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Thursday, December 31, 2009

A Gentle Good Riddance to 2009


It's been quite a year...not so good in many ways. On the other hand, I did receive some lessons handed down from the universe.
  1. A stranger found my dad dead in the woods. Lesson: life is unpredictable
  2. My dad cut me out of his will. Lesson: life is humbling
  3. I finished my novel. Lesson: Keep writing, especially when it's hard
  4. No novel of mine got published in 2009, despite this bold statement. Lesson: Never make public predictions
  5. I started a new novel anyway. Lesson: Resilience is a writing tool
  6. Believe it or not, I feel lucky for 1-5  Lesson: Why be an asshole?
As for the decade as a whole, all in all it was pretty good:
  1. In 2000 I won a fiction grant for $25,000.00 that let me quit my job and write my novel, then start a freelance writing business, so I could continue working on other creative writing and finally finish my novel.  Which I did. Eventually.  Lesson:  The universe provides
  2. I moved to a new state and married the love of  my life. Lesson: Only a few lucky s.o.b.'s get to marry for love, so be grateful every minute because life is unpredictable and humbling (see above)
  3. I published several personal essays and short stories, won a few prizes, including one for $15,000.00 and one for $500.00.  Lesson:  Submit, submit, submit...and enjoy when things go well
  4. I finished a new book of stories and a new book of essays.  Lesson: Write, write, write.
  5. I got a lot of therapy and joined a 12-step group to deal with my alcoholic childhood (Funny sentence: I wasn't the alcoholic), also learned to breathe.  Lesson:  There is help if you seek it
  6. I didn't get any of my books published, but I'm not ready to give up.  In fact, perhaps you could say I'm just getting started.  Lesson: What else can I do? Give up?
Here are a few goals for the New Year:
  1. Be grateful for all the people I love and love them better
  2. Be grateful for all the people who love me and accept love better
  3. Ask for help more often and breathe more often
  4. Remember how humbling it is to be human; stay in that place
  5. Have a positive attitude whenever possible
  6. Try to believe in something, anything, even God if that's what it takes
What about you all, mice? What are your goals for 2010?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Am trying to finish what I started. Right now. Frantically. It seems that 2010 might be the year I finally get published...

Thanks for an awesome blog year WR, please don't stop that either!!

Meanwhile, Happy New Year, let's hope it's a good one, without any fear (of rejection)... Wishing you every success and happiness.

Anonymous said...

15 Gs!!

The Oceanside Animals said...

hello writer rejected its dennis the vizsla dog hay my goles for 2010 inklood finaly subdooing the ninja hedjhogs and gitting my brother tucker to stop annoying me and to win the gold medal in flyball at the olimpiks!!! assooming flyball gits added to the olimpiks and they deeside to hold the summer olimpiks in 2010!!! ok bye

Anonymous said...

Nothing in your summary of the decade's accomplishments about your lively blog, and the encouragement and consolation it gives others?

Louis said...

Well, I'd like to learn more about this universe thing I've heard tell about in 2010. To discover the line drawn between the lampoon and the greater possibilities...and where it is I stand exactly.

And maybe find out about the intercession of saints. Francis de Sales seems like a good one to begin with.

Good post.

Anonymous said...

I found this blog by accident because, although I've been writing FOREVER, I never felt my work was up to par to be considered for publication until recently. After polishing a story and manuscript for 2 years, I've begun the submission process and haven't heard back yet. I began to get worried because I honestly can't find many publishers that take unsolicited manuscripts and fit with the story that I have. Anyway, as I read through this I began to pity you but after reading this section (save for your father passing) I can't help but be disgusted. You've achieved a significant amount of success and yet you wallow in mental anguish. You're a sadistic mofo. Good day sir.

Writer, Rejected said...

Thank you, fine anonymous. And here I thought I was being grateful.

Writer, Rejected said...

p.s. See Lesson Six (Why Be An Asshole?)