I was thinking today (yes thinking) how funny it is that people think they can crank out any old story, any old time, send it off to a publisher or an agent, and expect it to be published (and not laughed at). They just woke up one morning and decided to write a book! They are flabbergasted and indignant when their book gets rejected even once. No wonder poor agents are pulling their hair out and venting through blogs and tweets. This reminded me of something my sister and I did when we were children. We wrote a song called “Old Kentucky Cowgirl” (we are from Florida) and mailed it off to Olivia Newton John (probably her fan club), fully expecting Olivia Newton John to fall in love with it and seek us out as song writers. Needless to say, Olivia Newton John probably didn’t lay eyes on it, but I bet someone got a good laugh at it.
Alright… I’m done laughing now. I’m sure you were probably laughing too. We all realize that writing is, well, HARD as heck! We read blogs after blogs (editors, agents, publishers), we read books, and we pour our blood, sweat, and tears into our manuscripts, praying that it might be good enough after the eightieth editing session to send off to an agent. Ugh! Wait, I’m not done. Nope. We join critting groups, submit our queries a hundred times until they are perfected, and suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Wait, that’s Hamlet. I mean we suffer the critiques of everyone we know, including other writers, just because we want to be better writers.
We are the few and the proud folks. Not marines… but serious writers who care about mastering the craft, who truly love literature, who love bringing joy to others, who love to create, who want to spare the poor agents of the world from crazy queries about books on leg hair braiding (including samples). Think about it! If you are reading this blog, and others about writing, you are way ahead of the game! So, next time you feel down and depressed about a rejection… think about those who haven’t made it as far as you have. Keep reaching for the stars! Never give up! We love to write… RIGHT?
17 comments:
You have a true gift for making me (and many, many others, I'm sure) feel much better for continuing to pursue this dream (in a thoughtful and educated way, of course : )). You're the best!!!!!!
Woot woot, we are WRITERS!!! Awesome post.
RIGHT!
HU YAH!
Definitely! Great and motivating post.
Words to live by! Somedays I still can't believe that I'm actually doing this...
Indeed! I wish I could have seen ONJ's face when she read your song. I'm sure she loved it. Her agent just wouldn't let her record it. You know how agents are. hehe.
Um, totally! Go WRITERS!
LOVE this post. How true! We're all in this crazy thing together. On some level, we share every victory and every rejection. And, we are absolutely each others' greatest support. Thank you for these wonderful words, words, words...
OK you've cheered me up. Not to mention I can commiserate with you, I once sent Sean Cassidy's fan club a love letter *sigh* I bet he never say it either.
Of course we do...
*eyes chapter she's studiously avoiding*
Of course.
Woo hoo! You go, girl! Besides...I think rejection is totally something EVERY writer should go through at least once. It builds character. Makes us better. Weeds out those in it for the long haul and those in it for instant success and fame.
I'm picturing you up at a podium, slamming your fists down while screaming out the last sentence in an "I had a Dream" fashion. And here I am, out in the crowd, screaming out my "Amen" and "Alleluia"'s. Way to rock it girl :)
Well said . . . and a great start to my day. Thanks.
KL0 - Thank you so much! I'm flattered.
Jenna - WOOT!
Beth - ;-)
Tara - the few and the proud! LOL
Windy - thank you!!!
Lisa and Laura - and you girls are rocking it! I can't wait to read your book!
Lois - LOL! She had to think it was funny! It was handwritten.
Elana - Writers ROCK!
Debra - that's right! We have a great group of people here! :-)
T.Anne - super glad I cheered you up! I loved Sean Cassidy too...does that date us? LOL
Liana - you love it and ya know it! Now, get to that chapter! LOL
Cindy - I agree! Totally!
Marybeth - how did you know that I was up at the podium dictating to my secretary who was busily taking notes! LOL You're too funny!
Scott - gladd you liked it! ;-)
Great post.
I'm not going to admit who I sent a song to, but I'll give you props for taking one for the team on that score.
It is tough being a writer and getting rejections. In college, a combination of my first rejection and a horribly discouraging professor made me stop writing for a bit. When I finally got serious about the craft years later, I knew rejection was coming, but it still stung the first (and second, and third...) time out.
Matt - LOL! Keep writing! :-)
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