What You Can Learn From Rejection---Guest Post by Margo Dill



Margo's New Book



Margo Dill

What You Can Learn From Rejection

        By Margo L. Dill

 

As a writer, I collect rejections. It’s not the collection I was hoping for, and I do have another collection in my bag—a collection of publications. But no matter how many acceptances, glowing reviews, contest wins, and published books I have, the rejections seem bigger and more powerful than the good stuff.
 

        I think this is true for most creative types. We thrive on positive feedback and good reviews. One reason—it’s how many of us make a living; and without acceptances and sales, we make no money. The other reason, in my opinion, is we want someone to love our work as much as we do. We pour our hearts out and have spent hours upon hours upon hours slaving over a piece of art, a manuscript, or a new song. We want people to LOVE what we’ve spent time doing. This is natural and this is normal, but it’s not always possible.
 

        Both books I’ve had published, Finding My Place (a middle-grade historical fiction novel set in the Civil War in Vicksburg, MS) and Caught Between Two Curses (a young adult light paranormal set in Chicago, IL) were rejected numerous times. I spent YEARS drafting and revising, writing queries and sending in submissions, attending conferences and pitching to agents and editors. During these years, I took my manuscripts to critique groups, where I often received constructive criticism (which can even be hard to take sometimes) and rejections—one agent even saying, “I just don’t understand the baseball thing in Caught Between Two Curses.” (One of the curses is the infamous Curse of the Billy Goat on the Chicago Cubs.)
 

        So, what have I learned?

·       Not everyone will love your art, whatever it is. But if you work hard, you will find your audience and have success.
 

·       Don’t compare your success with the success of someone who has “made it.” You have NO IDEA, unless this person has told you, how many times he/she was rejected before making it BIG.
 

·       Persistence and hard work are everything in creative fields. Most people who are unsuccessful think it should be easy to paint a picture, write a book, or record a song. If it’s easy, you’re not doing it right.
 

·       On bad days, allow yourself to feel the pain of rejection. It’s part of the creative process. Once you have recovered, ask yourself if there’s anything you can learn from the rejection.
 

Caught Between Two Curses has been out for a couple months now, and it has gotten some great reviews. Some readers really understand my main character, Julie, and her struggle with her boyfriend pressuring her to have sex and trying to help her family break the curses that keep killing her loved ones. They understand her quirky voice and unsure ways. But one teen who read the book wrote me and said that she thought I was a good writer, but she wanted to hit Julie over the head for most of the book. I took a deep breath, smiled a little at the comment, and then moved on, working on my next two projects that I hope to introduce to the world soon.

 

If you are interested in reading Caught Between Two Curses, you can find it at all online retailers, including Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J8UWR4K ) and Indiebound.org (http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780991069569). It’s the story of 17-year-old Julie Nigelson, who is cursed.  So is her entire family. And it’s not just any-old-regular curse, either—it’s strangely connected to the famous “Curse of the Billy Goat” on the Chicago Cubs. Julie must figure out this mystery while her uncle lies in a coma and her entire love life is in ruins: her boyfriend Gus is pressuring her to have sex, while her best friend Matt is growing more attractive to her all the time. Somehow, Julie must figure out how to save her uncle, her family’s future, and her own love life—and time is running out!

 

Margo L. Dill is an author, speaker, writing instructor for WOW! Women On Writing, and freelance editor (Editor 911), living in St. Louis, MO. Read more on her website, http://margodill.com/blog/ or on http://www.thelitladies.com, where she blogs about GIRL POWER! on Tuesdays.

 

Margo L. Dill

Join me on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Editor-911-Margo-L-Dill/346210516982
*Finding My Place, middle-grade (ages 9 to 12)  historical fiction, White Mane Kids, 2012
(Winner of the 2013 Eloquent Quill Youth Book Award)
*Caught Between Two Curses, young adult, light paranormal, Rocking Horse Publishing, 2014
*Maggie Mae, Detective Extraordinaire, and the Case of the Missing Cookies, picture book, Guardian Angel Publishing, 2014
*Lucy and the Red Ribbon Week Adventure, picture book, High Hill Press, 2014
http://www.margodill.com

One More day.....

Hello Dear Readers, just one more day until Margo Dill will be the guest blogger here at Thoughts Along the Way....She has a really informative topic planned and I know you will enjoy it.

I also ask that you visit her blog, her pertinent information will be a the end of her post and leave a comment if you letting her know how much you enjoyed her topic.

UNTIL TOMORROW.....Have a great day

pilgrim

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Coming to Thoughts Along the Way - Margo Dill

Hello Dear Readers.......

How are you this morning, I hope that it is bright and Sunny in your neck of the woods.  Exciting news here on the blog..on Wednesday, May 21st.  I will have a guest blogger.   Her name is Margo Dill and she is an wonderful author of young adult books.  I am so excited (isn't that normal for me),  anyhoo, I am so excited because this marks the first time I have had a guest Blogger on my site.

