December 28, 2009
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2009′s Failures…..
This year…I finished a screenplay and submitted it to a major contest where it failed to move on.
I wrote a manga and the creator doesn’t have time to finish it because he’s working on paying stuff.
I edited and submitted a novel to another contest and am waiting for the results of it.
I applied for a writing grant and didn’t get it.
I lost my job and didn’t find another one.
I wrote less here and lost most of my readers- all but my most faithful ones.
I was rejected by a publishing house who liked the idea (and the cover/query letter) but didn’t have room in its 2010 catalogue.
I was rejected by three more agents. I’ve been rejected by the best in the business and the middle of the business now.
I have screenplay #2 mostly sketched out in my head.
I have notes and research for the new novel stacking up around me.
It was one of those years…. one of those faith/ belief/suck it up and keep trying kind of years.
Next year? I donno…. I just donno anymore….
Keep trying? Trying doesn’t pay the mortage. Trying doesn’t give you money for extras or travel.
Keep believing?
Keep honing the craft?
Next year I think I’ll have to take it one day at a time, just like this year…
praying that the right person reads my stuff….
So it’s more of the same in 2010…
keep writing, keep marketing, keep job hunting, keep praying, keep growing, keep believing, keep chasing doubt gremlins away…
You?
Comments (24)
heh. i’m in the throws of writing my own post about it… but i wish you the best in the coming year. and make the point that fail is relative. to me, a lot of these are signs of success. redefined.
@MooncatBlue - you’re right- many of those negatives are accomplishments- they just didn’t accomplish what I needed them to accomplish!
Me? I need to shake off the writing doldrums and finish a stalled manuscript.
Keep writing. And keep putting yourself out there. Because it will happen. Good luck.
@doahsdeer - change your music!!! that’s the best cure of writing doldrums for me!!! something new in the air, a chunk of time, and no one to bother me… think i need to take my own advice!
maybe tomorrow… today is suffer from cold medicine day! thanks for believing! it means a lot!
It will all work out in the end. It always does. Just put faith into your work, and believe that it will happen, because if it’s supposed to, it will.
@countrygirljenn - we say that, but there thousands of great writers out there that never make it, thousands of brilliant works that are never read… the pure determinatin and grit that it takes is overwhelming. you think you’re almost there… and then… you’re not… and so you try again. you write one more novel, one more cover letter, one more… one more… one more… faith and belief are hard words to live when you face rejection letter after rejection letter….
of course keep trying! i think my music is really similar to taylor swift’s (lame & simple with corny lyrics). but if she can make it, i can make it.
@liquid_s - i hear you loud and clear…
…your failures are more than a lot of people have accomplished this year ; )
@capecodshoe - true…. but….
I guess it’s like playing the lottery…you can’t win if you don’t play…
Keep playing! I wish you luck and success in the coming year!
May 2010 be a better year.
Everyone has doubts but in your case I think you are far better off than maybe what it feels like. You are still one of the most talented people I know and it would be a shame if you ever gave up. Besides, I enjoyed reading your screenplays for free!
@SammyStorm2 - thanks…
@suzyQ_darnit - it’s all i know to do- thanks!
@TroyEllison - amen to that. it would be hard to be worse than ’09 here!
You inspired me to blog a year in books. I have other stuff to tell ya, but not here. See you next Wednesday!?
@BoureeMusique - this wednesday or a week from wednesday? bc with this cold, i doubt that i’ll be going out this wednesday!
A week from Wednesday. I hope you feel better before 2010!
@BoureeMusique - yay! me too!!!!
@jerjonji -
True, hope that you have a fun and safe New Years and that yopu start feeling better.
merry christmas & a happy new year jeri! i hope and pray for a successful 2010 for you.. keep believing! there’s always a silver lining somewhere in the sky! i am reminded of last night, when i attended a singles for christ christmas party, one of the brothers shared his story about the promotion he had always prayed for, it had been finally granted to him after several years of waiting.
i can’t recall my failures this year, or maybe i just don’t want to remember ‘em at all. lol!
oh!i’m with you, i’ve been suffering from colds and cough this holiday season. and most of my friends as well.. seems like it’s the “in” thing this season. lol
Self-publishing? So long as the book is available on Ingram – the major book distributor in the US – and Amazon, you might do well. Amazon’s own Booksurge won’t allow the book to be sold on Ingram because Amazon are greedy bastards who want to kill bookshops and have everyone buy just from them. I have one local author and I sell about 8 books of hers a month, another book of local interest (the author is not local, I found the book on Ingram) I sell about 25 of a year. So that might be the way to go. Good luck in whatever you do for the new year.
I think that trying and failing is better than not trying at all. I finally finished writing and illustating my childrens book and published it with a do it yourself book publisher. LOL! Someone said I should send it to a real publisher…but I can’t take rejection. Good luck with your writing!!