Go to I WRITE, THEREFORE I AM
- Add a comment
- Go to Persistence in the face of repeated rejection. Can you go the distance??
endo, well 1,000 is pretty darn good, must give you credit for that.
posted by
Julia.
on June 29, 2004 at 4:58 PM
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Hmm.. my number of rejections would be 1000
Only because at that point I'd get really tired of licking stamps! My husband and I have written a book together. We are working on book two and three while the first book goes through some major critiquing on Critters.org. It's so nice to have dedicated critiquers! In any case, once the critiques have come in, we'll do a final edit or two and start submitting to agents. I've picked out five so far from Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents (2004). Believe it or not, I really did go through that huge book page by page, reading the descriptions of the publishers, editors, and agents. It took me two weeks, but I did it! I'm amazed at how much information is available there. In any case, while my husband is very sensitive to criticism about his writing, I am not so attached to it. Thus, I will do the submitting (and the reading of the replies) before showing them to him.
posted by
endomagazine
on June 29, 2004 at 4:42 PM
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Shadow, LOL. You're right. I didn't even have to comment, but I DID!
posted by
Julia.
on June 27, 2004 at 4:07 PM
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Quirky,
Hey, understand or not its a really nice poem I think. Oh, and by the way its like this, clicks are clicks. LOL Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 27, 2004 at 4:01 PM
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Poetry? Oh all right, I'll go... But I know nothing about poetry!!!
posted by
Julia.
on June 27, 2004 at 3:56 PM
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Are we in trouble? I'm keeping track of every penny. I promise I would never be unfaithful to Scriber. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 27, 2004 at 3:55 PM
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Hey, wait just a minute you two. I put out a post today and where are my comments? It's still showing 000000! Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 27, 2004 at 3:53 PM
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shadow, the harem master requests our presence at his house.
posted by
Julia.
on June 27, 2004 at 3:53 PM
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Lets see three days of notes = I can't count that high. I'm a archaeologist. I need a calulator.
Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 27, 2004 at 3:49 PM
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Scriber, three days, really? No way, I left one yesterday,
I'm sure! But sure, we can party at your house, too. It's probably cleaner...
posted by
Julia.
on June 27, 2004 at 3:46 PM
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speaking of that, Writer's Notes hasn't had a comment in three days; maybe
we could drop by there some time.
posted by
scriber
on June 27, 2004 at 3:42 PM
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Quirky, obviously; since I was notoriously cheap, women were constantly
scheming on a way to get paid. Drink all my boose, ask for a painting; pizza with all the toppings. God the manoeuvering. What a game of wits.
posted by
scriber
on June 27, 2004 at 3:40 PM
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Quirky,
Yeah, that's from having the status of harem master I guess. He's got this little bottle on the coffee table and I think there's a geni inside that he talks to frequently. LOL Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 27, 2004 at 3:40 PM
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Shadow, yeah, Scriber sees all and knows all ;-)
posted by
Julia.
on June 27, 2004 at 3:37 PM
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I would offer to buy it if I liked it, not expect it to be given to me.
But that's just me. You must run in different circles.
posted by
Julia.
on June 27, 2004 at 3:36 PM
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Quirky, I know and what did I expect, hey what?
posted by
scriber
on June 27, 2004 at 3:33 PM
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Scriber, women expect free paintings? Now that's a new one!!
posted by
Julia.
on June 27, 2004 at 3:31 PM
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Quirky,
I know that and you know that, but does Scriber? LOL Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 27, 2004 at 3:30 PM
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shadow, not to worry, it was hypothetical. Read back
a half dozen comments from last night and you will understand...
posted by
Julia.
on June 27, 2004 at 3:29 PM
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Quirky, as I've written, women seem to expect free paintings just because
I had so many. . Then I thought they were worth some bucks. and yes, it is a good line.
posted by
scriber
on June 27, 2004 at 3:23 PM
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Hey Quirky,
Is that an invite or are you just not thinking about who you are talking to? LOL Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 27, 2004 at 3:22 PM
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scriber, but did you like my line about coming up to see the painting?
Was that l or just sm??
posted by
Julia.
on June 27, 2004 at 3:16 PM
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Quirky, yes, good memory for personal and professional rejection.
posted by
scriber
on June 27, 2004 at 3:15 PM
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Scriber--you actually remember what rejection feels like?
posted by
Julia.
on June 27, 2004 at 3:12 PM
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kay-Ren, do not be impressed--that was just a few of my friends
having a little party ;-)
posted by
Julia.
on June 27, 2004 at 3:11 PM
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one rejection is one too many way i look at it.
posted by
scriber
on June 27, 2004 at 11:50 AM
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I always try to make a story better after a rejection letter. It is hard to go back to a story that is rejected. A book on the other hand would be much harder to let go of. Great post and WOW 60 comments! Good Job!
posted by
Kay-Ren
on June 27, 2004 at 9:26 AM
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moondawg, that is a great way to look at it.