How did I meet Margo?  A few years ago I took an ecourse through Women on Writing (WOW). The course was taught by Margo and was about keeping a blog.  I have used many of the tips from the lesson here on my blog, such as writing reviews of books for friends, finding a focus and blogging quite often.  Over the past two years, my blog has greatly improved.  I now have 54 followers (although I still would like to have 100 by the end of the year).

I will post another reminder tomorrow for you to come and visit my blog on Wednesday, May 21st.  I am in the process of reading Margo's new book and will probably post a review in my Random Thoughts Tuesday post on May 27th.  So a lot is happening on the blog here in Henderson.

Until tomorrow peace and love.....pilgrim

Day 3 - The Auction Has Ended, the Need for Prayer Continues

CRYING TEARS OF HOPE


 

Dear Reader, I was trying to think about what I would write for this last post regarding the #bringbackourgirls Art Auction.  While it is the last day of the auction, the need for prayers and concern has not ended.  We really do not know what will happen to those young girls in Nigeria, but our prayers should be just as fervent tomorrow, next week, next month as they are today.

 

Prayers for all young girls in the US, in Japan, in Nigeria, in Kenya, in South Africa, in Russia, in Saudi Arabia, in Iran, in the Caribbean Islands, in Las Vegas, in Detroit, in the Appalachian Mountains, in New York, everywhere.  We have been given an assignment by Jesus...Acts 1:8-9 says "And you shall receive power when the Holy Ghost has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses for me in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria and to the utter most parts of the earth."  Regardless of your denomination or beliefs we have been called to be witnesses, through our art, through our words, through our example, through our prayers and through our love.

 

Thank you for reading my posts the past few days, for commenting on my facebook page, for all that you have done to keep the word alive.  There are many places in this world in need of prayer as I said earlier, there are two psalms that you can copy, keep someplace where you can see them and pray as often as you can - Psalm 1 and Psalm 91.

 

I am humbled to have been apart of this fantastic event, and encouraged to continue to search for ways to help in some small way to make this world a better place.  I am humbled that someone actually purchased my painting.  I am just humbled.

 

Thank You to Jessica Sporn for introducing us to this wonderful event and making us aware of  www.girlrising.com.  Thank for placing a call for Art and a call for concern.  Jessica, you are truly an inspiration.  Friends, please check out Jessica's blog  www.jessicasporn.blogspot.com.

 

A special Thank you to Marianne Lanuti Shreder (you know why).

 

on the road to somewhere....pilgrim

Day 2 of Bring Back Our Girls Art Auction

 

 

Dear Reader, I have been thinking about something and decided to write about it today. Today, Friday May 16th is the second day of the Art Auction to benefit GirlRising.com.  It is amazing because I am participating with some really spectacular artists.  The painting above is my contribution to this project and I have received some BIDS!!!!  Oh be still my heart.

As I think back over my life, especially the past few years, I would have never imagined that I would be participating in such a worthwhile endeavor or that I would be able to paint such a portrait.  As a child, I loved to draw.  I was pretty much a loner and spent many hours in my room drawing.  I taught myself to do many things in the comfort of my room.  I made my own patterns for doll clothes and made clothes for my dolls.  I taught myself to knit, I made games because we could not afford to buy them.  I read a lot of books and at the age of 15 began to write poetry.

At the age of 17 I was admitted to the University of Michigan.  It was 1967 and U of M was woefully lacking in minority students.  In fact less than one percent of the student population was African American.  It was a big deal in my family to be accepted to U of M, but to the school I was part of a means to keeping federal funding.  They had to let us in, but they did not have to Keep us.  Those who were strong made it, those who were weak or very sensitive like me did not.  I was told I could not write, was not the right fit, yada yada yada.....

I came home pregnant, went to work and took classes off and on at the community college where I felt comfortable.  In 1999 I finished my journey and graduated from Wayne State University with honors. 

I now think about these young girls in Nigeria who risk their lives everyday to get an education so that they can have a better life.  I think about them and wish I had known at 17 what I know now...never let anyone cause you to doubt your good.

GirlRising.com and all other programs designed to help young girls receive an education are a God send and what ever I can do to promote their cause I will.  It has taken me many years to overcome the self doubt.  What I pray for is that young girls all over the world are praised and appreciated for their courage and strength.  I pray that they become examples for all so that we never again doubt our worth as viable participants on the world stage.  Please visit www.girlrising.com to get more information about this worthwhile endeavor. 

I have been blessed with bids, there are some paintings that have not, please consider stopping by and bidding.  Love to you...pilgrim

Today is the Day!!!!! Auction of Beautiful Art for #bringbackourgirls

Dear Reader: 
Below are the URL's of the artists participating in the Auction for Girlrising.com
You can visit their blogs to see their art and find out a little about them.  I hope this Auction will be a fun and rewarding experience for you.



