The Write Queen
The Write Queen

The Write Queen Blog

Adventures in Publishing (Part 1...or not)

11/15/2010

0 Comments

 
One of the best statements in the world is "We have read your submission and __________  Journal/Magazine/Zine would like to use ____________ in our ______________ issue."

To me, there is almost nothing that could beat that (well, "You got the job.", "You've been accepted to grad school.", "Will you marry me?" and "You've won a million dollars." might). There is such a high that one feels, knowing that someone finds their writing good enough to publish. That feeling can carry me for days. Until I receive a rejection.

The hardest part about submitting my poetry to journals has been the rejection. I’m like every other person. I want praise! I want to be told that I am a part of an elite group of published writers just because I am published somewhere. I am also greedy. The more I get published, the more I want it to continue. I am tremendously grateful to be published anywhere. But I want more!

I want to be published in publications that other writers whom I deeply admire have been published in. I want to be considered as great as they are. When I get a rejection, I feel like I will never be anyone in the poetry world. The first thoughts in my head are not “How do I improve?”, they are “What did I do wrong?”.

It’s hard to ground yourself at times. I know that even though I have been writing poetry for ten years, there is so much I have to learn. I know that some of the writers I admire went through the trenches of graduate school and workshops first. I know that they have been rejected so many times before they were published. But part of me feels like I have to skips steps to catch up.

I have watched poets younger than me get the recognition I have been craving for. I know that I am young in some aspects (24 years-old), but when you have seen poets younger than you receive awards and have books out, you start to wonder about your own choices.

I am not an outgoing person. You won’t find me at any of the open mics in New York City. I am happy with my pen and my pad (or my fingers and keyboard). I rather let the whole world read my work than to let them hear me read my work. I feel like this has hindered me somewhat. No one knows who I am. Yet I have been writing longer than these younger poets and probably have written more.

I do not begrudge them of their light. I admire many of them as I do the older poets that I sort of know through Facebook. I just need to vent. And to write anything at this point.

I am going through writer’s block and have been since May. I decided to concentrate on sending my work out instead. And while the acceptances have been coming in, the rejections count has increased more than I would like it to.

When I first decided to write a little bit about my experience with publishing so far, this entry was going to go in a different direction. My thoughts were more organized. I did not spill out as many insecurities. But as I have been writing this, I realized that since I am not a part of an elite group of published writers who talk to each other and hang out together yet, that I need to let it out.

Going through this process takes hits to your ego everyday. You realize how mean you are sometimes when you read someone else’s writing and feel a little bit jealous. You won’t always feel good about yourself or about the good fortune of others. There is a dark side that puts you through the ringer.

Yet I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am learning. I am realizing my potential and my faults. I am starting to realize where I can improve and how to go about it. And I am happy for other poets and writers who have all of this wonderful stuff happening to them. I know that my time will come.

A friend of mine once told me that I am one of best poets that he knows. I am on his top three or something like that. When I start to feel down about rejections, I remember things like that. And I go and take a look at the stuff that has been published.

I will get there. I will get there. I WILL BE WHO I WANT TO BE!

Lesson One: Feel it, feel it all. There is nothing wrong with negativity as long as you can find the positive in the end.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Christina D. Rodriguez

    A Latinx poet and entrepreneur who blogs about poetry, music, writing, and life.


    Archives

    April 2019
    December 2017
    August 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    December 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    July 2010
    April 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    October 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    November 2008
    October 2008
    August 2008
    June 2008


    Categories

    All
    2011 Haiku Madness
    2011 Self Discovery Poems
    2011 Tanka Marathon
    Aros
    Awareness
    Books
    Dear Person Epistles
    Digging Deep
    Events
    Facing Self
    Fashion
    Film
    Fun Stuff
    January 2011 A River Of Stones
    Late Night Feelings
    Media
    Miscellaneous
    Music
    Nahaiwrimo 2013
    Napowrimo 2009
    Napowrimo 2010
    Napowrimo 2011
    Napowrimo 2012
    Napowrimo 2013
    NaPoWriMo 2014
    National Poetry Month
    Photography
    Poetry
    Politics
    Projects
    Prose
    Remembrance
    Site Updates
    Social Media
    Technology
    The Book Jumper
    The Write Discoveries
    The Write Journey
    The Write Poems
    The Write Rants
    The Write Recommendations
    The Write Web
    #theycalledherbravenewgirl
    Thoughts And Opinions
    Visual Art
    WQ Performances
    Writing Challenges

    RSS Feed

    Follow The Write Queen

    bloglovin

The Write Queen & Christina Rodriguez Online © All Rights Reserved 2008 - 2020.