I really want to publish two story stories I have written. They are not the best but it would serve as a test to me. I am a very unsure person and I am not sure whether my writing is good enough to push out to the public. These short stories would be my testing ground but then again it could all be thrown back in my face and people might think they are rubbish. You don’t know if you don’t try right?
I am not sure.
***********************************************************
Oh Shitty. I just had a short lived moment of public writing. Then I killed it. Ohh I have no guts.
I will compromise. I will publish writing on here, on a new page, you can read if you want but this way you don’t have to leave me nasty comments, OK?
*********************************************************
Whatever made me think I was strong enough to be cut out for this?
When I was teaching writing at the uni. I used to encourage students to submit their stories for publication all the time. Then I would show them my own rejection letters from various publishers and they would ask why I kept them. I kept them to prove that I had begun to get serious about writing. So do it! I submitted a parenting article to over 50 magazines and it was the 51st that accepted it for publication and then I wrote a regular column for 2 years. But I got 50 rejections first. Go for it!
I don’t think I can handle 50 rejections but I am defiantly going to get serious when I get back from Europe.
I think you can handle 50 rejections. One way to handle them is, if you’re unsure about your writing, to call them and ask for proper feedback (don’t know whose tip this was). Identifying one or two things to tackle will help you improve. I’m not trying to get published but I know this: writing is about learning. And I’m definitely still learning
I am still learning too, probably learning not to worry so much would help me.
Artists tend to be their own worst critics, so you’re writing is probably a lot better than you give yourself credit for. If it makes you feel better, I like your posts that I’ve been able to read so far.
Thank you.
Writers are often their own worst critics. And I agree with jmgoyder (above): one must fire a few arrows before one can hope to hit something! Rejection is part of the process. But remember: just because it doesn’t suit one person or publisher doesn’t it mean it won’t suit somebody else.
Stephen King recounts a great tale about rejection letters in his memoir “On Writing”. He says he used to impale them on a railroad spike in his room– until he got so many that he ran out of space.
Go for it!!!
Isn’t it sad though that rejection is part of the process, not like everyone can write though. Thanks for the words of encouragement.
I agree with all of the above. You are very critical of yourself. Even if it’s not perfect, any advice would be helpful in improving. What’s troublesome is learning to separate constructive criticism from the bad advice people give simply because they are mean. It’s a skill as difficult to develop as writing itself.
Mean people make me want to punch them in the face ahaha but I know people help and I am happy with that. it still worries me!
If I can self-publish, Megan, anyone can! You’re plenty strong – and it shows in your writing!
It can be tough when you get a bad review – or ten – but you have to keep the faith. Trust me, its worth it.
Maybe it will be worth it eventually.
One thing I’d add to the comments above about rejections being part of it (and I stilll have my rejections in a box someplace) – sometimes it isn’t even the story quality, it’s that the agent doesn’t see a market for the story.
In the end, publishing is a business. Buyers want what’s hot – the tickle me Elmo book equivalent.
Or vampires.
Bleagh.
It always seemed like you were writing for yourself, because you needed to. Regardless of what anyone says when you try to sell, keep at it.
They’ll come around eventually.
And we’ll get to keep reading it on your blog!
You lot will always be the first people to read my scribbles!
You need to go for it otherwise you may regret it in years to come. Practice! Practice!
We will see
And keep practicing!
Pingback: Donte Douglas Presents: Diary Of A lush Woman ( www.mrjournal7.blogspot.com ) |
Pingback: Good news, bad news? « Eating at my Desk
If you’re a dedicated writer you will write regardless of positive or negative or absent feedback. A writer writes, by definition, and every article, story, blog, is one step nearer to perfection – assuming one learns from it.