18. The book has subsidiary rights potential including book clubs, audio cassettes or foreign, electronic or movie rights.

19. The book has adoption potential in schools or universities.

20. The house has published similar books with success.

21. The book is on a subject that house has or wants to build a list on.

22. Overcome by auction fever, publishers convince themselves that, despite profit-and-loss statement rated to determine book's value, they pay whatever it takes to outbid their rivals.

23. The author wants to switch houses.

24. The editor discovers book on a trip to a book fair and thinks it will sell, or is caught up in excitement surrounding book, or wants to justify trip.

25. The publisher is sending industry message that because of new management or despite changes in house, house is a player.

26. The book being sold may not be a big one, but future books will have bestseller potential.

27. The author has a personal connection with someone in house with power to buy book.

28. Publishing book will enhance house's prestige.

This is not a definitive list. John Saul, a novelist, observed if publishers don't want to buy a book, they say "It's been done to death." If they do want to buy that book, they'll say, "Always works."

(c) Copyright, Catherine Franz. All rights reserved.

12. Go to church for noon service or whisper a prayer or two. This reconnects your energy with universe and replenishes what might be missing.

13. Complete an appreciation exercise. Pick up something around you, like telephone, lamp, or pen. Talk to it and tell it how much you appreciate having electricity to turn it on, opportunity to write with a tool that has ink inside, not like a quill, or softness of paper you write on. Be grateful for what you have and not what you are missing. Or make a list of "count your blessing" items.

14. Write a personal note to friends or family and tell them how much you love them, appreciate their thoughtfulness, or kindness.

15. Authentic, flat-out, raw laughter frees psyche and opens creativity process.

16. Find a setting with lots of trees and flowers and feel nature. If weather permits, take off your shoes and socks and feel grass between your toes. Nature has a way of freeing our spirit and renewing our soul.

17. If guilt or a past incident has captured your mind, write a "Dear Me" letter and ask yourself for forgiveness to loosen it’s grip and expand your freedom.

18. Are you used to writing in a quiet place? Find a noisy place to write, like McDonald's or mall. When your space is noisy you will have to focus harder in order to write with clarity.

19. Go for a quiet leisurely drive, listen to a favorite CD. You can sing out of tune and no one will notice (laughter aloud).

20. Do something nice for someone else that you wouldn't normally do and be a gracious receiver of a hug.

That was exciting, wasn't it? Post this list in a conspicuous place so that it is readily available when you need it, right next to your writing area is best. Do one or two of these daily and keep on writing. Your readers are waiting to read your words.