It’s been several days since my last appearance here. I’ve had a friend and colleague visiting for the past several days. Meena Rose graced us with her loveliness and brilliance.
Today has been one of cleansing websites, blogs, and general upkeep on the net. It’s amazing how much crud accumulates on a daily basis and then has to be swept out of the corners during housekeeping. During the process of this upkeep, we’ve been moving our personal blogs over to Two Voices, One Song.
This is an attempt to reduce our continued workload. Each of us have other projects we’d really like to get back to. Having everything in one place will make that easier for us.
My blog Claudsy’s Calliope is being moved and reorganized as I write this. Claudsy’s Blog will be the next in line for the transfer.
Tomorrow I will post a new URL for this blog so that all of its followers can decide whether they want to remain loyal and move with it or to cut ties and run. I’m hoping that everyone stays with Claudsy’s Blog and Calliope. I have plenty more to say and things I’d like to work on within the blogs.
There you have it, folks. I’ve so enjoyed having everyone coming here, and I admit a sense of guilt this past month or so for having been absent so much. I should be able to write more frequently on the blogs once all is together. That’s my current plan.
Remember–it will be one-stop-shopping at Two Voices, One Song at www.2voices1one.com/
Hope to see you there soon. A bientot,
Claudsy
Letter from Farnsworth Wright, editor of Weird Tales, to Robert E. Howard, rejecting the first three Conan the Barbarian stories, although suggesting a re-write for one of them. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Writers live and prosper by sending material out to publishers, magazines—print and online—and freelancing. Anyone who’s spent time around a writer picks up that working reality.
After April’s writing challenges wound down on the 30th, May was ushered in with a group challenge to submit at least one poem, story, article, etc. each day for the month of May. Many of us groaned at the thought of such a challenge. Others took the reins in their teeth and charged ahead like their hair was on fire.
I’m one of those on fire. My reasons may be a bit different than some, especially those who submit on a regular basis. I’ve been trying to get one piece out each week for several months.
Suddenly I’ve been dared to find something, create something, modify something and get it out before bedtime each day. Finally, a serious dare that will help me create a habit that’s beneficial to my future.
In the first three days, I sent out one story and two packets of poems. I haven’t worked on today’s material yet, though I’ve decided what it will be. The story is ready and the market selected.
In the past three days, the story was rejected, as was one of the packets of poems. **Some editors are really quick. **
Not to be discouraged, I keep sending things out. Why? Because that’s what writers do; we send out our work until somebody buys it.
I read an article a few weeks back about rejection slips. The author talked about enjoying each one as it arrived; using it as wallpaper around one’s desk; and knowing, each time he glimpsed it, that he’d come that much further in the writing game.
I’ve thought about that philosophy this week as my inbox gathers virtual pink slips, and I’ve decided that he’s right. Without sending my work to publishers and magazines, I can’t count myself as a writer. Each time I receive that little rejection, it’s a signal that I’ve gained more confidence in my abilities.
It’s a flag of honor, knowing that someone read what I sent. The editor may or may not have sent a personal note with the rejection—I had that personal note on the story, and a form rejection on the poetry, so I’m batting 500, which is great. I can see each rejection as a success in its own right.
I’d submitted something to someone. It had been read and understood. It may not have fit the editor’s needs at that moment, but I’d succeeded in taking the risk.
In the case of the story, the editor told me how much he enjoyed my writing and would like to see more of it. Guess who’s getting my next effort. That editor’s note was definitely a successful rejection.
When using that philosophy each day, I’ve had one su
February’s blog challenge has come to an end here at the last hour. Tomorrow, March issues its own challenge. The prompt for March is “Whether.” This looks to be a marvelous opportunity to try all sorts of new topics.
Whether I take to this challenge as eagerly as the last, I intend to give it my best shot. I plan to make this a writer’s month of technique aspects, personal challenges, and thoughts on what other writers have to say about the business and the markets.
I encourage everyone who has been kind enough to stop by Claudsy’s Blog this month to continue to drop in to see what’s on the conversational board during March. Come in and give your two cents’ worth.
Until then, a bientot,
Claudsy
Claudette: Really good article here. I love your spirit of being positive with the rejections. You are 100% correct – - can not call yourself a writer unless you send stuff out. It’s part of the business. Good luck with your May challenge. If you have the fire, may it burn you ever so pleasantly as deliciously as pico de gallo.
Ah, thanks, Amanda. I’ve been fortunate to have plenty in backlog so that I can concentrate on so many other daily issues. Then again, perhaps I have so much in backlog because I’ve not been tending enough to business. What do you think?
Personally, I don’t think this challenge could have come at a better time for me. I needed the shove to get me more motivated about sharing.
Glad you stopped by, Amanda. See you again soon.
Loved when you said, “I succeeded in taking the risk.” That truly is the point, isn’t it?
Thanks, Sheila. Yes, it really is the point of what we do. We risk everything–or think we do–each time we punch that “SEND” button. Succeeding is really only completing the circle you began with the first word on the page.
It’s nice to connect to another writer familiar with writer rejection. Keep on writing!
Thanks. I’m trying each day now, which is more than I’d managed up to now. I’m hoping to get a wall papered before long. As soon as I do, I’ll post about it; maybe even take a pic of it.
All we can do is write, otherwise where will our thoughts congregate?
I’m not even *thinking* about sending something out until I actually have a completed novel to send.
Each of us must do what’s right for us. If you only work in novels, then you’d be foolish to do otherwise, Liz. For those of us who write poetry, short stories, essays, and the lot, submission is a weekly endeavor.
I wish you speed on your novel.
I’ve written some short stories before, too, and constantly wonder if what I write is just a series of short stories.
Regardless, I don’t think any of it is ready for official publication, but we’ll see how it goes.
(The idea of actually publishing is fairly terrifying to me, for some reason.)
Also, I disagree with the idea that one -must- at least publish to be a “writer”. I write all the time…on my blog, on stories, on whatever. To me, that’s what it means to be a writer: To express yourself creatively through the written word.
Perhaps I’ll publish one day, perhaps not. But either way, I’m still a writer. ^_^
Liz, there are many writers who do just what you’re talking about. They take short stories written in series, using the same characters and create collections. This is especially true for younger readers or those who are constantly on the go and don’t have hours to spend with a book.
I think you may have the beginnings of a book, if that’s how you write short stories. Why not? No one says every story must be 200 pages long. Besides, I’d think that’s how novel series began back in the old pulp fiction days.
I say, go for it as it works for you. We don’t all have to be grinding away at the keyboard on the same stuff all the time. That would make for very bored readers and writers.
You’re doing just fine as you are. I think that’s great. Keep it up.
But Liz, you publish each time you click that little button on the “new post” page of your blog. I can’t fault you for your personal definition of “writer.” Far from it.
Each of us who takes the time to put words on paper to express how we experience the world or how we’d like to see the world evolve or be experienced, is a writer to one degree or another.
For me, personally, writing is something that is shared with others. Whether I’m talking about the latest in writer software or how I broke an ankle while feeding the chickens, it’s all done with the same purpose.
You are no less a writer than I am. I haven’t sold a novel yet. That doesn’t mean I won’t or that readers won’t like it. It doesn’t mean that the essays I write or the travel articles are less important or worthy than the novel I haven’t gotten finished yet, either. It simply means that for me, I like variety.
You’re doing short stories and a blog, and writing a novel. All of that helps define you as a writer. I can’t argue with that. A long time ago I read that “Writer” is the label we place on ourselves when we can’t stop ourselves from putting words on paper. I think we both qualify under that definition, don’t you?