Thursday, August 8, 2013

Get Some Stuff Out There

A while back I wrote about my historical fiction class and some of the best wisdom I came away with. One of the nuggets I most cling to is an edict that my teacher, Mort Castle, lives by.  He's been a freelance writer for forty years and he says, "Get some stuff out there.  Always have about ten submissions circulating."

So I tried it.

I probably only sent out five submissions but it felt good.  Mostly, I sent poems from the A-Z challenge, little samples of experiences or odes to friendships.

But I also sent a historical fiction piece that I wrote while in Mort's class.  And that one hit the mark at a publication called, "The Copperfield Review."  Check it out here.

Amidst all of the chaos of this summer - four teaching jobs and six beautiful children to nurture, it was nice to be reminded of my writing side.

I return to my Latvian beauties this morning after three days away and it's all I can do not to rush the plane.  But after Saturday, when they return to Latvia, I'll hunker down and follow Mort's advice.  It's time to return to writing and get some stuff out there.

9 comments:

  1. Sounds like all went well with the Latvian children. I would love to hear more about it after they leave. I think getting stuff out there must be good advice for writers wanting to get published. All the best with that.Your poems are so meaningful and should be read by many.

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    1. Thanks so much Inger. I will definitely be writing about them after they go. I am home with them on my own now while my husband and two youngest kids are in Colorado. I put them on a plane back to Latvia on Saturday and I'm not sure how I will salvage my heart.

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  2. Beautifully done, Juliet. Congratulations!

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    1. Your opinion on this piece was essential! I'm thrilled that you liked it.

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  3. It's easier to have "stuff out there" if you don't write novels. I usually give up on my novels after several rejections.

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    1. That's completely true. The shorter pieces bring some measure of self-esteem and accomplishment that a novel doesn't. My novels still sit inside my computer with dust growing around their tiny feet.

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    1. You are flowers and trees and soft winds and buttered sunlight.

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  5. I thoroughly enjoyed your piece appearing on the Copperfield Review!

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