No sooner than I started submitting short stories that I got a very nicely worded rejection.

To be clear, a nicely worded form rejection letter. Nothing personalized here. While bummed about the rejection, I’ve always tried to dust off and start again. In this particular case, I’m thinking about turning this poem into a short picture book but not sure.

I do think the reaction, not the rejection, is what matters. Okay, got rejected, now what? I can’t count the number of rejections I’ve had in my life spanning every aspect of life. “Now what” is the critical question to answer and for me “now what” is “you know what, I didn’t really like what I submitted and should have done X, Y & Z better”. At the same time I was thinking about how the submission was just OK, I realized that a talented artist I know would probably be interested in doing the visuals for an experimental picture book. Could be fun. And now, I go off in another direction. Turning the bummer, into a bumper that pushes me to something better.

To that end a writer friend I was talking to today congratulated me on joining the Rejected Writers Club. Honestly, I feel pretty good about where I’m heading but check in 10 rejections later and we’ll see how I’m feeling then. :)

Halloween

In non-rejection related news, tonight is Halloween. Here in Baltimore, MD we’re enjoying a really horrible rain, thunder, lighting, high wind storm. I think of it as the balance for such an abnormally beautiful day (very warm for fall, very breezy with a hot wind) we get a vicious night.

The storm was kind enough to hold off until after Trick or Treating. Thanks Storm! We had a great time and got way too much candy for this house to hold.

I wanted to share a Halloween theme podcast this week. The Myths & Legends podcast is amazing! Each week they tell stories, myths, fairy tales, etc… with a modern tone and often comical twist. I recommend this for all my storytellers to reconnect with audio only storytelling. I think of this as campfire without the body language. Remember the days of radio? No? Well podcasts like Myths and Legends are what I imagine radio dramas were like. You can see how to strip down a story, tell it in an engaging manner and use voice techniques to be more enthralling.

Check it out and I hope you enjoy. This week is extra spooky and maybe a bit gross but you’ll hear the warnings at the beginning of the episode.

And a poem

Today is the start of #poetryfriday and so here is a poem to join the party. Thanks to Tabatha Yeatts for hosting this week! Check out her blog The Opposite of Indifference to see all the other #poetryfriday fun.

My poem this week is capturing an event from tonight’s storm. I figure a dark storm is good for a Halloween theme as well. Enjoy!

Comfort

Snapping white light
Cracking sky crashing
Low grumbling rippling in the floor boards.

TAP
TAP
TAP
something claws the windows
trying to get in
trying to get ME!

I shiver on my bed
watching
the lights flickering
fading to brown
then gone
darkness.

Silence

CRACK!
GRUMBLE!
TAP! TAP! TAP!

Crying now
whimpering
hiding
I feel warm arms around me
gentle nuzzle
of my boy’s nose.

“Ah, it’s okay Nina.”
he says softly
scratching behind my ear
and suddenly

it is.

Rejection & Reaction

Halloween

And a poem

Comfort