It is always a mixed blessing to find a self-addressed stamped envelope in the mailbox. To see my own handwritings staring back at me amongst the pile of bills and solicitations is at first perplexing why would I send something to myself, and then quickly, oh, right, a submission response. Then I take a deep breath and I contemplate timing, How long will I wait until I open it? Now? Here in the driveway in the the sunlight? After I am in the house? Later today? Not at all?
When the first SASEs started coming in, I would rip them open as soon as I realized what they were. That didn't last long, cause who wants to open something that the odds say will carry news they don't want to hear? In fact the only written acceptance I have received, thus far, has been via email. In general, I wait until I am in the house, in the kitchen where I can put the rest of the pile down temporarily, before I rip open my once pristine envelope.
I stated earlier that an SASE is a mixed blessing. Even if it contains a rejection, or in this week's case a list of winners that doesn't include me, the up side is that it frees that particular essay up for submitting to another publication or contest. Then it no longer stagnates on my record of submissions list.
To make a long story short (too late), I did not win this year's Crab Orchard Review Literary Award in creative nonfiction. I had entered my favorite essay to date, Beautiful Damage.
So as of today, I have 3 submissions out.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
When Was the Last Time I Submitted?
I was just looking through my submission records, and I haven't sent anything out since May! Wow, I let those old rejections get me down for too long.
Today I submitted my essay "Lesson in Love" to the Glass Woman Prize. I read some past contest winners and they were remarkable. check it out:
http://www.sigriddaughter.com/GlassWomanPrize.htm
On the writing side:
I finally finished a book review for the Earthly Delights blog:
http://earthlydelights.typepad.com/
I am in the process of revising individual essays for a manuscript tentatively entitled "Beautiful Damage: Pieces of a Life." It is most all memoir, and each piece can stand alone. I'm hoping to submit it to the Bakeless book prize. The deadline is in September, so I have time (if I budget well). http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/blwc/bakeless/
Today I submitted my essay "Lesson in Love" to the Glass Woman Prize. I read some past contest winners and they were remarkable. check it out:
http://www.sigriddaughter.com/GlassWomanPrize.htm
On the writing side:
I finally finished a book review for the Earthly Delights blog:
http://earthlydelights.typepad.com/
I am in the process of revising individual essays for a manuscript tentatively entitled "Beautiful Damage: Pieces of a Life." It is most all memoir, and each piece can stand alone. I'm hoping to submit it to the Bakeless book prize. The deadline is in September, so I have time (if I budget well). http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/blwc/bakeless/
Monday, June 16, 2008
Weekend Note
A fairly kind, personalized rejection arrived in my inbox yesterday. It reads:
Thank you for your submission, which is very close to the sort of stories we are looking for. It is an unusual method of telling a story, from a unique angle. However, in the end we felt it doesn't quite transcend itself. It doesn't quite make a riveting story, as is. My suggestion (if the piece happens to be "untrue") would be to maintain the professional sounding voice while making the items in your sub-clauses more and more ludicrous, as a way of satirizing the mundane. It's not right for Storyscape, but we wish you the best of luck in placing your piece.
It is really a nice note, the advice is good. Except that the piece she is referring to is true. It is a true story of growing up in the home that I sold 3 years ago. Ah well. Back to the drawing board.
Thank you for your submission, which is very close to the sort of stories we are looking for. It is an unusual method of telling a story, from a unique angle. However, in the end we felt it doesn't quite transcend itself. It doesn't quite make a riveting story, as is. My suggestion (if the piece happens to be "untrue") would be to maintain the professional sounding voice while making the items in your sub-clauses more and more ludicrous, as a way of satirizing the mundane. It's not right for Storyscape, but we wish you the best of luck in placing your piece.
It is really a nice note, the advice is good. Except that the piece she is referring to is true. It is a true story of growing up in the home that I sold 3 years ago. Ah well. Back to the drawing board.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Tuesday
Today I received two rejections. One for an essay sent to Conte, an online lit journal.
The other from Sarah Jane Freyman Agency declining to look at my book proposal.
I also cleaned out my old rejection letter file folder, snipping the edges off each and every one and adding them to my rejection box.
The other from Sarah Jane Freyman Agency declining to look at my book proposal.
I also cleaned out my old rejection letter file folder, snipping the edges off each and every one and adding them to my rejection box.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Rejections and Resubmit
One new essay submission went out this week to StoryScape online.
