How To Succeed in the Writing Game
Perseverance
My first attempts at writing date back to when I could first hold a pencil. The moment I discovered that words rhymed, I was off on a writing rampage, scribbling poems that made no sense to any of the adults around me. Now that I’m an adult, I’ve discovered that poems rarely make sense to anyone but the poet. But we all have interpretations.
This week, I am extremely sick. There’s a wicked flu bug going around, and just when I thought I was getting better, I began barking like a dog. I see my doctor on Monday morning to find out the cause, but my guess is that I either have pneumonia or kennel cough. Either way, I will probably be banished to crate rest for a while.
Today, I’m pulling up an article from last July in which I discuss my journey to becoming a published author. Although I’ve been writing since birth - I came out of the womb clutching a #2 pencil, and my mother never forgave me for that - I had always been too timid to submit much of my work for publication.
When I wrote this seven months ago, I already had a few publications under my belt. I have no idea why I chose to keep them there instead of in a drawer like a sane person. In a post I made on January first of this year, I posted my submissions vs. acceptances for 2023 and 2024 complete with pie charts. I’m not going to bore you with charts, but I will share my current number of publications which have all occurred in the past 18 months.
Poems 25 Essays 5 Bylines 3 Short Stories 1
34 published pieces!
There are many writers with far, far more publications, but that’s still 34 more published works than I had two years ago. All because I finally got over my insecurities and took a chance.
If you have considered submitting your work for publication, go ahead and do it! You won’t succeed at first because it doesn’t work that way. You have to keep trying. Make a game of it. Try to collect 100 rejections. Team up with a writing buddy and compete to see who can rack up a certain number of rejections first.
Do you know how many rejections I’ve had to get to those 34 acceptances?
245 Rejections
I still have over 50 submissions still out there waiting for a yes or no.
Whether you’re submitting to litmags or mainstream magazines, or sending query letters out to agents, persistence is the key. Send out as many submissions as you can. I like to track mine in a spreadsheet and make color-coded charts.
You will get published if you don’t give up. Just keep going.
Any writers out there want to tell me your tales of time spent submitting to litmags or in the query trenches? Writing is a lonely life, but you don’t have to go it alone.
The real story is you showing up to write even when you're sick as a dog. That's devotion. :)
Oh, woof! Get over that kennel cough and feel better! I haven't counted, but since I started writing serious about for years ago I've mostly been creating, taking online classes, and participating in a writing group or two. Last year I made myself submit something every month, which I didn't quote manage, and I think one piece was accepted! I've probably submitted as much this year as I did last. Rejections so far, though I made it to the second round of NYC Midnight and I'm waiting to see if I make it to the third. I should count and celebrate when I receive 100 rejections! I'm overjoyed that you are doing what you're doing.