Jessica Sporn   http://jessicasporn.blogspot.com
Linda Kittmer  http://lindakittmer.blogspot.ca
Ronda Palazzari  http://rondapalazzari.typepad.com
Marjie Kemper   http://www.marjiekemper.com
Judy Shea   http://thekeytomyart.wordpress.com
Glenda Hogland   http://pilgrimsthoughts.blogspot.com
Astrid Maclean  http://astridsartisticefforts.blogspot.com
Lisa Pace   http://lisapace.com
Jackie Neal   http://creatingwithoutcrayons-jackiepneal.com
Claudine Criner   http://claudinesartcorner.blogspot.com
France Papillon   http://www.france-papillon.com
Kristin Van Valkenburgh  http://TwinkleTwinkleLikeAStar.blogspot.com
Marcia Beckett  http://marciabeckett.blogspot.com
Ruth Levy   http://lerusho.wordpress.com/
Sally Lynn MacDonald   http://www.SallyLynnMacDonald.com
Renee Zarate   http://renee-boltonhouse.blogspot.com
Natasha May   http://natashamay.blogspot.com/
Carmen Whitehead   http://www.serendipitystudiobycw.blogspot.com/
Seth Apter   http://thealteredpage.blogspot.com/
Marybeth Shaw   http://mbshaw.blogspot.com/
Amy Ingardia-Walker  http://creativelyquirkyathome.blogspot.com/
Kelly Warren  http://happyshackdesigns.blogspot.com
Julie Bernier http://juliebernierphotography.zenfolio.com/
Adrienne Hoban  http://www.allure-decor.com/
Krista van Tol   http://craftylittlepigtails.blogspot.com
Cheryl Grigsby http://cherylspaperartz.blogspot.com
Jill Meyer www.jillmeyer.com
Lisa Flaherty http://mypeaceofpaper.blogspot.com
Kerry C. Mitchell http://kerrycmitchell.com

I am so excited.  Have Fun!!!!!!! 

 

pilgrim

One More Day Until Auction - Random Thoughts

Hello Dear Readers, here is some information regarding the Auction tomorrow, the group our auction is supporting and more information regarding #bringbackourgirls.

- You can go to  http://girlrising.com/nigeria-action/ and learn about actions to take and also more about Girl Rising, which is where the money raised from the auction will go.
-  Go to http://www.32auctions.com/bringbackourgirls May 15th to May 17th to participate in the auction.
- You can find more information about #bringbackourgirls and the importance of girls’ education at:http://www.unfpa.org/gender/empowerment2.htm;http://girlrising.com/about-us/index.html#why-girls;http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/11/opinion/sunday/kristof-whats-so-scary-about-smart-girls.html?_r=0 which has this great quote: “Why are fanatics so terrified of girls’ education? Because there’s no force more powerful to transform a society. The greatest threat to extremism isn’t drones firing missiles, but girls reading books.”
Thank you for reading my blog posts, this is such an important situation.  

Until tomorrow---pilgrim

A Call To Art on line Auction

Dear Reader, there are some wonderful artists participating in this auction such as Mary Beth Shaw, Seth Apter, and Marjie Riordan Kemper.  You can view all of the art on the site between now and the start of the Auction, to let you think about which piece much grace your walls.

Here is the piece I donated to the action

 

Bidding opens on May 15th at 7 am and will end on May 17th AT 3 PM EST.  The opening bid my painting is $10.00.  Our goal is to raise funds for girlsrising.com which is a global campaign for girl's education.

 

The poem on the piece is:

 

I cry tears of Hope

My heart bleeds for peace

I long for the return of innocence

I pray and pray---

When will it come.

 

-Glenda Hoagland 2014

 

 

I will be posting a reminder here each day......Watch this space

 

 



Creating painting for A Call to Art Project: Crying Tears of Hope

Collage Layer of Painting





Sketch on Deli Paper

Deli Paper drawing added to Painting

 

Finished Painting- Crying Tears of Hope



The pictures above depict some of the steps used to complete my painting "Crying Tears of Hope."
As a note to myself, I have to remember to sign it.  Why did I try such am ambitious endeavor (at least ambitious for me)?  Because of the events of the past few weeks.  Young girls, children really, were abducted from their school in Nigeria and it broke my heart.  They were simply trying to get an education that would better not only their lives, but the lives of their families and villages.  I have never been to Africa, but I have studied about this massive continent, the needs of its people and how they trying to overcome years upon years of pain and suffering.

My painting is about crying, longing, and praying.  Praying for a return to innocence, crying for hope among the people, a heart bleeding for peace.  This painting could be for many parts of the world really.  It is universal in scope and specific in intent.

I truly never thought I could do anything like this and yet I have.  Dear Reader, I am part of a group, Artists for #BringBackOurGirls.  This movement of artists is being coordinated by Jessica Sporn.  Jessica is  talented mixed media Artist, supporter of the Arts and a genuine humanitarian.  Jessica and her family make pilgrimages to Guatemala to work in the villages helping to build homes and make life better for the villages they visit.  I follow her blog www.jessicasporn.blogspot.com.  On this blog she posts videos of her mixed media process and her humanitarian endeavors.  I have learned a lot. 

My painting and many others are displayed on the auction website:  http://32auctions.com/bringbackourgirls.  On May 14th I will post the links of all the participants.  You can find more information at http://girlrising.com/nigeria-action and https://www.facebook.com/bringbackourgirls.

Thank you for taking the time to read my posting today.  Comments are always welcome.  Have a great day and be sure to hug your loved ones and tell them you love them.

pilgrim