Happy Friday everyone.
I hope you are all geared up for the weekend. With the north temps rivaling the one's in the south we should ALL be away from our computers and out in the spring sunshine!
I would like to thank all my blogger buddies for the wonderful support I received from my last post. I have to admit I was a bit bummed not getting into the quarter finals of the ABNA contest for the THIRD year in a row.
As I was cruising the blogosphere yesterday I came across and incredible post written by a fellow blogger friend, E.J. Wesley, of The Open Vein. If you don't know E.J. and you need some inspiration about the pitfalls of getting "hit below the belt" from the publishing/writing world, then hop over there NOW.
Basically E.J. states that we, as writers, need to get back into the ring even though we may get knocked out on more than one occasion. Persistence and perseverance will get us where we want to go.
It's funny, a close friend wrote to me after I told her I didn't make the next cut. What she told me took me for a loop. "Well, Michael, you gave it your best shot. No one will think less of you, if you give up on this writing thing. After all, you did write two books and nothing happened with either. It might be time to focus on something else."
IS SHE INSANE?! Does she not KNOW ME?! Do you honestly think one contest is going make me throw in the towel? HA! Previous to entering this contest, I had sent two queries of BG out into the query world and BOTH times I was asked for fulls. Now the first, I did receive a rejection, BUT, it was an amazing one. And I am still waiting to hear from the other.
Do you know what I did after I finished ranting about not getting in? I sent out two more queries. That's right. I don't give up that easily and NEITHER SHOULD ANY OF YOU. Plus I will be spending this weekend researching more agents that might be a good fit for BG.
I do have better things to do with my time then wallow in self pity. LoL. Not to mention I am finishing up some adorable illustrations for a charming childrens' short story a fellow blogger, N. R. Williams wrote. I will keep you posted on that when I am done and we have it available for all of you to see.
Anyway, stay healthy and enjoy the lovely weather this weekend. See you all on Monday.
I hope you are all geared up for the weekend. With the north temps rivaling the one's in the south we should ALL be away from our computers and out in the spring sunshine!
I would like to thank all my blogger buddies for the wonderful support I received from my last post. I have to admit I was a bit bummed not getting into the quarter finals of the ABNA contest for the THIRD year in a row.
As I was cruising the blogosphere yesterday I came across and incredible post written by a fellow blogger friend, E.J. Wesley, of The Open Vein. If you don't know E.J. and you need some inspiration about the pitfalls of getting "hit below the belt" from the publishing/writing world, then hop over there NOW.
Basically E.J. states that we, as writers, need to get back into the ring even though we may get knocked out on more than one occasion. Persistence and perseverance will get us where we want to go.
It's funny, a close friend wrote to me after I told her I didn't make the next cut. What she told me took me for a loop. "Well, Michael, you gave it your best shot. No one will think less of you, if you give up on this writing thing. After all, you did write two books and nothing happened with either. It might be time to focus on something else."
IS SHE INSANE?! Does she not KNOW ME?! Do you honestly think one contest is going make me throw in the towel? HA! Previous to entering this contest, I had sent two queries of BG out into the query world and BOTH times I was asked for fulls. Now the first, I did receive a rejection, BUT, it was an amazing one. And I am still waiting to hear from the other.
Do you know what I did after I finished ranting about not getting in? I sent out two more queries. That's right. I don't give up that easily and NEITHER SHOULD ANY OF YOU. Plus I will be spending this weekend researching more agents that might be a good fit for BG.
I do have better things to do with my time then wallow in self pity. LoL. Not to mention I am finishing up some adorable illustrations for a charming childrens' short story a fellow blogger, N. R. Williams wrote. I will keep you posted on that when I am done and we have it available for all of you to see.
Anyway, stay healthy and enjoy the lovely weather this weekend. See you all on Monday.
26 comments:
If you're busy moving forward you won't have time to wallow!
Defeat only comes when we give up. We keep trying, we are not defeated.
obviously that person does not truly understand writing or the business of it. Most authors write quite a few books before they get one published and only a very very small percentage of authors get their first book published - unless of course they self-publish. Cripes I've written FIVE books and only now am I getting close. It takes practice just like anything else. And no, you should NOT, under any circumstances, give up!!!
