So today I received a rejection letter. It wasn't a big deal competition, but it was my first rejection letter since I decided to become a "public" writer (of many rejections to come, I'm sure). Now I admit that I didn't put a lot of thought into the competition. I saw an announcement for it on social media. The deadline was just a few days away. I wrote a poem in about 20 minutes and sent it. I didn't exactly have high hopes, but there was at least a glimmer. I'm not surprised by the rejection.
I have to admit I'm not formally trained in writing. I just put down what I feel. I'm used to the praises of my English teachers and professors for what I've written. Of course, out of a class full of non-writers in a small school, my novice attempts must have looked good. I also have received honorable mentions in the pay-to-publish anthologies (which are probably not so honorable since I paid for their praises).
So, today was my first rejection letter. The momentary heartache has passed. I still love to write. I will still continue to write. Someday I will find that someone that likes my work enough to spread the news. Someday I will be published.
Now I write, I submit, and I wait. I have another contest which I've entered that I'm waiting a response on. I'm not so confident with this one (I actually put more time into it, but have never entered a novel-writing competition before). Still, there is that glimmer, that small bit of hope that keeps me going. I have to hold on to my glimmer. I would be writing anyway, so why not share it with the world? It would be so sad if I were the only one to ever read the words I write.
If you want to read my crappy poem, go to my "Poetry" page. The poem "I am One" was submitted to the 3Elements Review (they were very kind in their rejection so no hating).
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