I was listening to one of the more successful romance novel writers, who in a speech recorded on Geo

I was listening to one of the more successful romance novel writers, who in a speech recorded on Georgia Public Radio, said that at some point in her life, she

What a crazy couple of weeks.  I misplaced my Poets Market & P & W Magazine.  My son got real sick last weekend, or was it the weekend before?  It's been surreal.  But in between, I've been able to finish a Koontz novel, listen to a couple of authors talk on the radio, and even stop at Wallie World and fill out an application.  Something and somebody has to pay the bills while trying to get published.

So I believe it was Roberts I was listening to, a writer of romance novels.  Then this weekend it was the editor of Atlanta magazine, who has written a book on the riots of 1906 in Atlanta.  Now we'll take a look at both writers, and I'd also like to bring up the subject of a "submissions tracker," a chart like those the Job Service gives you to help make sure you're making some kind of progress.  Only instead of job applications, we're talking about writing submissions instead.  Well, times a wasting, let's get started:


So, as I mentioned, I was listening to one of the more successful romance novel writers, who in a speech recorded on Georgia Public Radio, said that at some point in her life, she found she loved to write, and it kept her sane.  So she balanced the hours, juggled is the word she used, and wrote, wrote, wrote. She said she did the research, submitted, and endured rejection.  She learned that chocolate really is an effective remedy to rejection.  Something she said to that effect.  But what struck me more was her sheer persistence, until her first book got accepted, and then her second.

Two things I'd like to get down here before I go further. First, Columbia: a journal of literature, is holding a contest, for which the first place winner of each genre will win $500.  Nothing to sneeze at folks.  Get your wits and your pencils sharpened.  Details at  www.columbia.edu/cu/arts/journal I got the notice out of Harper's June issue.  Time's not pausing for anyone.

Second thing is a tip:  get a tracker for your submissions.  Poets Market has a good example of one.  You can just photocopy it and keep copies, maybe in a three ring binder, and fill them out, keep them updated regularly.

A few recommended reads: the review of Nadezhda Mandelstam's book of memoirs, Hope against Hope.  This essay appears also in June 2006 Harper's.  Best normative essay, republished in AlterNet website, "How I gave up cars and learned to love the bus," by Bloomington/Normal housewife Christine Gardiner.  Her essay is specially good because it promotes a better world.  This kind of essay, while easy to start, is often not easy to finish.  

www.alternet.org/story/40968/

Anyway, please don't think this piece of mine is finished. I only wanted to get this one built to the point where I can have fun driving it, and maybe one of you might get inspired by it.  "Drive" an essay, you might wonder?  Yeh, I guess drive it out of the garage of my mind to where I can get more space, park it under a shade tree of inspiration, and work on it with plenty of elbow room.

Only other thing I have, about one week later, is word that if you want to practice your essay writing skills and maybe win some clothing or "stuff," Waffle House has a contest going.  Details on their web site.  Waitress told me today I'm "too old." I think she mis-read where they post, "Get this filled this out if you're under eighteen," some parental agreement. Well, I'll have to look that one up.  

www.wafflehouse.com/contest.html

And there you have it folks, my last little revision caps this essay, with me wishing you happy writing.  Or at least relief through writing.  Go now, turn off your television, video game or whatever, and get busy writing.  Or go to sleep and do it first thing tomorrow morning.  Just go.  Write.To be continued...

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