Sunday, July 3, 2022

Are YOU racing to the finish line?

Riding high! 

Liam and Alex spent time with their paternal great grandparents' on their farm. I took Charlie to my former school's parish picnic. He squealed when he saw the kiddie rides. "Nana, look! I want to ride that yellow and orange Jeep!" 

And ride he did (several times)! That smile stayed on his face the entire time. When the ride started and the car began moving, he spun that steering wheel back and forth. The ride functions kept getting better. The car elevated, and when it started jerking up and down, left and right he thought he was jumping hills. If you could hear his squeals. 


If you're a published writer, you probably have experienced this sort of joy, too. What a thrill to receive an acceptance on an essay, article, or poem you've submitted. 

I felt like Charlie when I received another acceptance from Chicken Soup for the Soul books for the upcoming book, Miracles and the Unexplainable, on sale September 13th. (Book 33 for me.)

In the writing world, along with elation comes deflation. A rejection can bring you down and make you feel like you're limping to a stop on a flat tire. It's natural to feel disappointment. 

Don't let all four tires go flat and bring you to a complete halt. It's easy to say, "That's it. I'm not writing anymore!"

Rest if you must. Take a break from writing, but never give up. Sometimes you race along at high speed submitting and receiving acceptances. Other times you drive through the desert of dry spells.

Keep writing and submitting your work. When you do receive an acceptance you'll feel like Charlie leaping hurdles. 

I wish you well in your writing endeavors. If you are not a writer, try jotting down a memory and build upon that over the course of a week. You will have a slice-of-life vignette, a memory that someone in your family may cherish someday. 

Write on!

 
 

5 comments:

DUTA said...

I like your analogy of Charles' enthusiasm caused by his riding the yellow jeep and a writer's joy when he receives an acceptance of a piece of writing he has submitted.
Congratulations on having a new piece of writing accepted by Chicken Soup!

Kim Lehnhoff said...

Charlie looks thrilled! Such a lucky boy to be riding in that dune buggy!

Thanks for the reminder to keep writing!

Val said...

Congrats on 33! You sure know how to get Charlie all revved up. His smile says it all!

Unfortunately, my writing life has been "up on blocks" for a while now. My motivation needs a tune-up.

Red Rose Alley said...

Charlie looks like he's having a blast riding that JEEP! Wow, it looks like he's in the air. I'm wondering how the car elevated, was it automatic or by the steering wheel? What fun for a kid. So glad to hear your story will be in the CSS book in September. Your last words hit home for me, as many years ago, I wrote short stories for my children to read about their Mom's youth. They enjoyed them, and laughed at some of the experiences I had growing up. Yes, we all have a story to tell, and it's good that we can share it from time to time. I think that's why I love blogs. We can tell our story, and we get to hear wise comments, like you sent me today. Thank you.

~Sheri

Pat Wahler said...

Looks like another fun day with the kiddos!

Congrats on number 33! You rock!