Open Door

Open Door

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

New Perspective

The pity party is over and I am ready to move forward once again.  All it took was a little perspective.  Did you know that Stephenie Meyer was turned down 11 times?  J.K. Rowling over 15?  Ellen Hopkins gave up on finding an agent and went directly to the book companies, not even knowing how many times they had declined Crank.  I have decided to wear my rejections as a badge of honor that I have earned on the field of battle.  The other conclusion I have drawn, is that I need to stop focusing on the trees and visualize the forest instead.  In marketing, you plan for 50 no's before you receive a yes.  Why would publishing be any different?  I have to be resolved in pitching my manuscript 50 times (10x more than I already have)  If you look at it that way, my 3 no's and 2 I won't even bother telling you's aren't really that big of a deal.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Goodbye, Uncle Doug

    My Uncle Doug passed away this morning and I find myself reflecting on my childhood once again.  I have lost so many loved ones over the past several years, people who have influenced my life in profound ways with simple acts of kindness.  Uncle Doug and Aunt Julie's house was my most favorite place in the whole world when I was growing up.  I would walk in the door and Uncle Doug would beam at me through his thick glasses and shout "Angie baby!" like he was so excited to see me, which he always seemed to be.  Looking back now, I realize that he was the only male figure in my life who actually listened to what I had to say.  I was kind of a chatterbox and a complete overly-sensitive mess who would cry at the drop of a hat, but he was gentle and infinitely patient with me.  There house was a constant -- my sactuary that was a soft place for me to land.  I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge just how important this loving couple were to me.  He is with Aunt Julie now, but their seeds of compassion will continue to sprout up, echoing through eternity.