(( Small Starts ))
13 January 08 - 09:29
Comment Replies:
C. Moore - I know I only have to talk for three minutes... but when you're speaking aloud, three minutes feels like three hours! At least to me. Oh well. I've still got another week to prepare for it. Although I better get cracking, because I still don't know what writing piece I'm going to recite aloud! Ironic, huh? I've got a files full of stories and I don't know what to pick. I guess that's because I'm a bit choosy when it comes to my work. You know - the story/poem's either too long, too short, too boring... I think I have some ideas about what to choose but I haven't fully decided yet. I'll let you know when I do.
Now for my entry:
This past weekend I've been writing and submitting my writing to possible publishers. I hope I hear from them soon... as in one week.
Or day.
I know that's probably unrealistic: they've already got so many submissions to sift through and read - I probably won't hear a reply for another month! Ah well, I guess it's good that I sent it now then. I have one day less of waiting than if I'd sent it tomorrow! I've just got to be optimistic.
That's what my dad's been saying: I need to be more optimistic. I sent my article to a magazine yesterday, which mostly adults read. But I didn't include my age in the submission. I thought if I did, they might just publish me because I was twelve and not solely for my work, which is what I want. My dad said that was really 'noble' of me... but then he had to ruin the moment and added, "Although perhaps if you'd included your age there might be more chance of getting published."
I was crushed. I mean, I want to get published! I'm no saint - I pick published over 'nobly - unpublished' any day! I don't want the editors to think, "Oh, it's OK for an adult, but if a kid had written it it would be great!" and then throw it away or shred it or whatever other cruel things editors do to unpublished submissions instead of keeping and treasuring them like they should!
Then again, if I was an editor I wouldn't want to keep all the unpublished submissions either - it'd fill my room to the brim! (Not to mention my mother would just die from all the mess it caused.)
I digress - back to the point: I've decided that if I get published, I get published. If I don't - well, I don't. That's part of being a writer. Writers get tons of rejections, and only sometimes we get those holy pieces of paper that says you'll be published; whereupon we writers dance around the room like Charlie's grandfather in Charlie and the Chocalate Factory when Charlie won that golden ticket. Except most of us don't have a cane.
I've been published before in webzines and anthologies. But right now I'm trying to make my mark on magazines, and even submitted my poem to the Kids Reading Room section in the Los Angeles Times - my family gets the Weekend Plus subscription. In fact, two of the magazines I submitted my work to are ones that I've submitted pieces of writing to before. I didn't hear from them then, but I'm hoping now will be my lucky chance and I might get published!
All writers say you need to "start small, and then go big", so I'm trying to make my 'Small Starts' too.
Let's hope they don't 'Stay Small' forever. Who knows? Maybe one day my novel will appear on the top of the Amazon Rankings! It might seem far-fetched, but I know if I set far-fetched goals, and get really determined about them... then if I don't reach my goal EXACTLY, at least I'll get somewhere close.
A wise man once said, (actually it was on my fifth grade teacher's poster in her classroom) "If you shoot for the moon, you'll at least land among the stars."
Hey! The rest of us are in the same unfair boat as you are!
But, I’ve more luck with photography. (Because photo’s don’t speak- but writing does.) Which reminds me, I have photos downloading.
See you Monday,
C. Moore.
BTW, I need help on this homework assignment. Because, you’re smart & I have trouble on adjectives…or is it verbs?
Ok, so in the Christmas Carol, Scrooge says: ”...When I live in a world of fools such as this?...” What trait does that describe? I need help!
Claire M. - 13 01 08 - 13:26
Is that quote from the beginning of the play? Because if it’s from the beginning, you could say he’s a misanthrope and nasty. If it’s in the middle of the play, you’d probably say he’s learning, so the adjective would be learning. At the end of the drama, he’s happy and joyous and merry. Usually those adjectives work for most quotes, because he has a certain mood in each of them. Hope that helps.
Pema - 14 01 08 - 15:13
Okay, so, i finally read your aunt alice thing- every word. And I looked up the ones I didn’t know. It’s GOOD! Like, really good! Like too good.
Claire M. () - 14 01 08 - 21:05
Lol Pema. Regarding your Writer’s Ink thing, I’m sure you’ll just do fine. - I’ve loved most of your writings so far anyways. They’re all so GOOD! :P
And your newest blog..tell me if ya get it published..Good Luck! :D
Akara - 14 01 08 - 21:32
Thanks, Akara. If I do get published, I’ll be sure to tell you… if I ever finish it, that is. ;) I’m so close but not quite yet there.
Pema - 15 01 08 - 19:24
