It wasn't a rejection. Not really. Actually, it's something I'm rather proud of. I was a finalist in the Gatekeepers' Post contest on Wattpad.com. I did not win. This would be the first time something like this has happened to me in the writing world.
Now comes the great part. It's because this is the first thing to happen to me in the writing world. Ever. I've written for years, but mainly in my room in the dark. A few select friends privy to my scribblings. This marks the very first time I have done ANYTHING outside my comfort zone. Never before have I introduced my writings to people I didn't know, or on such a scale. And it has done things for me that I could not have anticipated.
The book I submitted, THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN, was born just about 5 years before the beginning of the contest. It had taken on many forms, and was re-written about once a year. But this time, it was different. I had a deadline. I had an audience. I got feedback while I was writing, re-writing, and revising. And I got a chance to live like a real writer, to work everyday on something I felt passionate about. And for the first time, I found others who enjoyed my work. Others who didn't have to be wheedled into reading it.
So today, I could be really, really upset. I could cry, throw my manuscript into the trash, rip it into little pieces, or any number of other cathartic things. But I'm not. I'm working on another project, giving that one a break. I'm practicing the art of the query letter, so that when the time comes to share it again, I'll be prepared.
Because this isn't bad. It's not the end of my success as a writer. It's the beginning. Rejection means that I'm trying, and that I have something I believe in enough to put out there. And eventually, after what is sure to be a long road, success will come. And rejection will only serve to make it sweeter.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
The Breathings of My Heart
William Wordsworth said "Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart."
As a writer, I take those words seriously. It's what I try to do. Whenever I think about a story, plot it out, begin to type. What do I want it to say? And how does that relate to what I think and feel?
When I read a good book, I know immediately. I know how the characters feel. And quite often, if the viewpoint of the character doesn't match that of the author, they feel strongly in some way about a topic that the author feels strongly about. It's impossible to fake. Passion is passion, and too many books fall flat without it. It's a missing feeling, and nothing else can make up for it.
As I travel the road towards publishing, consider my options, look for possible agents and publishers, it's something I remind myself of. I could have the best agent, the most dedicated publisher. I could have the most comprehensive ad campaign imaginable. But if I don't love my writing, if there's no passion running through it and around it, it won't work. There's no substitute.
For me, it takes the pressure off. I need to work my best at my job, creating stories that I think will entertain, and hopefully force one to think. The rest will come, but not without an excellent product. And that can only come from the breathings of my heart.
As a writer, I take those words seriously. It's what I try to do. Whenever I think about a story, plot it out, begin to type. What do I want it to say? And how does that relate to what I think and feel?
When I read a good book, I know immediately. I know how the characters feel. And quite often, if the viewpoint of the character doesn't match that of the author, they feel strongly in some way about a topic that the author feels strongly about. It's impossible to fake. Passion is passion, and too many books fall flat without it. It's a missing feeling, and nothing else can make up for it.
As I travel the road towards publishing, consider my options, look for possible agents and publishers, it's something I remind myself of. I could have the best agent, the most dedicated publisher. I could have the most comprehensive ad campaign imaginable. But if I don't love my writing, if there's no passion running through it and around it, it won't work. There's no substitute.
For me, it takes the pressure off. I need to work my best at my job, creating stories that I think will entertain, and hopefully force one to think. The rest will come, but not without an excellent product. And that can only come from the breathings of my heart.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)