Rejection and Wait--More Rejection!
Then the critics scrap it off, and celebrate your literary genius!
Two things happened this week that have added an additional layer of skin to my already ripped hide. A publisher and I parted ways and a potential agent rejected my latest stab at commerical writing.
"Wait," you might be saying. "Don't all writers get rejected?"
We do. And let me tell you, it doesn't get any easier. I don't care how long you've been writing...when someone tells you that your work isn't "right" then something inside you eeks out a small whimper.
If you're new to the game, you might release a bellowing "What?" instead of the soft eeking.
True enough, many of my friends have agents, publishing contracts, and are on the golden road to the "dream"--being a full time, well paid writer.
I am not on the road yet, but am driving in circles in the parking lot.
I've been at this for some time, as many of you well know. Unfortunately, there's no time table for when you make it, or IF you even make it. I'm in the boat, paddling against the tide of wanna-be writers in a genre that is not common for African Americans that are also women.
You've heard my soapbox speech about that, read "Race Card: Is it Electric?" So I won't repeat it here.
So, why am I once again blogging about an ordinary occurance for millions of writers?
Because misery loves company :-).
I'm kidding about the company part.
I'm blogging about it for many reasons, some very private, but I will post the public reasons.
The Top Five Public Reasons I am blogging about REJECTION:
1. So that beginning writers realize that just because you have books published, you're still a nobody until you reach #30 or above on the New York Times bestseller list.
2. To save my husband's ears-By writing it here, he won't have to listen to me rant about it for hours and hours tonight.
3. To gather pity for myself-If everyone who reads this thinks I deserve a pity party, they'll throw me one.
4. To prove that I am human- there is a common belief on the Internet that I am not human, but a robot that spells everything phonetically and loses my students' homework papers--as a means of torture.
5. So that I don't waste Bethany's time- because she's got so many other things to do besides listen to me bellyache about rejection...again!
There you have it folks. What do you think?
BTW- Check me out at LepreCON in Phoenix this weekend!
Later~
Nicole
