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Despondent Correspondent; my last article was silently canned
Topic Started: Aug 9 2007, 04:26 AM (336 Views)
RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
What else can I say?

I sent my last article in on time, and ...... silence. Not published.

:(
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
Don't let it get you down. There's lots of reasons they might have held the article.
Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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CTPianotech
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Fulla-Carp
Posted Image



(now send them a note from R3 :devilgrin: )
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Toughen up, baby - you've chosen a rough world. They may do this to all the first timers, just to set 'em straight. I very much doubt it is a comment on your writing.

Actually, the sister of a very close friend of mine lives in Zewickly(sp?) and is a freelance writer for Cosmo and other magazines. Has been for years. If you like I will email her and ask if it would be ok to send you her email for a little mentoring, etc.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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apple
one of the angels
perhaps it's on hold.. lots of time articles are held till they need some filler.
it behooves me to behold
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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
Yeah, thanks. I posted here, hoping to get the honest slap in the face that I needed to get myself moving again.

Quote:
 
Actually, the sister of a very close friend of mine lives in Zewickly(sp?) and is a freelance writer for Cosmo and other magazines. Has been for years. If you like I will email her and ask if it would be ok to send you her email for a little mentoring, etc.


Is Zewickly in Pittsburgh? We have a Sewickly.....

If you think that your friend's sister would be open to this, it might be helpful. I have no writer friends, other than my husband who does legal writing. I don't want to impose, though, so if it's inconvenient to anyone in any way, I understand.

It's the silence that kills me. And the secret fear that I'm no good.

Sigh.
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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kenny
HOLY CARP!!!
:(
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dolmansaxlil
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HOLY CARP!!!
R2 - you know this happens with writing. It's not that you're no good - it just happens. And since you're the new low man on the ladder, the stuff you're given to write is probably the stuff that is first to be cut if need be. Don't take it personally.
"Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst." ~ Henri Cartier-Bresson

My Flickr Photostream


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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
You're right, Dol, and so is Apple. The topic was fluffier, so they may be saving it, or just decided to leave it out. I'm sure it doesn't signal the end.

Still.

Breaking into the paying market (a good paying market) is so tough. I'd like to at least tread water for a bit.

Odd how things work. One of my yoga students, a woman in her fifties, just called me for advice about her personal life. When she hung up, she told me how wise I was for my age.

Very good timing, this compliment was, since I'm down.
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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Larry
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Mmmmmmm, pie!
Quote:
 
And the secret fear that I'm no good.


Stop right there!

Never - NEVER doubt yourself. There is only one person in this world who can hold you back, and that is you. It's ok to question whether you can improve, in fact, that's necessary. But don't ever allow yourself to doubt that you can.

YOU can do anything you want to do. YOU have no limits. YOU are a good writer, or they wouldn't have hired you. You ARE good.

So you wrote something and didn't hear anything back, and it wasn't published. Write something else. Show them what you're made of. Focus, and show them what you can do. YOU are the best writer they have access to. Never doubt it. Never give in to the negative.

Think success. Plan for success. See yourself as successful. Now - BE successful!! Having your article not be published is not a negative, it means you are a writer!! If you weren't a writer, you wouldn't have the opportunity to wonder why your article wasn't published - you'd already know the answer. But you ARE a writer, and you have an opportunity to learn how to improve your writing skills!

That's how to think, Rosemary. "No good?????"

BAH!
Of the Pokatwat Tribe

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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
What he said. I am always amazed at how women seem to be taught to get their validation externally rather than internally. Janet and I discuss this frequently. Despite being the number one salesperson lasat year, she always doubts she is she good enough, and I think this is more the norm than the exception in women.

I know what I have more innate talent for and what I do not. I know how to develop the talents I have and the ones I do not. It would never occur to me to feel any less self-worth because someone did not accept my abilities. I auditioned for a role in a local theatre company's production of Noises Off (great show) and was very surprised I was not cast. But think of that as a comment on my skills? No way. I was at the readings and there was only one guy there that was on par with me.

Sewickley it is, yes. In Pittsburgh. I'll email her.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
Thanks, Life Coach Larry.

You're right.



I interviewed the nicest old lady for this article, and I know she'll be looking for it in the paper.

:banghead:

Temporary setback.
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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Frank_W
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Resident Misanthrope
I have the same fear, Rosemary. It just comes with the territory, but you know you're a good writer, so don't pin your confidence on anything outside of yourself.

I'll make you a deal:
You keep right on writing, and so will I. :thumb: :hug:
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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Jodi_G
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Junior Carp
I'm sorry R2. :( We are our own worst enemy. What Larry said is right. Keep your chin up. ((hugs))
[size=1]~ Jodi[/size]

Some days you're the dog, some days you're the hydrant. - Unknown Author
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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
Quote:
 
I'll make you a deal:
You keep right on writing, and so will I. 


