| Photo courtesy of Adam Beevers via morguefile.com |
Recently I’ve read a ton of articles about writers getting past their fear of submitting work for publication. This must be a widespread problem or there wouldn’t be so much written about it, but I don’t really understand it.
Fear isn’t the problem for me. Procrastination—guilty. Occasional laziness—oh, yeah. Fear? No way. And here’s why.
Submitting work is exciting; it makes me giddy. It’s like watching a kid ride a two-wheeler by himself for the first time. It is fun to see all the practicing, effort and determination pay off. There’s the wobbly start, the focus, striving to find the perfect balance, and finally—wahoo!—the kid is zooming up the street, wind in his hair. That’s how I feel when I submit something I’ve written. Elated. Not deterred by the knowledge that I could hit a bump and fall off that bike because, hey, what do you do when you fall? You get right back up again.
Here’s the thing about getting back on the bike: Not every ride is bumpy. I know not all my work will be accepted for publication. This time. That doesn’t mean I can’t retool my article/story/essay and submit it again somewhere else. A few years ago I submitted a short story to a competition. I didn’t win. Didn’t even come close. Six months later I entered the same story in another competition and won. Different venue, different editor, different outcome. Knowing this is a possibility changes everything, doesn’t it? Why worry about rejection when it isn’t the final diagnosis?
We all face rejection, but it isn’t something to fear. Rejoice! A rejection means you submitted. It means you labored hard and delivered your baby. Receiving a rejection means . . . congratulations, you’re a writer!
So get on that bike. Sometimes the ride will be slow and uphill, sometimes fast and downhill, and sometimes you'll cruise on level ground. The important thing is to stay in motion. Submit your work. Not every response is a rejection, but every rejection is proof that you're serious about writing for publication. And when acceptance letters are mingled with the rejections, believe me, you'll want to keep pedaling.
Submit!
See you next for Book Blurb Friday!
Lisa
12 comments:
Lisa, what a wonderful outlook. I am writing an article about this very thing. I love your analogies; writing is so like getting back on that bike.
Yes! I totally agree with this--as long as the writer has put sufficient thought/effort into the work and has gotten feedback from others to improve. Once that's done, there's nothng to it but to do it. And I was always like you, Lisa--I had to hold myself back from querying everyone at once. It was a *totally* giddy feeling (even though at times it was very temporary).
This is a wonderful post, Lisa. You're right. Rejections mean we're doing something. And the more we submit, the better our chances are that we'll get some acceptances.
I'm going to think about your metaphor, and I'm going to ring my little bike bell (ding-ding) when other writers get mired up in their own muck, so they'll get out of my way...'cause I'm going to pedal along (but not as fast as Linda or you).
Yeah, I get that little nervous flip in my stomach when I hit "send." I mean, there are so many possibilities when you submit...and having the imagination of a writer....well, I pretty much take off on that adrenalin rush! ;-)
Hi Lisa,
I love your positive attitude, and know that we will be reading your books very soon. I really enjoyed the cat article that you wrote a while back and knowing that lots of people would benefit from the info that you presented.
I haven't even gotten that far yet. I think that I could submit some articles if I worked on that, but I have never even considered it until just now. My fiction has only gotten as far as 150 words, so there isn't much to submit at this point. Becky sent me a link to submit some photos for a $300 prize and inclusion in a book, and I think that I might go for that, though it will cost me $40. I don't think a rejection of a photo would be the same as a rejection of writing though.
I do understand the fear part of rejection though. So much that I am trying to figure out how to just go around it and do it on my own. With travel and trivia that may not be so hard to do and still be successful. With fiction writing it seems that we would have to go the more traditional route.
Have a great week, and keep up the wonderful work!
Kathy M.
You handled this issue so well and with optimism. Usually I feel the same way although my nasty internal editor can derail me at times. Recently, I sent a piece of fiction to an editor who doesn't use fiction and told her my reasons why. I had been published in her magazine once so I felt like I could venture into deeper waters. Yes, she rejected me but with a personal letter acknowledging my efforts, considering my thoughts, and with an invitation to submit more non-fiction. Both of us came away with a little more personal contact with an unseen face, not a bad consolation prize in today's markets.
Linda - I'll look forward to reading your article. Thanks for your comments.
Sarah - I agree, the feedback is so important. I'd be lost without my Inklets (writers' group).
Sioux - You racked up some pubs in 2011. Can't wait to see your 2012 list!
Cathy - Yeah, I know we share that excitement. We both go into it expecting a "yes." :)
Kathy - Thanks. I've got to buckle down with my YA or it will never be finished. I'd love to see you write more---you're so creative! And the idea of submitting your photos is a good one. You're a talented lady.
Claudia - Ooh...the evil Internal Editor. We all have one, and he's a real mischief maker. It is wonderful that you felt comfortable enough with the editor to take that risk; better yet that you received a personal response!
You are so right, Lisa! More than once I've retooled a rejected submission and found a home for it elsewhere.
Pat
Critter Alley
Pat - It is wonderful when that happens, isn't it? :)
Great post Lisa - just love it and I'll be thinking of getting on that bike every time I submit something. Thanks!
Lots of wisdom here. Was going to name some great lines, but there are too many. Thanks for giving us a push!
Also make sure you lock your tire to the frame of the bike, and the bike frame to the bike rack.
bike grips
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