One of the things I did while I was home sick with the flu this weekend was organize my submissions chart, the Word document where I keep a list of the publications I've sent to, what story I sent, if I heard back, etc.
I am one of those people who loves organizing things (I was the 8 year old who got overjoyed at buying school supplies. Trapper keepers! Rulers! Yea!). So usually I kinda dig getting by sub chart in order.
But this time, it depressed me. "Look at all those places I've submitted to--ie, Look at all those places who rejected me!" I said aloud.
Being sick is not a time when I am apt to keep things in perspective, mind you.
Luckily, my husband and Steven King saved me. Brian and I had just finished reading King's memoir/writing book, aptly called, On Writing: A Memoir. Brian quoted the part in King's book where he talks about the spike he used to keep on his desk, which he would use to impale/store his rejection letters. Brian said, "He had thousands on that spike! Thousands! You only have ten on your chart!"
Point taken. Today, with my flu receding, I am getting back on that horse. I looked at my (very well organized) submission chart and saw the list of places I still had to send to, instead of the list of places that already said no.