Would you be able to do that 125 times??
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 8:34 PM
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scriber, but at least you can now say to the ladies,
"Would you like to come up and see my paintings." hehe.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 8:33 PM
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There are many stories of rejection
that turned to sucess. I guess you have to decide that if they reject you it isn't your missed opportunity, but theirs and keep offering it up until you find someone smart enough to take advantage of it.
posted by
Moondawg
on June 26, 2004 at 8:31 PM
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Quirky Julia, I don't think so. there is not enough time to do both so i
made a choice and don't see me going back. thanks for your interest, you are very sweet. love scriber
posted by
scriber
on June 26, 2004 at 8:24 PM
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Scriber, well, maybe it's just on hiatus, and you will pick it up
again in the future. Time will tell. I used to do a lot of things that i don't anymore. Interests change. But if I could paint I probably wouldn't want to give it up altogether.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 8:19 PM
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Quirky, not exactly, just faced what i thought was my reality. I had
painted about ten years, doing portraits abstracts, working through some mental things and when i began to feel like writing again, I more or less dropped the painting.
posted by
scriber
on June 26, 2004 at 8:06 PM
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Scriber, so did you just, one day, lose the desire to paint then?
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 7:51 PM
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Quirky, I don't think so; I think the painting you see on my post is one
of my last. love scriber
posted by
scriber
on June 26, 2004 at 7:42 PM
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Scriber, so you're saying that writing is your passion now
and not the painting? But will you do it again??
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 7:18 PM
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shadow, I see nothing wrong with that.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 5:33 PM
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Quirk,
I know, but I'm a softie at heart. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 5:28 PM
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Quirky, at one time, maybe, not now; now I want to finish a few more books
posted by
scriber
on June 26, 2004 at 5:20 PM
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I hope she sees it that way. She's pretty sensitive. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 5:19 PM
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shadow, it was an honest mistake, and we weren't laughing at HER,,
but at the mistake. Should all be ok.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 5:17 PM
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Original--that is good to hear! That's healthy self esteem!
May I have some of it, please?
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 5:16 PM
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Original,
That's the spirit! We all have the talent to achieve our goals, its the will power to stick out the struggle getting there. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 5:15 PM
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Quirky,
I just hope she doesn't realize it, I'm afraid it would hurt her feelings and I wouldn't want that at all. She's really a good person. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 5:13 PM
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If I actually had my book finished, I'd
be as persistent as it took.
posted by
Original_Influence
on June 26, 2004 at 5:13 PM
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shadow, I'll try. But I will never forget that!!
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 5:09 PM
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Scriber, so if--hypothetically--you had all the money
you needed to live on, would you paint then?
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 5:08 PM
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Quirky,
I've laughed so hard my back is hurting me. Like I say bless her heart, she just saw my name on post and didn't read it was signed by Purr. Anyway, let's move on or I'm going to have to take pain medicine. LOL Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 5:07 PM
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shadow, that was just about the funniest thing ever. I'm still laughing.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 5:01 PM
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groucho, yeah i agree, that's why I'm quirky"alone", no clubs there...
and I'll check out that blog later.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 5:00 PM
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mariantonia, thanks, that's all too true.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:58 PM
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Quirky Julia, It was a question of time and living. I needed money, so
quit painting and went to full time writing.
posted by
scriber
on June 26, 2004 at 4:55 PM
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Quirky,
My apologies, please forgive me. Best laugh I've had all week. I got totally carried away. I'm ashamed, please feel free to remove that comment. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 4:54 PM
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quirky -- clubs suck
besides I
invented the club -- not the
Club, the anti-theft device, sadly -- and once it got too crowded they kicked me out. You know what my namesake had to say about clubs? You don't? Well, check my quote blog late tonight or late tomorrow for the next quote! tg
posted by
tbgroucho
on June 26, 2004 at 4:53 PM
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Who do you believe in? 1 person or 125? Sometimes, its easier to make personal changes than bang a head against the brick wall. Its sad but the publishing society demands certain conformations to its expectations before acceptance.
posted by
mariantonia
on June 26, 2004 at 4:53 PM
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shadow...uh...thanks for sharing??
