My story would've fit quite nicely in the "Chicken Soup for the Soul: Messages from Heaven," but not in "Miracles Happen." That deadline and publication date swooshed by ages ago, so I have no idea why or how I got the two mixed up.
~~~
Along with that discovery came another light-bulb-moment. In this case, the wrong book isn't just about anthologies. What I really want to do is to continue on with the sequel to my memoir!
~~~
So in a winding, cosmic kind of way, I've gotten back onto the right path. I should know better. In fact, I do, but I have a tendency to believe I should also be submitting stories to contests, anthologies, and magazines. That is just putting way too much pressure on myself. Sometimes it takes the proverbial whack on the head to wake me up. And I can honestly say, "I have been awakened!" The sequel is my only priority. Thank you again to all the kind souls who took the time to offer advise and suggestions about my writer's block.
~~~
* A side note: I received an e-mail from my contact at the literary agency. She said I... "will hear back in the next several weeks, depending on the schedule of those in the office." I'm grateful for that because although I don't know how many is considered "several," I do know I can relax, put it out of my mind for a month or more, and continue on.
~~~
My quote for this evening is one I saw at my chiropractor's office last week. I liked it so much, I jotted it down because I knew I'd never remember it by the time I got home!
"I think of life as a good book. The further you get into it, the more it begins to make sense." -- Harold Kushner
Oh Becky, I just cannot get back to my writing. With being ill for five weeks since returning to Tanzania, I still haven't written the article about our motorcycle travels across South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana. My reminder to write for Chicken Soup for the Soul is moved on another week, and another every time it pings to remind me! I missed the deadline for publishing photos of sunbirds in Africa Geographic in July. Do I sound maudlin? I feel it. Grr. I need to get motivated. Greetings Jo
ReplyDeleteJo, I'm so sorry you've been sick...and for such a lengthy period of time. No wonder you don't feel like writing. Please don't be hard on yourself. If you're anything like me, the more you fret about not writing, the more anxious you become. It's a vicious circle. Please just take care of yourself! Your desire to write will return.
DeleteI feel terrible I didn't know. I'll head over to your blog asap and see if you've posted anything about it.
I am very, very jealous of Harold Kushner. My life is making less sense as time goes by, not more.
ReplyDeleteAnd yay that you have your priorities right again.
Work hard - and prosper.
Dearest EC, You know...thanks to Kushner's quote and your response to it, I've become philosophical this morning! There have been times in my life when I couldn't figure out why something was happening, but then I realized it was impossible to make any sense of it and I just had to "live through it." Thanks for always sharing your thoughts!
DeleteGood you have a center post to return to...some of us are still hunting the anchor. Have a good Saturday....more rain here.
ReplyDeleteHi Bookie! Thank you, but as you know, those writer's blocks come and go....just like road blocks!
DeleteI'm sorry you're continuing to have rain. Luckily, we haven't had much. You have a good Saturday, too!!
It is so easy to get sidetracked to something else. I know I do that all the time. Glad to hear you found your focus again. Have a nice weekend!
ReplyDeleteHi Daisy! Gosh, I just realized I haven't replied back to quite a few comments here! My apologies! Thanks for always stopping and being such a good friend! And yes --- staying focused is definitely a problem for me!
DeleteI always think of writer's block as a safety net. It's frustrating not to be moving forward, but that's better than plowing ahead in the wrong direction. Glad it seemed to work out! Also, I love the quote!
ReplyDeleteHi Audry! My apologies to you, also....(see above at Daisy's!) I love your thought about the safety net! I better write these great suggestions down somewhere or I'll forget them!
DeleteConsider yourself not road blocked but rerouted :)
ReplyDeleteHi Linda ~~ My apologies again! (see above at Daisy's!) Another great way to look at it...rerouted! Yay!
DeleteYay for finding your writing path again. My writing's been thrown for a loop lately and I felt the passing wind of a couple deadlines come and go. But I'll find the "mo" again soon!
ReplyDeleteYes, Julie I have every confidence that you'll find your "mo" again...and soon! Thanks for stopping and commenting!
DeleteGood to know you found your way back to the path you were supposed to be taking. (Too bad we don't have a life GPS, eh?) LOVE that quote. It's the truth, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteHi Susan! Thanks and another great line to jot down and remember: Too bad we don't have a life GPs, eh?
Delete:)
I'm so happy to hear that your writer's block problem has disappeared!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary! At least this time...and for now! :)
DeleteGood for you, Becky! Sometimes I think the pressure comes from seeing many writer pals posting about being accepted for this or for that. It makes me feel like I'm a failure if I don't have some new successes under my belt. It keeps me from working on the 3 manuscripts I've done during NaNoWriMo, and I'd really love to finish at least ONE of them. Ugh!
ReplyDeletePat
Critter Alley
Hi Pat! I am SO GLAD you stopped and left this amazing comment! I so agree with you, and I even remember posting something similar on my blog some time ago....months? year?
DeleteAt that time, I was stressing over never getting anything written for different anthologies or contests, and beating myself up about it...and also not writing on my memoir, either...which is what I wanted and needed to do the most! Gosh, I sure can be a dunce sometimes!! You've just reminded me to NOT submit any other stories and continue on with what's important: the sequel to my memoir! Big hugs to you!
Good luck with the agency!
ReplyDelete=)