“When at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.”
Originally published between 2015 and 2018, this post has been updated but preserves its original publish date as best as possible as content is migrated from the archives of The Flavored Word.
I hate that saying. I mean surely there comes a point when a person must move on. Let’s face it, not everyone in this world is meant to be über successful, right? Some people have to be average. Just like some have to be the Alphas, the Betas … the Epsilons (for all you Aldous Huxley fans).
I found out today that I did not make the second cut for the ABNA (an award that promises a publishing contract, among other things, for new novelists). Problem is, my elimination was based on a technicality, not my writing ability. The contest has a few rules and someone pointed out that I broke one: my real name was included in the initial pitch and the rules clearly state that you are not to have your name on the pitch, the excerpt, nor the manuscript. The judges want to be completely impartial and therefore there can be nothing included to identify the author in anyway. And to be fair, whether my book is the next To Kill a Mockingbird or not, rules are rules, so I get it. Still, I would like to stomp up and down because the seven-year-old in me (let alone the forty-year-old) doesn’t think it’s fair and I want to berate myself for not slowing down and paying attention to all those damn details (the story of my life).
So, what to do, what to do … anyone out there have any advice for this padawan?? I feel like I am about to drown in the Dagobah System.
“If no mistake you made, yet losing you are … a different game you should play.” ~ Yoda
Something change must I … GRUFFF!!
Cover image created with Google AI.
DISCLAIMER: I’m a writer and an editor. And I try my best to make sure every post is articulate and free from errors. However, being that I edit my own work—and it’s next to impossible to properly edit your own work—I admit, occasionally there may be an error or two I miss. But doing so doesn’t make me an idiot so don’t be mean. Just smile, pat yourself on the back for finding an error and be glad you’re not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes … xoxox
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