When a story survives 14 rejections over 2 years to finally find a good home, I can't help but feel awash with relief.
According to fellow writer Steve Ramey, perspiration + persistence = persperistence, and that's the formula necessary to succeed as writers. We can't give up on our stories, and we can't lose faith in ourselves, no matter how long it takes for our work to be published.
I wrote the first draft of "In His Eyes" in 1999 and trunked it. I had other things to keep me busy in my 20's: college, teaching, surfing, running my church's summer camp. I always figured I'd get back into writing someday, just not anytime soon.
Then I met my wife. After reading a few of my other trunk stories, she encouraged me to submit them for publication. It took me a while to warm up to the idea, but as most of you In Medias Resgulars know, the summer of 2009 was my starting line. "In His Eyes" was one of the first I sent out into the great unknown.
Among its 14 rejections, I had reason to hope. From Chizine: "I like the dark science fiction and farm setting here, but the story didn't resonate for me as strongly as I would have liked." From Andromeda Spaceways, who shortlisted it: "Well-written, but may be a bit on the gruesome side. Nice horror story. Not bad, but not great." And from Ideomancer: "I enjoyed the juxtaposition of futuristic technology with the more rustic life of Aurora and her father's farm. The story didn't quite come together for me, in the end."
Then last month, I received the following from from Graeme Hurry: "I thought it was well-written and evocative and would like to accept it for Kzine."
Persperistence pays, folks.
21 comments:
It's all about faith - in our writing, in ourselves, in God/Spirit/Universe, in knowing we're doing what we're meant to be doing. Well done, Milo. :)
Congratulations! It's only over when you give up!
Milo, that is awesome - congratulations! Not surprised it took a little belief and encouragement from your wife, either. Mine prodded me as well.
Congratulations!
I'm getting myself a bucket of that persperistence and applying it librally to all my work.
Madeline: You're right -- and to quote Miracle on 34th Street, "Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to."
Derek: Mos def!
Alex: And boy, do we owe them for reading our early drafts.
Patsy: Bucket o' Persperistence? Now that sounds like a marketable product.
Another success. I'm now officially, seriously jealous.
Congrats. I cringe at what I wrote in college...some of my writings are best left in the trunk, lol.
Snap! I sold a story on it's 15th time out this year. I really liked it, and I knew it was going to find a good other.
Other stories, meh, not so much. But I am a lousy judge of my own work. Keeping my race score at 50 certainly helps with the perspersitence.
Yes, I said 50!
Another great story of your hard work and dedication to your craft. What great inspiration!
Rejection is a part of this business. And it's hard to keep that in perspective when you get a lot of it.
Glad your story finally found a home on Kzine (which is a great emag)
Martin: Don't be -- my next failure is right around the corner!
Lyn: I can relate; this story in particular had to be overhauled two or three times before it was good to go.
Deborah: 50 stories currently on submission? I'm right behind you!
Jay: Rejection stinks, and it never really loses its bite (four today wasn't much fun), but we can't let it beat us.
14 rejections? And now it's getting published? Wahoo!
Perspersistence, indeed. That's a great word.
You've definitely come a long way. Congrats!
Amen and power to your persistence streak...may it always be stubborn;)
I too submit all the time so I feel your anguish and joy:)
Woot!
Jennifer: I agree; Steve's the man.
Defcon: And yet there's so much farther to go! Good thing I'm enjoying the journey -- highs more than lows.
Mark: Stubborn -- aye, that's the stuff.
Cate: Si!
Fantastic! See, you should have just sent it over here to a UK market in the first place. Kidding. Well done for sticking at it.
Read it, liked it, linked it.
Simon: You're right, of course.
Loren: Thanks, man!
AMAZING! Congratulations Milo! There is hope for trunked stories. I have a few of my own...
"We can't give up on our stories, and we can't lose faith in ourselves." That's the heart of it, man! I have a few stories of my own that need some heavy persperistence haha. congrats!
Madeleine: Some may require a bigger overhaul than others, but yes, definitely.
Devin: Thank you sir; keep those stories out there!
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