On the Journey to Stay

When I first began writing, I knew very little about the requirements for success—time, energy, and perseverance. If I had known, I may have never picked up a pen. But being unaware I forged forward, only to become the recipient of a stack of rejections. I’ve learned over the years that rejections must not be taken personally or looked upon as a sign of failure. Rather than focus on rejection, I concentrate on the journey of writing.

My journey began ten years ago, when my husband read picture books such as Stone Soup, Goodnight Moon, and Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, to our newborn daughter. My inspiration for writing was not fueled by these classic books. Instead, my inspiration was sparked by a dull, unimaginative story. After he closed the book, I wondered (how shall I say this tactfully) how it ever got published. If books like that one were published, then I could write a picture book. It would be easy.

To prepare myself for writing a children’s book, I took some writing classes, participated in a writing workshop, joined a professional writer’s organization, and attended some writing conferences. I wrote my first story and sent it off to publishers. Again and again it was rejected.

I discovered that trying to get a picture book accepted for publication was like working out with weights. It takes time and patience to see the results. It takes dedication. And just like weight-training it’s hard work. I never realized the amount of time that was needed in writing, editing, researching the markets, and building respectable credentials. Furthermore, I never knew that writing would involve tackling emotionally tough days. Recently in the course of one day alone, an article that had taken me over a year to research and write was rejected, a new market I had hoped to submit had ceased publication, and my e-mails were unanswered by an editor.

After mountains of rejections and a series of rough days I wondered, Why do I continue to write? Because writing is a journey. It is a road constructed of valleys of depression and hills of happiness. My journey is a blend of bad days and good days. Knowing that I may face a bad day, I could choose to leave the road, to shelter myself from disappointment. And yet I remember the thrill of receiving an acceptance letter or the excitement of reading an article of mine in a well-respected magazine.

Though it’s been several years since my husband has read bedtime stories to Abby, I still recall the poorly written picture book, the one that led me on this journey. What lies ahead? I’m not sure. But, I’m too curious too give up. There are writing adventures awaiting me. Deep inside I know that no matter the conditions of road, I will journey on, stay on track, and travel the unpredictable path of writing.