With a Little Help From My Friends

I used to get discouraged when I would take a writing class or attend a conference and be forced to acknowledge that the world is full of talented writers who are as more driven than I am to create and tell stories.  It made my dreams feel ordinary and facing the competition was depressing.

Then, five years ago, I joined a writing group formed in one of those classes. I never felt that way again. I became invested in these people and the stories that they tell. I want them to achieve their writing and life goals and I believe that they will. I’ll be there with reasonably priced champagne when they do.

Yesterday, I got an email from a friend who is a former member of my writing group.  I mentioned that I had submitted a writing sample to another agent and that I was prepared for the statistical probable rejection that I will receive.  He replied with this message:

Final 2015 stats from an agency in Denver: 29k submissions. 130 requests for full manuscripts. 3 new authors signed.

You don’t get to be one of the final three without first being one of the 29k.

Writers are not your competition.  They are your fellow dreamers.  We all have stories to tell.

Sit down and email one of them right now.  I guarantee they will appreciate the encouragement.

About Rachel Lewis

I am a writer, ceramic artist, knitter, and stepmom. As a playwright, I had six short plays produced in showcases and festivals in Manhattan, Salt Lake City, and Austin. My full-length play, Locking Doors, was presented by Wordsmith Theatre Company in The New Lab Theatre (University of Utah) in 2005. I co-wrote a teleplay titled “Thank God I’m Atheist” which won the 2015 “No God But Funny” contest founded by the Center for Inquiry. My short nonfiction essay, “It’s Coming Down,” was published by the online literary magazine Halfway Down the Stairs. My essay "The Red Rock Chronicles" was published in Contemporary West magazine. I currently work in pharmaceuticals professionally and write recreationally, but dream of making the transition to write professionally and do pharmaceuticals recreationally. I am a Utah native and live in Salt Lake City with my family and our Goldendoodle. I am working on a collection of humorous non-fiction essays and a second full-length play. Follow me at: rachelclewis.com @rachel_lewis_ut (Twitter) @rachel_lewis_ut (Instagram)

5 responses to “With a Little Help From My Friends

  1. Exactly. I’m just starting my writing journey. One 70K word Romance novel that I’m now editing again.. Yeah I’ve received rejections. Sucks..
    But I’m gonna keep writing now that the first one is written (and being rewritten because written in wrong tense apparently)

    Write.. Share your passion.. Enjoy!

    http://www.DAndersonRomance.com

  2. Reblogged this on D Anderson Romance Writing and commented:
    So true.. Write and share your passion!!

    • Rachel, I thought I was reblogging this article to my active blog. I bought the URL http://www.DAndersonRomance.com through WIX. Please take a look there and possibly follow me. The blogs there are much more pertinent to your passions. Thank you for looking at the other.

      I can’t figure out how to share your blog onto my blog there on WIX.. (I’m a little slow on that aspect LOL)

  3. Carol aka Running Granny Green

    Have you considered self-publishing?

    • mslewisinfers

      Yes, I haven’t ruled it out. I’m going to keep looking at traditional publishers a little longer and then I’ll probably go that route.

Leave a Reply to Carol aka Running Granny GreenCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 122 other subscribers

Recent Comments

Stego Source on Dog and Mouse
Gina Weaver on The Elephant’s New Clothes
Gina Weaver on Sweetums
Gina Weaver on Great Expectations
Sarah Bentley on Great Expectations

Discover more from Lemonade

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading