December Rain, Bellevue Botanical Garden Lights, and Rejection

December Rain, Bellevue Botanical Garden Lights

Sorry this has to be a short, late post – my host had my web site down and I was unable to get into it until just now.

This week we’ll have rain, rain, and more rain, as a giant atmospheric river hits us for four days in a row. Before the rain started, we snuck out to see the Bellevue Botanical Garden Lights, and unfortunately, everyone else had the same idea, so it was super crowded. At least it wasn’t too cold, and it was a chance for us to get outside and walk a bit.

Week of Rejections

And in case you thought I was feeling too confident in my writing career, I got three (!) rejections for my book in the last week – one semi-finalist, one “send again,” and one totally blank – just a switch from “in-progress” to “declined.” I have to admit, with the rain and the dark and my MS acting up, it all seemed a bit much, and I admit to feeling defeated and depressed. The holidays can make this kind of stress harder, too – so much pressure to somehow always be happy during the darkest and coldest part of the year, don’t you think? Anyway, I’ll give the manuscript another go over in the new year and send it out again. I really am convinced it’s pretty good, but it’s not a “feel good” or “nice” kind of manuscript, and that may be hurting its chances at a time when people actually do need to feel better. It does have a lot of dark humor, which is sort of my thing, but it may not be everyone’s thing. Have I finished Christmas shopping? No. Am I feeling ready for the new year? Again, no. But sometimes, just like the weather out here in the Pacific Northwest, things can feel like a slog and you just have to get through them and go on. I’m lucky to have writer friends who cheer me on. If you all are getting more rejections than usual, one of them reminded me this is the time publishers and lit mags “clear the decks” – nothing personal, though it certainly feels personal, doesn’t it?

I will return and post something more upbeat soon. In the meantime, dental appointments, MRIs, and one more tutorial before the holiday. (Darn that resetting 5K deductible!) You all be gentle with yourselves and others. Maybe watch a holiday movie, something funny. Sending you all good writing and reading spirits for the rest of the year.