Thursday 3 November 2016

i'm still standing

Copyright: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/profile_lightwise'>lightwise / 123RF Stock Photo</a>


I've been really strict with my writing after the long summer holiday. Really I should have gone back to the day job but I'm dragging my 'new direction' out for as long as possible.

The writing calendar is adhered to. The coffee mornings have been declined. The housework is neglected (not sure I can blame writing for that one.). Although the novel is floundering as I consider a narrative / target audience change I am focusing on my poetry, short story and blogging writing with a mind to finding as many submissions as I can. I realised that sitting alone hiding with my writing won't do much good so it was time to get it out there.

And there lies the rub...

Whilst I know there will be rejections, it don't 'alf sting when yet another submission / competition email bears no positive news. And I haven't been doing it that long so I am aware there may be many more to come. But still. That moment when runners up are tweeted every day of the week and when you don't see your name on the penultimate day, there burns that little flame of hope - maybe, just maybe.

The announcement of the winner's name not being the same as mine can often colour my whole day - I'm still working on the whole dust myself off, pick myself up and start all over again routine - but I think it's because the length of time between any kind of 'win' seems to be stretching a tad too far for my liking.

But I suppose I won't appreciate that elusive win if I haven't felt the losses, right?

Right.

* picks up pen *

Time to start again.



This post is in response to the #WhatImWriting linky  


8 comments:

  1. I am SO with you on this. In fact my post this week covers very similar territory... And I am also determined to ignore the sting of rejection and keep submitting! Though at the moment the main stumbling block actually seems to be getting round to writing some shorter pieces to submit... We will get there in the end! :)

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    1. Thanks for the comment - so to deal with my angst on this I've set myself a challenge to find submissions to enter every couple of weeks. It means I have deadlines to write to, I submit, then I move onto the next submission leaving me no time to fret about results (not too much anyway!)

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  2. At least you are making submissions! Be proud of that. Its a stumbling block I haven't yet overcome. Or even the idea of my writing being directed to a particular focus. Keep going!

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    1. Hello. Thanks for the comment. It's taken me a year to get to this place but onwards...!

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  3. Rejection is rubbish but I always give myself a pat on the back for trying. In fact I don't submit things nearly often enough (because I don't write enough) so I think you're doing really well a) to make any submissions at all and b) to dedicate time to writing more and submitting more. Real writers get rejected so rejections are a badge of honour – that's what I tell myself, anyway! Thanks for linking to #WhatImwriting and I'm glad you've turned your comments on - yay! xx

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    1. Yes it's actually v v nice to see the comments on here and I'm connecting with people so thank you for the incentive. Hopefully I won't be collecting too many badges for much longer!

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  4. And the dice are weighted. If you've already got one win it's easier to get another. And contacts help a while lot. It can be super dispiriting, but keep at it, explore other avenues. All shall be well.

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    1. Thanks for the comment and the advice. Having come out of the very insular world of teaching, all this networking malarkey is new to me but when it works; absolutely invaluable.

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