Liebster Award–Surprising Turn from Rejection
Coming home from any trip, short or long, requires a person to reacquaint herself with location, premises, and obligations therein. Ask anyone who travels semi-regularly.
When I returned today from Central Washington, fatigue schlepped my belongings upstairs, unlocked the door and returned to the car for another load. Sister did the same. Once ensconced inside, again occupying our apartment, the next order of business was computer, email, and whatever had darkened our cyber thresholds during our absence.
Embedded within the hundred plus emails of my main inbox were two from editors. I didn’t need to read them. I knew they contained rejections. They’d arrived too quickly from new venues I’d submitted to the previous week.
Rejection (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I was right. They sat there, staring at me, daring me to protest. I couldn’t. Rejections are a fact of life for every writer. The first time I saw Jane Yolen post about receiving a rejection for a story, I almost cheered; not because she’d received bad news, but because she’d received bad news was willing to flaunt that rejection on Facebook for all the world to see.
I gathered strength from that act of personal/professional bravery on Jane’s part. She was the first well-known working writer whom I’d seen admit to receiving that palest of pink slips from an editor. Hope sprang to my heart. Perhaps I wasn’t a terrible writer after all.
Now, all this time later, I’ve begun racking in my own pile of pale pink slips. I’ve an area of wall beside my desk which will soon be decorated with them as a constant reminder that if I stop receiving them, it’s because I’m not sending out any work for judgment. The reminder to keep writing will be lurking, available for loud recriminations should I forget.
After I’d dealt with mail, uploaded work to go out for guest blog this coming week and another small bit of brainstorming I’d done yesterday, As soon as I got up from a short nap, I returned to my secondary email inbox and found another rejection. The personal note was nice. Still, it will go on my Wall of Encouragement.
All of this rejection could have turned maudlin, but I was saved by Randy Bell. Randy is a super-duper poet with an engaging personality and talent. I found his comment on Claudsy’s Blog about dropping in to collect my Award. I was confused. Award?
I did as instructed and slipped over to his second abode, “Coudfactor5.” He’d posted a lovely piece about poetry and encouragement and how Jlynn Sheridan had honored him with a Liebster Award for creating and operating a killer blog. This award of appreciation goes around the blog-o-sphere on a regular basis, and personally, I’m so happy that someone felt I deserved one.
Thank you so much, Randy, for this show of your recognition of my work.
The rejections received over the weekend and the anticipated future rejections melted into a puddle of inconsequential trivia. This one small mark of appreciation was worth so much more than all the rest. Suddenly, I was vindicated. The sunshine returned to my day.
There are obligations tacked onto this Liebster Award. They are:
- link back to who nominated you (see my “Thank you” below)
- nominate five blogs with fewer than 200 follows (see my “blog noms” below!)
- let nominees know by leaving a comment on their sites; and
- add the award image to your site
I thought long and hard about nominations. I’ve been surfing for weeks, looking into others’ writing, blogging, and aspirations. This was a concrete way to keep the appreciation moving along. I’ve read so many marvelous sites, learned so much about writers, known and unknown, that whittling down to five nominees was ridiculously difficult. I did choose my short list, finally, with regret that I couldn’t send out one to everybody.
I chose those who’ve worked hard and long to bring a blog into fruition and who have given the reader thoughtful content and peeks at talents yet to emerge. I’ve awarded the Liebster Award to:
Cindy Brown for all of the humor rolling down the aisle of her blog “Everyday Underwear”
Lori Tian Sailiata (aka Lara Britt) for her honest and exploring blog “Writing Space”
Jeannine Bergers Everett for her “tell it like it is” parenting blog that’s funny, real, and masquerades as the reason she writes great poetry.
Linda G. Hatton for her blog which doubles as a collector of loyal customers for her poetry challenges, discussions, and encouragement.
Kirra Antrobus and her quietly provoking blog “Thoughtful” where the reader is required to pause, ponder, and prepare for answers unexpected.
Thank you again, Randy, for finding me worthy of both your attention and you nomination for this Liebster Award.
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Claudette J. Young
Liebster Blog Award
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Claudsy's Blog 
Newbie author here (sort of). So feel free to completely ignore my comments here. XD (I’ve also never been published, so…yeah. lol )
Did the rejections contain any helpful hints or ideas? I noticed in the letter you posted before that it wasn’t really a 100% rejection. Rather, it seemed like it was an offer to resubmit after making a few changes and/or updates.
I know you’ve probably considered all of the following, but I’ll suggest them anyways:
Have you tried getting in on any competitions? I don’t necessarily mean “official” ones where you win cash prizes or anything. I’m thinking more along the lines of NaNoWriMo and the like. (I just discovered the Poetry version of NaNo, which is apparently held every April. XD) Those can be super-fun, and an awesome way to get folks to know you.
