Later Dan shared TV Tropes's page The Power of Rock, but I'm proud to say using our crack critical thinking skills, we came up with a couple they don't have.
I consider this a satisfying collaboration. I think we should do more. Any other topics of interest for unleashing The Collective Brain?
So tonight is my second first writing class; the subject is science fiction and fantasy. My inclination is usually to start in this genre, but then somehow it wanders off into a cross between weird fiction and horror. (Think Haruki Murakami crossed with Shirley Jackson crossed with Lovecraft.) Then I get discouraged when I try to find a place to submit the work. (Ignore the fact I'm not quite good enough yet; it'll come.)
I'm not trying to be a downer here, but this would be a good time to address the rejection side of my writing. In the next few days I expect another one. And just because I expect it, it doesn't mean it won't throw me into a mini-funk. I know the important thing to remember is you can't stop writing and submitting just because one situation isn't a good fit. You've got to be a professional and divorce yourself from feelings.
I'm a robot. Beep, beep.
One day I was feeling particularly weak and whining (a teeny bit) to Jer.
He said, "Wow, so you've submitted a lot in the last couple of months, right?"
"Yeah," I said. "Tons. I just keeping getting rejected."
"So, like 50?"
"50?" I fiddled with the zipper on my jacket. "Oh, no. Not 50."
"25 then? At least 25?"
"Not exactly..."
"How much would you say you've submitted?"
"Um. Four. But at least 3 times each. I've kept a spreadsheet."
He blinked. "So, you're expecting to get published after 12 tries? When people who've been doing this for years can't even get published?"
At this point in the conversation I did something befitting my maturity. I stuck out my tongue.
And that is my story of why life is totally unfair. This story's subtitle is: Unrealistic Expectations for Fun and Profit.
3 comments:
Spoke too soon. I received the rejection ahead of schedule. On the bright side, I won't spend the next few days anticipating it and hoping for a different outcome, right?
I think I'll drown this rejection in a Weight Watcher's smoothie. Hello, bananas, you wacky yellow fruit you.
Sorry about the reject and good for you on the smoothie. Persistance is key, I don't need to tell you that. As for the science fiction, I love it. When I was young, my father subscribed to a science fiction "magazine" about the size of a Reader Digest that was full SF Short Stories. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Ray Bradbury was my first love!
I love that you're asking the Collective Brain for Collective Brain topics. Unfortunately I got nuthin'.
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