Writing Wins and Woes: The Long Road to Rejection

Yes, I have faced rejection again this week. This time from Strange Horizons. I was expecting it but it still didn’t sit right with me. My story, I think, was a good one, and it didn’t deserve rejection. All writers think like that. It particularly bothered me this week because I was feeling rejection at my job as well. I felt this way because of a statement my boss made from his vehicle to mine as I was leaving work at the end of a long, hard day. His statement wasn’t deserved either.

This is what we face all the time as writers. Remarks that are either cruel, apathetic or at best, cool. The rejecting ones at least. Once in a great while, we get the “I loved it.” and we as spoiled writers often say, “It doesn’t make up for the last twenty remarks that burned into our souls.” This to prove that I’m not as thick skinned as previously reported.

It’s a long and I’ll add, hard road to rejection. I will travel on it again and again. And so will you from many avenues. It’s best if we take our lumps and learn from them. I’m enjoying a book right now called “Writing for Dollars” and in it he states, that “a professional writer is an amateur writer that doesn’t quit.” I don’t care if I got a sort of rejection on my day job. I’m a writer, after all.

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Writing Wins and Woes: A Relaxed Writer

Unfortunately, I have never been a relaxed writer. It’s always been scouring my brain for ideas, plenty of anxiety about the places I submitted to, and rushing to pen the words so I could finish a story. It’s been a while since I just sat and enjoyed the craft of writing. Somehow, the publishing process can take a whole lot of joy out of what should be the most satisfying part of my life.

All that is said to complement this picture of my corgi, Lucy. She is often relaxed. Dogs don’t know when you will come and go, when they will get their next meal, or if they will get to follow you on your adventures. Yet, they still can relax. I could learn a lot from a dog.

I need to remember that this whole writing thing is mostly out of my control. I write; others decide. That’s it. That’s the way it flies. I can only do my best. I have a co-worker that says you can only give your 100%. That’s all I can do as a writer.

So, I submitted to two places this week and I’m sad about one of them. Photo Flare’s last contest. I have really enjoyed submitting to these contests. The photos Julie provided were inspirational and challenging. A big shout out to Melinda Moore for hosting these contests. We are going to miss them. The other place I submitted to was Strange Horizons. Not much hope there, but as I said before, sometimes you shoot for the moon. I had no acceptances this week, and one sort of rejection, because I had submitted to Enchanted conversation back in June. Winners were announced and I wasn’t one of them. Anyway, that is another contest I will miss. Kate Wolford’s contest was all about fairy tales, and the stories there are truly lovely. Check out her site. It’s a wonderful adventure into fantasy. http://www.fairytalemagazine.com/

Thought for the Day: Try to relax more as a writer. Don’t let the fears and failings of publishing steal the fun away from writing.

Writing Wins and Woes: Being a little wiser

I just wrote a very wise post but unfortunately, wordpress didn’t know that I wanted text with my picture. Ever since WordPress’s blog changed, I can’t figure anything out anymore. Before the change, I chose what I wanted, Text, picture or link. Now, I don’t know how to add the image and the text together and there’s only Beep, Beep, Boop. I’m not interested in Beep, Beep, Boop. I just want my picture with my text.

Rant over. Okay, What I said before was that I am a little wiser as a writer now. I don’t put all my hopes and dreams into every submission. I no longer cry over every rejection. I realize there will be a lot more rejections than acceptances. I found out my acceptance percentage was 12 % and I realize I’m excited about that. Also, I submit to places I’m more likely to be published in. I started out submitting to The Sun, Ploughshares, Highlights and Cricket. Now, I submit mostly to ezines, small presses and those just starting out. I’m just glad to see my stuff anywhere. Sometimes, I shoot for the stars, but mostly, I’m thankful just to be published here on Earth.

This week, I did get two rejections. One was from T. Gene Davis Speculative Blog, and another from Tales of the Talisman. I was disappointed but I didn’t shed one tear. I just looked for other avenues. That’s what wise writers do.

Writing Wins and Woes: Cats as Dictators

My cat is a dictator. There are cat people and dog people. I’m proud to say that I am a dog person, but it is my cat who rules. She wakes me up in the morning, whether I want her to or not. My dog tries to keep her at bay but she maneuvers deftly around her to achieve her desired means. She jumps on my table; especially at eating times and she tells me exactly when it is time for her to be fed, frequently. Anyway, all of this is an intro to the book, The Master’s Cat which is a story about Charles Dicken’s cat, who was also a dictator. At the designated time his cat would lift a paw and snuff out his candle, letting him know it was cat time. In the book, it was Dicken’s cue to tell a story to the cat; usually a portion of one of his books. I love this book because it is a light tale interspersed with little nuggets of the life of Dickens and his stories; along with little anecdotes about his cat. It is well worth reading.

Now, for more good news. I have had another story published in Guardian Angel Kids. The issue was on Sidewalk Art and my story is a fairy story. Here is the link:

http://www.guardian-angel-kids.com/

I also want to include my stats for June in this blog.

Shari’s Stats:

Submitted: 5

Rejections: 2

Acceptances: 2

I submitted to two places this week: Tales of the Talisman and the Garden State Speculative Fiction Writers Contest. I did some writing this week and I hope to do some more today so I am slowly adjusting to my new life.

Thought for the Day: Don’t let life or cats be your dictators. You hold the key to your own destiny. Make it a good one.