From other stuff I’ve read, getting published seems to be about who knows you, and who you know, before it’s really about the book at all. I had a friend who wrote a book about her grandmother’s experiences growing up Amish. She went to conventions, was a part of local writer’s groups, and all that sort of thing. When I get ready to publish eventually (which I’m determined not to worry about until I actually have something to present), I’ll probably try that method, and see what happens. Other venues that I’ve heard can help: A spruced-up Facebook page for your novel, awesome cover-art, using Linkd-In to build a professional profile, etc. etc.
BTW, what is your novel about? I see you talk about it a lot (or about publishing, anyways), but I haven’t yet read anything about what the novel contains. Or is it a book of poems? (I’ve just started following your blog, so forgive me if you’ve already discussed it. 🙂 )
Thank you so much, Claudsy!
And here’s to your upcoming acceptance! (Because “persistence pays off,” right?) 🙂
Just think, Linda, you get to spread the appreciation, too. Hope you have as much difficulty choosing as I did. 🙂
Thanks, Linda. I’ll take all the good thoughts that I can get right now on the acceptance front. And you’re right. Persistence does pay off. You’ll be getting a few of your own soon, too.
Unbelievable! I go through my e-mails backwards and lo and behold after being shocked to see Jeannine’s post, there was this one with you giving me the award! Twice in one day – I’m going to pee my pants! I intend to use your kind words in my “Things people are saying about Everyday Underwear” page. You are an excellent writer and I appreciate the nod more than you can imagine. Things like this keep my brain juices flowing with furious funny function.
Have a beautiful day! Thank you, from the bottom of my hilarious heart! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thank you so much, Cindy. It’s always nice to know that someone thinks what you do is good and promising, isn’t it. You do something I wish I could do. You write funny stuff. I love reading things that remind me of Erma Bombeck and other “everyday” writers who look at life, see the ironic and hysterical, and then write about those perspectives and observations. The world needs so much more of that.
I have trouble most days with laughing at myself. That’s what makes your writing so important to us out here in this begrudging world of writing.
Keep it up, girl. You’re doing something wonderful and that’s why the award. That work needed a highlight or two. Heck, before long, it may need a halo, too. Who knows?
LOL! Halo? I’ll take it. Then I’ll blog about it.
We must use the inspirations scattered before us. Don’t we?
Oh, I forgot to comment on the post also! I got my first rejection recently and thought, “Wow, I’m really a writer now!” I was just discussing rejections with my writers group on Saturday and my friend, Matthew, nails them to his wall. Nails them! Not staples or push-pins! So I guess that is a common decorating practice among writers. When I was in the door-to-door insurance sales business (otherwise known as “Hell”), I remember being told by our district manager, “Twenty no’s just means you are one closer to a yes.” I’ve held onto that advice, even though the job nearly bankrupted me.
Yep, Cindy, those little scraps of intent can plaster walls, decorate coffee tables in albums for visitors’ eyes, and even act as doorstops with the right crafting ingenuity. We should be proud of them. They are each a badge of honor to the profession that we belong to.
I’d like to have known that boss of yours when I was in my teens. It could have saved me a lot of years when I would have been writing if I’d known what the industry was really like. Then again, maybe not. I needed those years of experience to toughen up the psyche, resolve my issues with rejection, and age enough to not care anymore what people thought about what I do. Those are all necessary to some extent before anyone can make it in this business.
I’m so glad you’re doing this now, my friend. It’s such an exquisite neener-neener, isn’t it?
It’s Cindy actually, but yes, experience is a harsh teacher I am all too familiar with in the school of life! I’ve learned, however, to appreciate it fully. Usually without tears, but not always. Ha ha.
Sorry, Cindy, my attention wandered for a second. Too many distractions this morning, but I corrected. I think. Oh, Lordy, it’s going to be one of those days. Quick! Catch me before the senior moments take over.
Ah, Liz, you bring up some interesting issues. I’ll try answering them in order.
This last batch of rejections were interesting. One did have a short personal note attached to it, referring to my strong writing and inviting me to submit another piece. That’s always encouraging. For me, it means, my writing doesn’t really stink, but that my selection for submission didn’t quite hit the right mark. I’ll be taking that editor’s suggestion and submitting another bit of work.
The other two were form rejections, but not nasty. Both thanked me for taking the time to submit to them. They, too, are setting themselves up for more submissions.
This morning, I also got an email from an editor who just needed a confirmation of my intent. He and I are on good terms and situation resolved without second thoughts or time wasted. It was a simple “Oh, yeah, put me in for both,” kind of thing.
