Hell, required reading for ALL of us.
Here's his recent post on 25 things every writer should know about rejection.
The first one give you a sense of the whole list:
1. As Ineluctable As The Tides
If you’re a writer, a writer who writes, a writer who puts her work out there, you’re going to face rejection. It’s like saying, “Eventually you’re going to have to fistfight a bear,” except here it’s not one bear but a countless parade of bears, from Kodiaks to Koalas, all ready to go toe-to-toe with you. Rejection, like shit, happens. Rejection, like shit, washes off. Get used to it.Read the rest of his list here.
Now, back to reading queries!
10 comments:
I knew Stephen Colbert was right about bears on his Threatdowns.
Love Chuck W. He always understands a writer's struggles, and presents the right balance of bullying and profanity to make us laugh ourselves out of the self-indulgent wallow of pity we tend to sink into.
This was fantastic, Janet-- thanks for re-posting!
-Beth M
Thanks for posting this, Janet! All twenty-five on his list are worthy of space on every writer's wall, right next to the nail with the rejection letters.
13. Sometimes, It’s Totally Your Fault, Dummy
Objective rejections will take you to task for two primary things: one, you didn’t follow the submission guidelines. (Can I just say: always follow the goddamn submission guidelines? Even if the submission guidelines are like, “Each corner of the manuscript must be dabbed with the urine of an incontinent civet cat and the writer must write his name backwards for the magic to take hold,” you do that shit because you’re not a pretty pretty unicorn, you’re a horse like the rest of us, goddamnit.) Or two, your technical writing ability is for shit, at least in that story. If you can’t put a period on the right place or learn the difference between “lose” and “loose,” then you’re going to earn that objective rejection.
I don't know wwhy I find the word dummy, I'm weird like that but this is so true I have learned once I follow at least the submission guidelines then I shouldn't beat myself up too much(maybe) and move on, great post as always, Janet you have been on the ball this week with amazing links and advice which you devulge so often, I learn so much and I appreciate what you do for writers from the multi-published, bestsellers to aspiring writers.
I think I may be just a little bit in love with that dude.
I wonder if we could introduce him to the Rejectionist? That would be like the literary hook-up of the freakin' year.
I quite adore people who can write about rejection with such eloquence and wit. And you know what? I bet that guy's gotten lots of rejections, too. It's normal, and that's a useful list for those who still need to learn to deal with it.
That was good: informative, funny, and full of more obscure references than a Dennis Miller Christmas party.
A good many of these could work for reviews, too...especially #25.
Chuck W. is my new hero. Thanks for posting this.
I have such a nerdgirl crush on The Chuck . . .
I reviewed on of his books and likened it to having my brain body-slammed into my skull.
Terri
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