20.A. temporary B. quick C. possible D. flexible
---I’ve heard a lot about you. You got promoted, right? ______
--- Many thanks.
A. Good for you B. You asked for it
C. There you are D. You’ve gone too far
I was telling a joke and Sam just interrupted me to tell a different one. He always _____!
A. bites his tongue B. saves his skin
C. steals my thunder D. pulls my leg
He was still full of optimism for the future despite many problems, and never once ______ him get worried or upset.
A. I saw B. I would see
C. did I see D. would I see
Pele had bags of natural talent, but he ______ without the determination to deal with all the problems life threw in his path.
A. would never succeed B. never succeeded
C. would never have succeeded D. have never succeeded
---We found a buyer for our house, but then the sale _____.
--- Why not promote it by posting an advertisement online?
A. fell through B. got through
C. cleared up D. looked up
