It’s been a slow recovery so I’m still looking for ways to make life look a little brighter. After last week’s request for encouraging words, a member of our subscriber family sent me an email with one more sentence that I want to remember. It was just the medicine I needed.
I found it particularly uplifting considering the last nine months have been riddled with bursts of rejection. One literary agent after another said no to my book proposal. They told me that my social media presence is not large enough, or that it’s a tough market for memoir, or that they don’t think they can get the book out in the numbers that are required these days.
Blah, blah, blah.
Bottom line, they don’t want to represent me. And to be honest, that hurts.
So what’s the sentence of encouragement that helped?
“What are they going to do, take away your birthday?”
I have to admit, I laughed out loud —the shoulder-slumping, head-shaking, belly-jiggling kind—more than once. Yes, those folks can judge me and my work—I know, it’s their job—but they certainly can’t take away my birthday. And, as our subscriber friend so eloquently added, “You’re the captain of your own ship, and if you believe in yourself and what you’re doing, that’s all that matters.”
Those are wise words for us all, especially when others’ opinions begin to gain more importance than our own.
So I will be “unagented.” Sigh. BUT, with my birthday fully intact, I’m pursuing publishers who accept unagented submissions, and I’m down to the final selection in that process.
What about you? Have others’ opinions hurt you or limited your dreams? Tell me about it. I’d love to know. Maybe it’s time to remind yourself of the importance of a very special day, your birthday, and remember who is in charge of your ship.
My best—always,
Becky (Nana B)
P. S. If you want more laughter, check out our friend’s website here. Many thanks, Roxanne Jones, for your email and for making me laugh. Stay tuned for more responses for encouraging words. Keep them coming! I love hearing from you.
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