Since August, and mainly last fall, I sent out my largest blitz of writing ever. The results? Dismal.
Literary Journals:
66 sent to
51 rejected
15 still out
1 accepted
Contests (individual poems or essay):
15 sent to
9 rejected
8 still out
Full Length Poetry Book Contests / Open Reading Periods:
11 sent to
3 rejected
8 still out
Chapbook Contests:
6 sent to
2 rejected
4 still out
7 comments:
Hi Benjamin, it must be hard to deal with that kind of rejection and not lose the enthusiasm that drives the creative process. But the shining light of one acceptance gives hope of more to come, doesn't it?
Sigh. At least you're playing the game. I couldn't stomach it--why wasn't the world pounding down my door to acknowledge me as the greatest poet of my generation?!!--and refused to play, and as a result, will probably die unpublished, though my work merits a better fate. Don't let it happen to yours! Keep on keeping on. Then you'll have the credentials when you do get the book deal, and beyond...
Frances--I need more shining light, it's silly. But, my skin is somewhat thick, not inculding that first hour after I get a rejection note, though.
OFB--Credentials schmadentials. I just want readers, and readers who are moved into their lives and worlds more deeply and rightly, at least a little, by my words. I want friends I never met or will ever meet. I will keep on because writing is my oxygen, bone deep, eternally deep. (now you go write a poems yourself.)
Benjamin, don't give up. Please. I always wanted to be a writer but the thought of rejection has led me down a more, unsatisfying path (uh, desk job). I wish I had your spirit.
Oh Rosemarie, desk jobs are awful. I used to do temp work in the summers, mostly data entry and filing, and I'd usually be done by lunch time and my bosses would have no more work for me to do. How did I earn my paycheck then? I made spider webs out of paperclips in the corner of my cubicle.
Keep at it ... don't give up. You can always publish your poems here - we'll read them & comment on them. Others will come too... the important thing is to keep writing and keep sending and try not to mind the rejections too, too much. Easier said than done, I know.
Kate--Oh, no worries. I might get really frustrated, but it's the work that ultimately matters. I just find these numbers sort of funny, in a dark humor kind of way, you know? Gotta laugh at it.
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