Comments on: The Abyss

By: Debra E. Marvin

Debra E. Marvin — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 20:45:20 +0000

I appreciate Sally’s comment about not getting upset over rejection. I have a big thing hanging over my head that could send me running into depression and I’m not worried about it at all because God has shown His faithfulness time and again. So why can’t I apply that to my writing? If it’s truly in God’s hands, I just need to show up and do my best.

I’ve enjoyed this series, Wendy. Thanks

By: sally apokedak

sally apokedak — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:49:10 +0000

Well, since I haven’t visibly moved anywhere in the last eight years, you’ll have to take my word for it that I’m actually on a journey and not just napping under a tree somewhere.

But for point number one–rejection…I hate to tell people this, because they usually think I’m lying or pretending to be pious, but…rejections don’t bother me at all. I believe that if God wants me to be published, he’ll give me the talent to snag a contract and put me in the right place at the right time. And if he doesn’t want me to be published now, I don’t want to run ahead of him. That way leads only to grief.

For the next three points–all about feedback and timing–contests and paid critiques at conferences are wonderful things. When I enter a contest or get a critique, I find out very quickly if my premise and voice is hitting or missing–in today’s market, with today’s editors.

My crit partners all help me a lot. A LOT! But they aren’t the ones buying the manuscripts and they are often too kind or too inexperienced to tell me where I’m missing. Because my writing is not horrible, but a story has to be really fresh these days, to sell, I think. And editors and agents are the ones who know what’s fresh and what’s stale because they see so much.

Great series, Wendy! Thanks.

By: Lynn Dean

Lynn Dean — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:24:07 +0000

I found rejection a fairly easy challenge to overcome, though I know I am likely to face it again and again. Still, most have been kind, instructive, and encouraging.

Changing market has not been an issue yet because of my genre.

Lack of feedback? I feel blessed that my rejections have come with solid advice and direction for the next step.

As for information, the Lord has provided excellent and intuitive critique partners.

My greatest challenge? The learning curve–my own struggle to acquire more skill, take the story deeper, make every word deliberate. I must turn off that critical perfectionist in my cranium in order to produce, but to produce anything remarkable, I have to turn it back on to edit ruthlessly again and again.

By: Nicole

Nicole — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 15:28:36 +0000

Don’t know that it’s avoidable for me, but the Lord delivers me again and again with the resilience He implanted in me.

When all “test” readers enjoy your work, it’s hard to remain anonymous in rejections.

The abyss looms, screeches, and reaches for me at all times in failing confidence, questionable submissions, the paradox of good feedback and no feedback. You get my drift.

The only solution for me: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Period.