1) all the laundry in the house
2) a bit of reading and writing
3) make new (recycled) folders for submissions, rejections, acceptances in 2012
4) some tallying of s/r/a in 2011
Along with Brett Elizabeth Jenkins, aka The Angry Grammarian, I'll aim for 100 rejections this next year. Actually, her accounting starts on September 1, so I've tallied from there and will re-tally from January 1, 2012, as well, if I can handle it given my math challenge! I think I can, I think I can...
As of September 1, 2011, I've sent out 45 packets of something (11.25 per month, yes?), with 7 acceptances and 15 rejections. So about half of those are still out there.
Looking back to January 1, 2011, I sent out 111 packets of something (pre-100 rejection goal; only averaging 9.25 per month), with 45 rejections, 34 acceptances, and 32 still pending (including the 23 pending in the other tally).
Keep on chugging (up the hill) and breezing (down the hill) is advice from someone (over the hill). Someone who's cheering herself up on a Blue Monday, that Christmas-is-over kind of blue. But mostly I let myself feel that yesterday and distracted myself with numbers today.
Almost immediately upon posting this, I got my first rejection of 2012! The "nice no" kind that leaves one cheerfully daunted and inspired. OK, I'm off to add a tally mark....
ReplyDeleteAll the poets I know who are participating in what seems to have been formalized as a "100 Rejections" project write about it with such openness and humor - such as change from others who blast the Web with scathing criticism every time a rejection comes in. Rejection is not a rejection of the person but of the poem. Thinking about it that way makes it so much more acceptable. And, in the end, a rejection really doesn't mean anything. Anyone for whom poetry-writing is a passion continues writing.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I send out enough to qualify doing this as a project but I did get two or three acceptances in the last quarter of 2011 and three-to-five rejections. So, I'm good with that.
I like this idea of being cheerful about our rejections after that first not-smiley face icon.
ReplyDeleteIt really helped me as a poet to work also as an editor and see that rejection is often hard to do from that side and so often is not about the quality of a particular piece but about needs at the time, personal preferences, consensus of a committee, etc. And ALSO that a good poem might need to stay a while longer with the poet, giving her time to see a revision possibility!
I'm impressed by your stats....very inspiring!
ReplyDeleteI had a recent bout of rejections that are helping to fuel my new manuscript work (just getting me pumped up to strengthen another collection).
Hannah, I am glad to hear that rejections fuel you!! And pump you up. What doesn't take the steam out of us makes us stronger...as they (don't) say.
ReplyDeleteTally Ho!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the picture of one of my favorite childhood books. So optimistic: I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...and then the weheeee! of cresting the hill. :)
Thanks, Sandy!
ReplyDeleteThe Little Engine That Could was a big fixture in our bedtime reading as well. Wonder how it achieved that kind of iconic stature. I don't see it purchased all that much now.
ReplyDeleteYou did a whole lot more on New Year's Day than I did. On the whole, I did nothing...
Seana, I wonder what that says about American attitude. Some of us grew up on that try-hard-and-believe-in-yourself sentiment...and some didn't, or don't?
ReplyDeleteI have that book. And I think the acceptance/rejection ratio of you and many of your poet followers is awesome! I have 1 acceptance and 5 rejections of short stories in my entire life..then children appeared! One of these days I will have time to think I can again.
ReplyDeleteKim J Kimmel, that is a fantastic rate, esp. since 1) as I recall, you got $$ for your story and you were a contest winner and 2) kids trump all!
ReplyDeleteIn terms of taking up your time and energy.
ReplyDeleteAnd lurv.
ReplyDelete