Sticky Note: Choices

The most important story we'll ever write in life is our own-not with ink, but with our daily choices.

— Richard Paul Evans

Remuneration

Do you ever feel like your hard work goes unnoticed? I've been struggling with this lately in many areas of my life. The only sanity I find is when I choose not to focus on that because it only generates resentment and in turn makes it hard to stay motivated. Sometimes there are things that I'm working on that require an extra deal of time and effort. I try to manage things in such a way that everything isn't always due at once, but there are times when projects or deadlines overlap and it puts an immense amount of pressure on me. This week was one of them all around. During these times, when I'm working extra hard, some of the little things get tossed to the wayside. Yet aren't these the things that others seem to notice, what you're not doing? I feel like screaming (although I'm not a screamer or even a yeller), "I'm not slacking, in fact, I'm working extra hard, not that anybody is noticing!"

As writers we can be working diligently and become very consumed with our work without anyone seeing any fruit from our labor.  "How is your writing coming along? . . . When are you ever going to get that book published? . . . I don't have time to write for free." The answer is never easy without having to enter a dissertation.  Replying with a word count often meets with dead stares. Trying to explain the publishing process is another matter entirely. It appears though we are writing with an expectation of no remuneration whatsoever. If we are hoping for publication the pay comes later, although the reward can be found in the work itself. Not every one gets that. It's important to resist the compulsion to try to justify ourselves to everyone. It's also important to keep our eyes on the task at hand and remember that we ultimately answer to one authority -  the One who called us and equipped us for our occupation. He notices. Let's stop looking to be remunerated with respect or appreciation, and offer our gratitude instead. That gratitude can be a great motivator.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23,24

Your thoughts . .

Rejection or Redirection?

Well, it had to happen at some point. I got my first rejection letter.  You may recall that I submitted my marriage story to an anthology on the cusp of the new year.  At last I heard. And I've been rejected.

Sigh.

I waited seven weeks to hear back from the editor and during that time I tried to prepare myself for the possibility that it wouldn't be accepted. A reason was given that there were so many to choose from that they had to be very selective and it did not necessarily mean that the writing was poor.

I had to be sure.  So I went back and re-read my entry. I still like it.  That's because it is important to me. My hope is that the story can bless others. But this obviously was not the venue for it.  I'm disapointed, but not as much as I thought I might be, suprisingly enough. I'm trying to consider it not a rejection of me, or of the message. 

But what about my writing? I must consider that. There is another opportunity for me to submit it else where (which the editor encouraged) and when reading through the guidelines I found they don't want it to sound like a testimony.  They want a story.  Ah, I think that's what happened with this first go round.  My "story" wasn't written in story style, it was sounded very much like a testimony. So I'm learning.  I'm going to revise it and try again in story format.

I really don't feel too bad about it. It's not really a rejection. It's a redirection. When I submitted it I prayed that God would allow it to be published through the avenue He desires.  I just took a wrong turn, and you know, I'm used to doing that.  I'm actually looking forward to seeing where it ends up.  I don't know if I'll handle it this well if I get another refusal, or if my book proposal gets rejected, but at least this is good experience. I also know I'm in good company.

So, on a more cheerful note. . . Tonight I was at a business dinner for work and had the opportunity to present information to our some community organizations (the first of two this week) on the issue adult literacy on behalf of my employer (Literacy Volunteers).  A newspaper representative was present and I was asked to write some articles about adult literacy. I had no idea that was going to happen.  I was also asked to write another article for a paper that I contribute to periodically. This was all very affirming.

Things don't always go as we anticipate. Life is that way. Full of twists and turns, ups and downs.  Rejections and redirections.

How do you handle rejection? Any words from the wise?

What Can You Say About This Photo?

 There's only one more week left to post your entries for the first writing prompt/giveaway!  In up to 1,000 words see what you can write about this photo.  Post it on our Mr. Linky tool and read the posts that others have submitted!  We already have a few entries and I'd love to see more.

Go here for details for guidelines, how to post, and prizes!