....it happens. Or seems to. Your story, essay, book sells. The other night Melissa Bank came on my show and talked about how she worked on The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing for 10 years and endured a ton of rejections and it wasn't until she had given up, until she just didn't care anymore, in a deep way, about being published, that her book sold. She was as committed to writing as ever--it was what she did--but she no longer had that deep, longing need to be published. Everyone who has been published and who hasn't been published, but wants to be, knows what this is. It's horrible.
I was at that point with Pen on Fire, too. I had been making jewelry and my web designer was putting together a web site because I was no longer banking on getting a book out there. We were thinking of moving back to Vermont and planned a trip to New England right after I sent my proposal off to my agent. Not long after we returned to California, with thoughts to move and with my designer putting together a web site, my book went to auction and sold.
When we are feeling needy for anything, whatever that thing is, it seems to elude us. When you're not in a relationship, and you just have to have a relationship, there are no relationships to be had. It's when you say, Screw it, I'm through with men/women, that someone seems to magically appear.
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Yes, Barbara, I did hear Melissa Bank on your show. I'm going to take a little credit for prompting you to write this post. Okay?
But, of course, I agree. I became so fed up with the prissy, silly, condescending rejections I was receiving from literary agents, I decided to self-publish one of my novels as an e-Book.
I don't require anyone to validate my writing anymore. Some of the most well known editors at big New York publishing houses have rejected my work not for the writing but because the story wasn't a fit for them. But Yes, Barbara, I did hear Melissa Bank on your show. I'm going to take a little credit for prompting you to write this post. Okay?
But, of course, I agree. I became so fed up with the prissy, silly, condescending rejections I was receiving from literary agents, I decided to self-publish one of my novels as an e-Book.
I don't need require anyone to validate my writing anymore. Some of the most well known editors at big New York publishing houses have rejected my work not for the writing but because the story wasn't a fit for them.
I have had some very nice compliments from those same editors about my writing. Now it's time to convince someone (ANYONE! PLEASE!) that the stories (admittedly written from a man's viewpoint, the only one I have and not something I can readily change, and for which I have been ctiticized, rejected and derided) are just as good as the writing.
You're gem, Barbara, for prompting all of this discussion.
Remember what Kojak used to say? "Who loves ya, baby?" I'm sure all of your loyal fans feel that way about you.
Best always,
Nick
Hey, wait a minute. I chased a guy for five years, gave up on him and six months later, he asked me out. The following year, we got married. It's been close to eight happy years now.
So maybe I should do the same for my novel. Of course, I need to finish it first...
Oh Barbara, I loved that book! I am going to tune in to the interview. I was intrigued by thetitle, being an old Guide/Scout Leader myself, and then I read the story, really moving, and the book is inspiring and true to its cause.
Be well,
Irene
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