Like to hear about what you write about, Frank.
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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Frank_W
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Resident Misanthrope
Mostly poetry, a little erotica, some short stories, kicking around some ideas for a longer work of fiction.... I haven't had anything published, other than in some local newsletters, and small-press publications of spiritual stuff. :)
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
Quote:
 
I haven't had anything published,


I don't think getting published is necessarily the goal. Where I am right now, I need direction. I like the job part of it; write this, by then, we'll publish it, you're done. It keeps me going, and gives direction.

The best writing, surely, is done for the self. Don't you think?

The writing I'm most proud of I've done for free.
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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Red Rice
HOLY CARP!!!
Perserverance, R2.

I think it was Stephen King who, when asked how he became one of the most successful authors in history, replied that he was also the most rejected author in history, but he never let that stop him.

Besides which, I have a feeling that article will see print eventually. Like maybe in an anthology of your works. ^_^
Civilisation, I vaguely realized then - and subsequent observation has confirmed the view - could not progress that way. It must have a greater guiding principle to survive. To treat it as a carcase off which each man tears as much as he can for himself, is to stand convicted a brute, fit for nothing better than a jungle existence, which is a death-struggle, leading nowhither. I did not believe that was the human destiny, for Man individually was sane and reasonable, only collectively a fool.

I hope the gunner of that Hun two-seater shot him clean, bullet to heart, and that his plane, on fire, fell like a meteor through the sky he loved. Since he had to end, I hope he ended so. But, oh, the waste! The loss!

- Cecil Lewis
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Frank_W
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RosemaryTwo
Aug 9 2007, 11:47 AM
Quote:
 
I haven't had anything published,


I don't think getting published is necessarily the goal. Where I am right now, I need direction. I like the job part of it; write this, by then, we'll publish it, you're done. It keeps me going, and gives direction.

The best writing, surely, is done for the self. Don't you think?

The writing I'm most proud of I've done for free.

Yep. It all depends on what your goal is, and the purpose behind your writing. I mostly write for myself, and share it with a few friends here and there... It's just one more way of expressing myself, just like going home at the end of the day and playing the pianos or the guitars, or sitting down and sketching. It's just... FUN! :)

A couple of books you might enjoy, on the art and craft of writing, are by Natalie Goldberg, called, "Writing Down The Bones," and "Wild Mind." Both of them are wonderfully written and VERY helpful for dissolving the hurdles that writers encounter. :thumb:
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
Posted Image

Sigh.

I re-wrote the article. I may try again.

I need to get away from the computer for a while, I have another deadline coming up that I've ignored in favor of this article....
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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Frank_W
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Yep! Sometimes, the time AWAY from writing, is the most productive of all. Get out, get some fresh air, go have lunch, go swimming... Whatever... And then come back later with fresh eyes, and read your article from an editor's view. "Creative mind" is much different than "Editor mind." A big mistake that many would-be authors make, is that they spend so much time picking on and poring over every little word as they type it, that they get nothing accomplished, get frustrated, and sh'tcan the whole idea. If you can separate the two, then when you come back later, you have something to work with, hone, and polish. :thumb:
Anatomy Prof: "The human body has about 20 sq. meters of skin."
Me: "Man, that's a lot of lampshades!"
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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
Truer words couldn't be said, Frank.

Sometimes I spend too much time getting inspired, others, too much time chasing commas.

I'm going out to drinks and dinner with a 37-year old friend and father of two who has Stage IV esophageal cancer. Should provide some perspective.

:(
"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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big al
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Bull-Carp
RosemaryTwo
Aug 9 2007, 09:44 AM
I'm going out to drinks and dinner with a 37-year old friend and father of two who has Stage IV esophageal cancer. Should provide some perspective.

:(

Then it's good that you've been able to vent your frustration over the unpublished article here. Your friend needs all the cheer and good spirits you have available tonight. There'll be many more publications in your future, but he has a much less hopeful prognosis.

Big Al
Location: Western PA

"jesu, der simcha fun der man's farlangen."
-bachophile
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Dewey
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HOLY CARP!!!
Talk to the editor & ask why it wasn't published - and if it was because of content versus unavailable column inches, ask for editorial pointers & for a possible resubmit.

Other than that, listen to Life Coach Larry.

:hug:
"By nature, i prefer brevity." - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, p. 685.

"Never waste your time trying to explain yourself to people who are committed to misunderstanding you." - Anonymous

"Oh sure, every once in a while a turd floated by, but other than that it was just fine." - Joe A., 2011

I'll answer your other comments later, but my primary priority for the rest of the evening is to get drunk." - Klaus, 12/31/14
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RosemaryTwo
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HOLY CARP!!!
Al, you're right. We had a great night last night, about 8 of us went out downtown and had a drink and some dinner while we watched the weather tear apart the city. I, of course, didn't share my frustrations. I appreciate the opportunity to work through them here. ^_^

Did you get hit hard by the weather?

Dewey, your idea makes the most sense, but this editor is so busy, she only responds to e-mails about absolute necessities. If I ever sit down with her, I will take the opportunity to ask. I'm on a tight need-to-know status right now.

"Perhaps the thing to do is just to let stupid run its course." Aqua
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