You’ve been published in the Malahat Review?
Oh. That’s great. Congratulations.
You’ve been published in the Fiddlehead?
Oh. That’s great. Congratulations.
You’ve been published in the Queen’s Quarterly?
Oh. That’s great. Congratulations.
You’ve been published in the New Yorker?
Oh. That’s great. Congratulations.
You’ve been published in the Literary Review?
Oh. That’s great. Congratulations.
I wish I could say that.
Well, no I’ve never submitted to any of them.
Oh?
Wait.
I should because I could?
Oh.
.
.
Message of the moment. Frequently, the only difference between you and the people who’ve reached the success you aim for is effort and persistence.
and talent.
and luck.
😉
Shawn L. Bird 
Definitely needed this one… what do I do when I look around and realise I’ve been rooting for everyone but think my own work stinks? If I come here, I’ll always find something to read that helps me shake it off. Thanks…
I think you should change your name from Snapping Twig to Blossoming Twig! Positive energy! 🙂
Keep writing.
Ah, yes. Persistence! Being stubborn helps, too. 🙂
TomAYto
TomAHto
🙂
Well said, thank you!
You’re welcome, Penny. Thank you for coming by!
In India there is a saying that our dreams will be fulfilled only.
will be fulfilled only what?
Is there more?
Waiting anxiously for more, or is the idea that not finishing the phrase is like the unfinished effort to achieve dreams?
Whoa.
That’d be profound.
“I should because I could”–I need to remember this. I suspect persistence in areas of being self-supportive is one of my biggest weaknesses. Thanks for the reminder and keep up the good work.
We are frequently our own worst critics. How many people are brilliant writers/poets/painters/whatevers who never do anything with this talent for lack of belief. I think this is my biggest role as a high school teacher: to cultivate the knowledge that “I can do it, if I work at it!” Persistence and effort.
The children you teach are blessed xx
Some of them might agree with you. 😉 It’s nice when kids can make a connection. No teacher can reach every kid, but at least have fun. 🙂
I send to Ploughshares every few months. Their refusals are quite polite and, somehow, remind me of Maxwell Smart: “Missed it by THIS much.” But I’ll keep sending. I also send to The Paris Review and Poetry. What the heck.
lol! The Maxwell Smart reference has me chuckling.
If I get my revisions for the novel finished today, the goal for the rest of my Xmas break is to get the submission list ready and start sending out the two poetry collections I put together last summer. (Of course, I intended to finish and get the submission process started in August).
Well, yeah, we’re all guilty of applying intentions as paving stones. 🙂
😉
Great motivating words for the new year. Thanks!
My pleasure!
“Do, or do not. There is no try.”-Yoda
Yes!
You publish, therefore you are. How dry such a world is? When did poetry become yet another performance frenzy?
Interesting interpretation.
It’s more about finally accepting the voice and being willing/able to share it with the world.
And about who you know, unfortunately- that’s in the luck part, I supposed. Let’s all vow to doubt less and persevere. Submit! I don’t know one writer who hasn’t been rejected rejected rejected…
I don’t see it as being ‘rejected.’ I see it as ‘not accepted.’ There is a subtle difference in intent…
Reblogged this on georgialeesays.