You must keep sending work out; you must never let a manuscript do nothing but eat its head off in a drawer. You send that work out again and again, while you're working on another one. If you have talent, you will receive some measure of success - but only if you persist. ~ Isaac AsimovImage source (www.allposters.com/
-sp/The-Only-12-1-2-Writin.. )
With the incredible contests taking place at Shelli and Elana's blogs, as well as the giveaway here at my own blog, I've been thinking a lot about how we all foam at the mouth for a chance to win an agent critique of our manuscript or query letter (What? You don't foam at the mouth? Well, maybe that's just me.).
Why is it so exciting, this possibility of a professional critique? Because that is what we're working toward. We write and we revise and we revise some more for the opportunity to send our work out there, into the wide blue yonder, hoping against hope that it will be wanted. Every opportunity to improve the odds is a magnetic pull, irresistible and powerful.
I wish us all the best of luck - in these contests, but more importantly in our end-of-journey success!
I love that Isaac Asimov quote. Thanks for posting it!
ReplyDeleteI gotta get me one of dem posters!
ReplyDeleteLove the poster! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat poster and quote!
ReplyDeleteso love this!
ReplyDeleteAwesome quote and I love that poster. If my walls were so cluttered already I would totally hang that in my loft!
ReplyDeleteI love that poster!! LOVE it. Like I'm going to try and make the image fit on my blog sidebar :) THANKS for posting it!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, so it only fit at the bottom, but STILL. I love it!
ReplyDeleteOkay, guys! The poster can be purchased at allposters.com, and I'm sure you can find it elsewhere too! I want one for my classroom. :-)
ReplyDeleteThat was really great, Shannon. Thanks for posting the quote and your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteI love that quote and the poster too. It's amazing where and when the inspiration to write hits us- gardening, walking, etc.
ReplyDeleteFabulous! It's all so true.
ReplyDeleteWe're all in this together. Good luck in the contest Shannon. =) I love the poster too. Excellent rules (especially #12 1/2). =)
ReplyDeleteLOVE that quote. Thanks, Shannon!
ReplyDeleteI love that 12 1/2 Writing Rules. I have that posted above my desk.
ReplyDeleteThat Asimov quote was just what I needed today. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLove the Asimov quote. Just love it. Plus, all these query crit contests make me want to hurry up and finish my novel, so I can write a doggone query...
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why I'm so hot to trot to win a query critique...because I suck at it! Maybe they can help me make it suck less??? :(
ReplyDeleteI love that quote. It's one of the scariest and most thrilling things ever -- to send your work out to someone else. It doesn't matter if it's a crit buddy or a query letter, it's scary. But a very necessary first step. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm thrilled you all love the quote so much - I love it, too!
ReplyDeleteSimon - Get those doggies rollin', Sir!
DL - I doubt very much that you suck at it, but I have zero doubt that Elana (or any of the others) can help. :-)
Elana - You are so wise and so right. It can be terrifying, but it's a necessary part of the journey.
Love that quote!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest info :)
Love the poster! I like "If it's boring to you, it's boring to the reader."
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THESE! I have already saved them to a document & plan to print them out as Wallet reminders...(yes I am weird) ;o)
ReplyDeleteI also added the Asimov to my blog quote sidebar...
Visit My Kingdom Anytime
I love the quote and love the poster. :) Thanks for the great post.
ReplyDeleteEeeks, methinks I have a drawer full of gnawed heads. gah.
ReplyDeleteLove the quote and the poster and your post. :D
I love that picture. : )
ReplyDeletePS - I left a little something for you today on my blog.
Click here to visit my blog!
Love this Shannon: "Every opportunity to improve the odds is a magnetic pull, irresistible and powerful." There is an energy in this whole thing. A couple times in my writing life, I've let rejection halt my energy. It was an awful feeling. The words on this poster suggest that we keep the energy going, going, going...and I agree, that is best on many different levels. Love the poster AND your added thoughts at the end.
ReplyDeleteGreat quote!
ReplyDeleteGreat poster!
Great contests!!
Hope you have a...um, great week! (what were you expecting, splendid? :)
Love the writing rules!
ReplyDeleteGreat quote and poster. And thanks so much for the awesome contest! You're not alone - I'm foaming at the mouth, too! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's such a morbid image to picture your ms sitting inside a drawer eating itself. It makes me giggle, then cringe, then think about a way to get it out of there and save it from consumption. I love writing contests (entered the Highlights one), but these blogging contests have me baffled.
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone - I foam at the mouth too :)
ReplyDeletePrincess - Yes, you are weird, but that's why we love you so much! :)
ReplyDeleteTricia - Ha ha ha. That's quite a visual image!
Kimberly - Thanks for thinking of me!
Roxane - Energy. That's it exactly, Roxane. We can't let our momentum or our determination lag. We have to keep moving forward.
Terresa - Very funny! I didn't think you use ordinary words like great. Hmmm...interesting.
Susan & Jemi - Thanks. I'll pass my drool rag when I'm finished with it.
Mary - Oh, thank you for making me chuckle. It's been a rough night and I needed it.
I love that list! :) Great post!
ReplyDeleteLOL foaming at the mouth :)
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the quote from Asimov. Good luck to you too!
LOL poster is funny and cute
ReplyDelete