If you have ever submitted your work to a competition and hoped against hope that it might place -- only to find out that it failed to do so, you will understand this. If this has not happened to you, then give this one a miss.
MY NAME’S NOT THERE
Bubble-buoyant, thistle-light
Her spirits fairly pull her out of bed
Adrenalin goes racing through
the would-be-writer’s veins
The morning air is scented
with best French-roast and hope
Will it be there? Her fingers fairly fly –
plastic and metal feel their swift tattoo –
Will it be there?
But no! It’s not! Instead
the goofy, gob-smacked strangers’ smiles
Such frantic joy! Not in their wildest dreams!
Gratified victory! Creative spark rewarded!
From now on they’ll write more! And more!
--They smite her with their confident good cheer.
Her efforts disregarded,
it’s back to ho-hum chores and tiresome grind, and oh --
that tired old nagging question:
But are you making any money at it?
|
Dag Nabbit!
Written by Tenchi (14 comments posted) 17th November 2006 |
Why oh why do we enjoy writing?? Oh yeah cause it's great 
This poem is exactly why I've never sent anything to be published anywhere. Only it's worse for me cause I'm an egocentric wuss who craves adoration and despises rejection, but uses writing as some sort of path to self realisation ... ... Oh hold on that's not true I just want to be able to earn enough to quit work!
Well done on at least having the stones to face the disappointment. Well done for being brave enough to get your work out there. I keep telling myself that "When I've got a large enough portfolio together .... blah blah blah"
I hope that one of the next pices I read is you celebrating seeing your work in print and making money from it  Keep up the sterling work and thank you as always. |
Written by Phil (6828 comments posted) 17th November 2006 |
Money? If we were doing for the money would we invest so much time here?
Not saying I wouldn't like to make money, but it's not the be all and end all. (and no, I'm not sure I can afford to say that)
I sent stuff off to an agency once. I knew I would be extraordinarily lucky to receive a positive reply but was still bitterly disappointed when I got the rejection letter.
Such is life.
Enjoyed,
Phil. |
Hi Witzl
Written by jean.day (2323 comments posted) 18th November 2006 |
| We all live in hope, don't we - despite numerous rejections. But then we hear about somebody like you who is such a good writer, who has also been rejected, and then somehow it doesn't seem so bad. |
I can't afford the entry fees...
Written by Talisker (1328 comments posted) 18th November 2006 |
Maybe I'll be famous when I'm dead, and Weasel will reap some benefits. More likely not!
Keep the chin up Witzl, plenty of rainy days to enjoy pennies from heaven.
Oli |
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 18th November 2006 |
Thank you, everyone, for reading this and commenting. I know it sounds self-serving, Tenchi, but all those rejections (I could not count all the ones I've gotten) give you a calloused, battered old ego that can take plenty more. Which I will no doubt get: just today, for example, I received two rejections. They say that you ought to be able to collect enough to paper a room. I live in a Victorian house, so I reckon I've got quite some way to go.
Now here is a coincidence: no sooner did I enter 'My Name's Not There' than I got an e-mail telling me that a poem of mine was accepted in an e-zine (Flashquake) and that I would be getting TEN DOLLARS for it!
Is it pitiful that I am so excited about this? Absolutely. Do I still have a collection of rejection letters that need an entire file cabinet to store them in? Ditto. Must I still go out and do audio typing in order to keep my kids in hot water and toilet paper? Yes. But that ten dollars will still be the most satisfying ten dollars I have ever earned.
|
Written by Sophie1 (12 comments posted) 19th November 2006 |
You have my admiration. My literary efforts are still lurking in notebooks around the house, yesterday is the first time I've sent one of the little darlings into the big wide world!
Congradulations on your other work being accepted, hold the ten dollars in your hand and remember how good it feels.
Keep going. |
Written by ellipinnock (1753 comments posted) 19th November 2006 |
Now that is exciting! Congratulations on both being published and paid for doing so! (I just wish I was brave enough to send anything to anyone). May it be the first of many such letters
Elli |
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