Much of my time is taking up with online challenges and competitions, so I have no complaints on that score. I actually have no real complaints, other than those directed at myself for not completing more work faster. In fact, I picked up another challenge this morning and will be working that during my poetry session this afternoon. So, I get plenty of action that way.
I’m not particularly worried right now about having tons of books out there, even though I have several on my work board at the moment. I have two completed epic fantasy novels that have been making the rounds and need to go through revisions. That’s SOP. I have another epic fantasy that’s working on its fourth chapter. I have a cookbook to finish by June 30. I’ll make that deadline barring death.
Along the way I also have four books of poetry that are in various stages of completion. The first and foremost will be ready to go to publishers in June. It’s in its last revision at the moment. The other three are just beginning and get worked on as I can find time in my schedule.
There’s a women’s cozy mystery hanging around my neck at the moment. I have a couple of issues with that plot line before I can finish writing it. I know where it’s going, why, and with whom. I just have to nail down the mechanism for travel. It jumped track while I wasn’t looking and now I have to get those rails fixed.
I also have a book to finish by summer’s end to go to a publisher about my sister’s and my country tour of America. She’s a photographer. I get to do the text copy while she provides the images of that work. The whole thing will end up being three volumes. That’s why it’s taking so long.
I have a hard drive full of short pieces that are in the process of going out right now. I do have work out there, though no novels as yet. Poetry? Yep, I’m in “Prompted: An International Collection of Poems” which you can find on Amazon. It’s a wickedly good collection, too. Try it out and find a favorite inside. I, personally, love the work of all of those talents poets.
And that’s my writing life in a nutshell. Novels: fantasy, sci-fi, mystery, travel and inspiration, poetry, and a few other non-descript things along the way.
I’m glad you brought all this up, LIz. I did need to clarify for everyone’s benefit. I suppose I’ve written so many writing craft articles for other writers that I forget that I need to be more specific about what’s going on in my office and publishing world. And the summer looks to heat up even more for me.
So hang onto your hat. It really may be a bumpy ride for the next couple of months. Hope you stick around for the finale.
Claudsy
Just to refresh your memory my last name is not Hill but Bell, and you are most deserving!!
Randy Bell
Cover me with molasses and stick me on an anthill, Randy. I’m so sorry. I probably saw it f5 times and my tired old brain wouldn’t trip to the discrepancy. Well, that and the fact that my Muse controls my fingers many times and I don’t have a lot of control over it.
Please forgive. It truly was an oversight. And thank you for bringing it to my attention. I hate doing that like of thing and everyone knows about it but me. You’re my hero again today.
No problem I’m just laughing that your glasses must be a little thicker than mine and I’m half blind, but thank goodness even a blind man knows when the sun is shining! Your completely forgiven!
Thank you so much, my friend. And as a matter of fact, if your eyes are as bad as mind you’d be using braille, too. I hate braille for me. It works great for others, but for me, it’s just too slow.
Then again, given my recent battles with uncontrolled fingers and keyboards, it might just be fast enough. Good Lord willing, I won’t have to find out for another few years.
Have a terrific week, Randy and stop by anytime the mood strikes.
I’m so excited that you chose me, especially when it’s obvious that you really thought it through. I love the Liebster since it allows us bloggers to recognize each other for being good writers and bloggers. Thank you!
Ah, Kirra. I remember when I started this blog so long ago, though not as far back as some. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing. I couldn’t find anyone I felt I could approach about tips, or how to make a proper site, or anything else. The whole cyber world intimidated me.
There are so many more resources now to find exactly what you need and you can use so many more of them than back then. Today is much more user-friendly than even five years ago.
You have worked hard to put together just what you wanted and are writing what you feel you need to write. That takes guts anymore. You’ve shared and been shared, so to speak. It was time you were recognized for both the effort and the perseverance.
You’re welcome to any help I can give you. And if I don’t know, I’ll tell you and help you find the answers you seek. Enjoy this time of exploration, my young friend. And write about what you see. That’s the best thing of all.
So very , true,Claudsy. Time away is good…it’s all about balance. I really enjoyed this post. I was looking for your spine poem though…I’ll have to check.
Thanks, Hannah. I have a new page for poetry called “Floating a Poem.” I’ll post something in there every day. So enjoy what’s there.
Oh, that’s great!! Thank you, for telling me, Clauds!
You’re very welcome, Hannah. I’m glad you liked it. It was a challenge that I thoroughly enjoyed.
My thank you blog post is up – thanks again, Claudette!
http://www.everydayunderwear.com/2012/05/i-think-im-being-followed.html
I saw it and enjoyed myself. You’re welcome, Cindy. If you’re like me, you’ve done the happy dance.
Thanks for the pingback, my friend. So glad you could stop by to pick up your award. Have marvelous week. You earned it.