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:51 PM
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Hi Groucho! I'm bad at it, too. Welcome to the club.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:50 PM
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True. Speaking of pissed, I have to go to the bathroom and quick. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 4:48 PM
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Shadow, LMAO, well...it's not like the marriage has been
consumated yet!!
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:47 PM
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Quirky,
Scriber might not want to do mouth to mouth on a woman who is marrying your cat. I can't quit laughing. Purr is going crazy. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 4:40 PM
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Shadow, don't say that, or else Scriber will have to perform
mouth-to-mouth. And you don't want that!
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:37 PM
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scriber, but how did you decide that? How do you know that you
just didn't give up too early??
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:36 PM
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rejection sucks
I'm bad at it, which is why I'm still in analysis. my counselor says I've been hiding in academia. now that it doesn't want me I'll either sink or swim. tg
posted by
tbgroucho
on June 26, 2004 at 4:35 PM
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I stopped painting when I decided it wasn't going to be my claim to fame
posted by
scriber
on June 26, 2004 at 4:33 PM
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Quirky,
oh hell, help me I'm dying. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 4:30 PM
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shadow, the world probably won't exist in a hundred years anyway,
so you needn't worry ;-)
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:28 PM
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Scriber, saying that is one thing, but actually BELIEVING it,
well, that's often not so easy, at least for me. I need constant reassurance it seems. That's where my warm fuzzies come in!!
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:26 PM
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I think the idea is to keep building on your work; build a body of
material, even while rejections are coming in, continue to write. That way, as with a lot of writers, when they do sell, then they have a back log to sustain the popularity.
posted by
scriber
on June 26, 2004 at 4:24 PM
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Quirky,
If you insist. LOL Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 4:23 PM
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Quirky,
Its a know fact that most great artists never get truly recognized until after they are long gone. So I see it as if I don't get published while alive, some bozo will find my stuff in a hundred years and it will sell like wildfire. Damn, can't make any money that way for sure. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 4:22 PM
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Quirky, you are right; believe is the key; a strong believe in one's self
posted by
scriber
on June 26, 2004 at 4:20 PM
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Shadow, LOL, it would probably take more than a gentle kick...
think football field goal, that's the kick I'd need.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:19 PM
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Scriber, you're right as usual. No wait, I'm usually right so this time
you can be. But I was talking more hypothetically anyway, more the "idea" of not giving up on your writing, whatever the goal is.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:17 PM
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hey quirky.......
posted by
Star5_
on June 26, 2004 at 4:17 PM
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You think? Nope I wouldn't let you cave in. I'd just keep gently placing a foot in your rear and keep you moving. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 4:15 PM
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Quirky, true, but most magazine editors want a query, rather than a full
article, I think. Most fact magazine articles i've done have been assigned. Fiction, yes, probably just submit.
posted by
scriber
on June 26, 2004 at 4:14 PM
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shadow, I'm weak and I hate rejection. I would probably
cave by about 10. Sad but true.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:13 PM
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Quirky,
Knowing my luck the lifeboat has a hole in it and damn I can't swim a lick. LOL But, you are right I always get my man, no wait my publisher, hee hee Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 4:09 PM
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scriber, good point, and I suppose that's true with books
and probably screenplays as well. But for other things, say magazine articles or short stories, you can still submit w/o an agent.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:09 PM
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shadow, that's the spirit! Never give up, never give up, never give
up the ship (unless it springs a leak, hehe, then you better get in the freakin' lifeboat)!
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:07 PM
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O.K. Quirk,
What's your lucky number? Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 4:06 PM
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well today it's almost impossible to do what that writer did; since most
publisher will only look at work submitted through an agent. And I doubt an agent would have such persistence. Anyway through the miracle of the computer and the internet, it's possible for one to publish him or her self and tell the publisher to go take a flying fuck.
posted by
scriber
on June 26, 2004 at 4:01 PM
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CL, now that's a first, a mother who tells it like it is! ;-)
(kidding). Well, technically you did at one time, when you were a wee babe.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 4:01 PM
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Quirky,
I am so persistent and stubborn that I would probably never give up. But, if I have to have a number then how many publishers are there? That's my number. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 3:56 PM
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My mother says I suck
But who the hell is she, right?! Good advice here, Quirky. Thanks.
posted by
CunningLinguist
on June 26, 2004 at 3:49 PM
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Shadow, so do you have a number in mind? I'll tell you mine
if you tell me yours.
posted by
Julia.
on June 26, 2004 at 3:47 PM
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Quirk,
That's an eye-opener for anyone to think about. Shadow
posted by
Keshet
on June 26, 2004 at 3:40 PM
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