Monday, December 14, 2009
Last week I received the best rejection letter. And the biggest ever surprise.
“Thankyouforyourtime” I typed, all jumbled.
Not a form rejection. No, sir.
From a hi-fi site. Literary topnotch
Amazing.. .Someone actually took the time.
Prescriptive. Sensible.
Told me: this is nice, that is nice, but this is missing. Bigtime.
To correct- do this, do that.
Made a ton of sense. Held a mirror.
Once I’d moved out of a sulk, which took some doing, it made a ton of sense.
Ever walked into an once- buzzing store where all the shelves are empty now, except for frayed greens? Ghostly feeling.
I continue to be amazed at changing frames of reference. Something that was life-blood, now is not. Just not. Good to know.
Paul Samuelson, RIP. Still remember the heft of that economics textbook.
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7 comments:
Yes ... it takes courage to accept a rejection for whatever it may be, in the right spirit. Bravo you have done that and more...you have held a mirror. and i m sure, you will reach the top... feet frimly on the ground, head held high in the sky
frames of reference stay where they are.. they change as you move along with time .... and so what was life -blood is now not... good that it is happening, and good to know that you are travelling.. progressing.... reading a bit of Paulo Coelho these days and so the bit of "travelling"
shiv- which Coelho? Alchemist?
Best was the suggestions. Sahi mein.
You are still doing better than I and many others. Many of say that we are Writers; perhaps maybe we use the verb form, to write, more than most, but what good is it really if we refuse to bring our work into the light?
I have nine half-finished novels and several shorts, but only one "flash fiction" has ever seen the light and even then, no one noticed.
I salute you, dear Austere. Be proud of that rejection letter. It's more than most of us will allow ourselves to receive.
The greatest irony, is becoming successful posthumously, when even your most incoherent ramblings become worthy of gold and students in MFA programs discuss what deep mean you could have meant, by that qucikly written side note in the rough draft of a manuscript that reads: "Don't forget the bread."
Take Care,
Nimh
Nimh dear- when I look back to 2006, pre IWW days-- I'm appalled at the quality of the work.
So whatever change there is, all credit and major salutes to Alice, Albert, Kathy, Peter.. all the patient souls halfway across the world who've put up with and taught me step by step.
That is the magic of web 2, is it not?
NINE NOVELS! ohlala... wonder! Congratulations. I'd be happy to have ONE. :)
No one will notice, that's ok. I've told myself this lifetime is to learn to write, to rewrite and re-re, sharpen the craft, to develop a thick skin to crits.
Since I have several multiple life times waiting, does not matter as long as there is SOME progress.
Posthumous I don't care about, I will be happy in some other lifetime, eating bhelpuri for breakfast and writing a sonnet for dinner.
Till then, thick skins are all good.
yes coelho of the Alchemist ...liked his writing.. simple and lucid
Hey,Austy-a rejection now and then is fine,I'd say- reminds one that there's always one step more to be climbed,na?:)
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