Oh yeah...that's what I love about you :)
Good for you for not giving up. I was also cut in this round of ABNA and it is only making me want to work harder on my new project. Nothing is more motivating than rejection for me.
Also, don't feel bad. In my opinion, this round is seriously dependent on extremely subjective reviews and depending on who you get, it can make or break your chances. I would put a lot more weight on what agents are telling you rather than Amazon reviewers.
Never give up!
THIS is what I was talking about! : ) Just keep punching, Michael. I've always believed we grow most with failure, not success. (I should be HUGE right now, btw.)
The people who find success are the ones who keep looking for it.
You have an awesome weekend, and thank you for sharing my ramblings.
EJ
She probably thought she was encouraging you with her words. And in way, she did, just not the way she intended. Good for you.
I'm sorry she said that to you. I'm sure she was trying to be supportive but I'm glad you were able to shake off those words AND any other rejection.
The most important quality in a writer is not their writing. It's their ability to keep going in the face of very difficult odds!
There is certain advice we should not listen to and giving up on your dream is the kind of advice that no one should ever give you!
Keep plugging, Michael, one way or another, you will make it happen.
-Wendy
Of course you won't give up. This is a business where rejection is part of the growth cycle. Keep at it! :)
People might not think less of someone if he or she stops writing . . . but writing takes work for a longer haul, as the journeys of so many writers show.
Good for you for keeping on!
Good for you. I'm glad you sent out new queries. As I said in an interview the other day. We are allowed twenty minutes to cry then get over it and move on. :) You should be proud.
Good for you Michael :) Who knows what success the next query or request might meet. There are so many different venues out there for writers; and so many other stories to tell.
I cannot wait to see what you and Nancy create in a collaborative project. A very good match up in my biased opinion.
......dhole
We do not fail until we give up. I have to vehemently disagree with your friend who said to throw in the towel. I wrote four books before landing and agent and gaining the attention of publishers. And all the while, I never stopped writing.
You have a gift, it would be a tragedy not to use it. Keep writing, keep striving to improve, and keep your options open as you go.
Focus on something else???? But... we write. That's what we do. I had two years in my life when no ideas came and nothing flowed from my pen and the entire time I felt like a piece of me had gone missing. I don't know what to do if I'm not writing or thinking of stories or living with characters inside my head.
What do contests have to do with it?
Oh - that person clearly doesn't know the writer in you! Way to bounce back my friend
Lxxx
Ps - can't wait to see those illustration - I love NR William's stories!
I can just picture the scene:
You, telling your friend about your disappointment. Her, trying to be supportive, suggesting you might stop. You, genuinely confused:
"Why would I do that? I LOVE it!".
I think that those who haven't written a novel don't understand just HOW MUCH work it takes. The type of people who can push through to the end of an entire novel are not the type of people who just give up after a few rejections!
It's good to see you not giving up. It will be all worth it in the end. As writers we are always improving anyway.
Good for you! I agree with Rachel. It's not that simple...
Wow, no offence to your friend, but what a thing to say to someone!
You're so right that you need to get back in the ring. It's the only thing you CAN do. I tell myself that after any disappointment - and there are many, even when you're published - that there's always the next writing project, and that I write because I love it. Stopping writing is not an option.
Ahh, you know, I think sometimes people think they're being helpful and they're just... not. :p
You keep that chin up. I tell ya, after going through subs last year and coming back empty-handed, I had some major dark nights around Christmas. We just have to pick ourselves up and keep going. It will happen! :o) ((LB hugs))
Thank you for this, Michael! I would have the same reaction if anyone ever said that to me.
I'll be querying soon, so I'll bookmark this post to keep me inspired.
Good luck to you!
I agree that keeping busy is integral to make sure you don't wallow in self pity. You just have to keep going! Otherwise, the wait will kill you.
Hey, I'm visiting you from the A - Z challenge.
This was an interesting post :) I'm in the North, but unfortunately the North of Sweden, where it is snowstorming at the moment. I'm staying very much by the computer!
Have a great Sunday and good luck with the challenge!
Nikki – inspire nordic
If you gave up that easily you'd never make it in this business. Some famous (and successful) writers had scores of rejections before they were published. That's why it's hard to talk to non-writers about writing. They don't get it.
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