So. Um. Hi. My name is Jackie and I’m a wannbe writer. A romance writer.
Extremely brief history: I started pursuing publication seriously three years ago. Since then, after a brief blaze of glory and the odd flash of brilliance, it’s since been a gentle (not) slide into relative obscurity. Yay me.
So here I am, in obscurity, back at square one.
It doesn’t look much different since the last time, the couch in the corner is still there and no one’s cleaned up the empty dutch courage glasses. The view out the window has changed though. Before, there was a whole lot of fog preventing me from seeing the route I have to take, but it’s crystal clear now and boy, that’s a bloody HUGE mountain just sitting there. To be honest, it’s giving me the sh*ts. In fact, for the past week I’ve been seriously considering whether I can climb it again. Whether I want to even start climbing it again.
But you know, just because you get a rejection, it doesn’t stop the ideas from coming. You can take the writer away from the writing etc, etc. I have been writing for thirty years and I’m not going to stop now.
Still.
It’s a pretty big mountain.
I might just sit here and contemplate it for a while.
Someone pass me another glass of dutch courage.
I’ve a nice bottle of zinfindel with our names on it. Cheers!
Welcome back lovely lady! You’re going to do great! For one thing, you have this group of friends to shove your butt up the mountain when you feel tired/frustrated/lost. For another, you’ve accepted that it’s a challenge to do what we do and that we climb because we can’t not climb. HUGS!!
Julia – thanks! And some smores right? 😉
Cat – awww, that’s made me feel all sniffly. In a really nice way. Thanks!!! You’re a pretty lovely lady yourself. Hugs right back.
Welcome back Jackie! You’ll be at the top of that mountain before you know it! I think things are going to turn around for you 🙂
Lacey – thanks! Surely they have to one day you think? Hope so. 🙂
Welcome back Jax. Hope your feeling well and rested! Looking forward to listening to your chat again!
I knew you’d be back! And I bet you’ll be able to utter Edmund Hillary’s immortal phrase before too long. You know what I’m talking about!
Scarlet – well, moderately. Not feeling entirely raring to go I have to say but gotta get back on the horse I guess.
Cody – I do. I’m planning on that as a title for a post one day. 😉
Welcome back, Jackie! We missed you lots 🙂 I’m glad you’re abuzz with ideas!
Maya – thanks m’dear!
Welcome back!! We all missed you! Hope you are rested. And yes, when we peel away all the external stuff, we write because we can’t NOT write.
Mega mongo welcome back hugs!!
Aimee – thanks!! Though sometimes I wish I didn’t HAVE to write. It would be easier. 🙂
I think Jackie, an extended quote from my favourite book of all time is called for…
“And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)
Kid, you’ll move mountains!
So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!”
Or especially if your name is Jackie Ashenden! And if you add in your talent and tenacity we can add in that extra one and a quarter percent.
Thank you Dr Seuss, I rest my case.
And just from me: ‘Enjoy the climb and think about the view from the top.’
Heidi x
Heidi – Oh, I love that!! Dr Seuss is awesome and that’s the most perfect quote! I might even print that out and put by my PC! Thanks heaps for the faith. It’s hard getting back on the horse but having such fabulous support makes it that much easier.
See Jackie, anyone who understands the brilliance of Dr Seuss cannot fail!
And three years may seem like a long time but sadly it’s not. Took me four years of pissing about to complete my first full ms. (The difference is you’ve been submitting yours – and being a lot more productive than me). And another three to finally get one published. And I know some fantastic writers who took a lot longer. You’ll get there as long as you keep climbing!
H x
You know when you’re climbing that mountain? There’s a ton of us climbing right alongside you and even when you reach the top (and you will) they’ll be other mountains to climb. There’ll be other peaks you want to conquer and you’ll never do that alone, either.
So glad you’re back 🙂
Heidi – Lol! I’m not Marvin K Moony and I won’t go now. 😉 But yeah, 3 years IS nothing in the scheme of things. Ah well, in the words of one of my CPs, fail faster in order to succeed quicker. THanks heaps.
Joanne – what a lovely thing to say! Thank you m’dear. You can borrow my rope and crampons any day. 🙂
I’m late to this welcome back party but no less enthusiastic in my happiness that you’re back!
Now I know we’re a supportive bunch (you especially Jackie) but I did have to read your reply to Joanne twice “You can borrow my rope and crampons…” I think you can see where my eyes did a double take, yes? And my first reaction wasn’t ewww it was “that’s so Jackie – so generous” and then I read it again and while the sentiment remained, the reason for it was a little less shocking.
As for your mountain climbing, sweetie you dig those heels in and conquer that baby! The harder the challenge, the sweeter the victory and with you I honestly believe it’s only a question of ‘when’ – it has never been ‘if’.
Yay.. you go girl, go tackle yourself a bloody big mountain. And like Joanne said, there are plenty of us other poor climbers slogging away right beside you.
Elissa- well, there was always someone who was going to read that the wrong way. 🙂 Lol! Anyway, I’ve got lots of spares so you can have some too, m’dear. Thanks! Your ‘when’ is going to be a great point for me to belay off when I next fall down! 😉
Jo – more crampons? Rope? A piton or two? You can have ’em. I’ve got them to spare. Or maybe let’s pass around the hipflask on our way to the top. 🙂 Because we will get there eh?
hoorah! You’re back! I’m glad.
Just poured you a big glass of dutch courage and am waving you off. Go Jackie! Go Jackie!
Joanne – and I am drinking it! Thanks m’dear. 🙂
Hi,
Sometimes Dutch Courage can be found in the most unlikely places and with people one never thought to consider as inspirational. It can happen at the bottom of a mountain or sitting on the side of a boat waiting to flop backwards for a dive!
Take Katie Fforde, the chair of the Romantic Novelists Association: http://www.rna-uk.org/
Katie tried – unsuccessfully – to write for Mills & Boon, and for eight years she toiled and sweated blood over mss, and then one day she decided to send her romantic novels elsewhere. She’s never looked back: http://www.katiefforde.com/
She admits trying to write for M&B is the best training for any wouldbe romance novelist, but she recognised when she and M&B were not suited and moved on to success where angst and tears had held sway!
Chin up, Jackie, the light beckons. 😉
best
F
It’s a great place, but I only climb in Indonesia mountain.and only in cetral java. I like your blog,