I finally found the fine print on the agent's website that I submitted to three months ago that says, "We will let you know within two weeks if we would like more information about your project." So I guess they aren't interested in representing me. On to the next.
Sent out query letters for my book proposal to 3 agents.
1 agent has already sent a thanks but no thanks note.
I finally found the fine print on the agent's website that I submitted to three months ago that says, "We will let you know within two weeks if we would like more information about your project." So I guess they aren't interested in representing me. On to the next.
Sent out query letters for my book proposal to 3 agents.
1 agent has already sent a thanks but no thanks note.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
New Submissions and Rejections
Today I submitted 2 essays to the Writer's Digest Annual Writing Contest.
Last week I received a very nice, and personalized, rejection from Seal Press.
Last week I received a very nice, and personalized, rejection from Seal Press.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Submissions
List of literary journals submitted to this month:
Crab Orchard Review Literary Awards–a nonfiction essay
Copper Nickel: Special Issue Women Writing The West–a nonfiction essay
Still waiting to hear from:
Memoir (and) for an essay submission
Seal Press for a book proposal submission
Levine Greenberg who I solicited looking for representation for a memoir.
Crab Orchard Review Literary Awards–a nonfiction essay
Copper Nickel: Special Issue Women Writing The West–a nonfiction essay
Still waiting to hear from:
Memoir (and) for an essay submission
Seal Press for a book proposal submission
Levine Greenberg who I solicited looking for representation for a memoir.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
The Rejection Box
One or more brilliant souls came up with the idea of making a special place to file the inevitable rejection letters that both lead and follow acceptance letters: a "Rejection Box."
I always liked the idea–in theory.
I liked the idea of having a very specific place to put the letters that validate my existence as a real writer. I originally envisioned an old shoe box, covered in some sort of clever, but literary, decoupage. In my mind, some days it looked like a papier mâché masterpiece, others it was covered in dragonfly stickers (to denote creativity) or inspiring pictures of women writers. After many unsuccessful and frustrating trips to the craft store, I was about to give up. Then I discovered a box of chocolates leftover from New Years Eve.
We had hosted a party this year to ring/drink/burn out 2007. Lots of booze and chocolate came in the door. One box in particular of tiny chocolate morsels was unique. It opened from the top, but the lid was attached in a way that really can only be truly understood if you could see it for yourself. I don't have a camera handy, so the picture will have to wait. Suffice to say that the top is in two pieces, each attached to opposite ends of the box and opened in the middle.
I found a handful of rejection letters and carefully cut out only the important words, leaving the empty places to be put into the recycling bid. If the form letter was rather small, I cut off the corners, removing the sharpest parts of the paper. Even though I believed in the idea of a rejection box, it reality it seemed a little silly–until I put the first letter in. I actually felt a sense of relief. Nice.
One of the reasons for this blog is to share submission triumphs and disappointments. So here is where I will also share additions to the Rejection Box.
Stay Tuned
I always liked the idea–in theory.
I liked the idea of having a very specific place to put the letters that validate my existence as a real writer. I originally envisioned an old shoe box, covered in some sort of clever, but literary, decoupage. In my mind, some days it looked like a papier mâché masterpiece, others it was covered in dragonfly stickers (to denote creativity) or inspiring pictures of women writers. After many unsuccessful and frustrating trips to the craft store, I was about to give up. Then I discovered a box of chocolates leftover from New Years Eve.
We had hosted a party this year to ring/drink/burn out 2007. Lots of booze and chocolate came in the door. One box in particular of tiny chocolate morsels was unique. It opened from the top, but the lid was attached in a way that really can only be truly understood if you could see it for yourself. I don't have a camera handy, so the picture will have to wait. Suffice to say that the top is in two pieces, each attached to opposite ends of the box and opened in the middle.
I found a handful of rejection letters and carefully cut out only the important words, leaving the empty places to be put into the recycling bid. If the form letter was rather small, I cut off the corners, removing the sharpest parts of the paper. Even though I believed in the idea of a rejection box, it reality it seemed a little silly–until I put the first letter in. I actually felt a sense of relief. Nice.
One of the reasons for this blog is to share submission triumphs and disappointments. So here is where I will also share additions to the Rejection Box.
Stay Tuned
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