March 9, 2009
What keeps me from giving up hope? What makes me send out another novel query (like I just did) to the same agent who rejected my last one? What makes me send out query after query, again and again, in spite of the mountain of rejections I’ve gotten over the years? Honestly, I don’t know. I like to think it’s just that I’ve matured as a writer and a person, that I’ve learned to be patient. Maybe it’s the challenge itself…the driving need to break through which seems to intensify the more I’m turned down. Plain old stubbornness. Or maybe it’s pride…pride and belief in the worthiness of my work…pride in myself for reaching the point where I won’t surrender. It’s taken me a long time to get there, let me tell you. When I think back to years gone by, when a single rejection would knock me out of the game for months or years, I realize I’ve come a long, long way.
Whatever it is that keeps me going, I’m grateful for it. This force keeps me moving toward what sometimes seems like an impossible dream. It pushes me to find the nobility in failure and loss. It forces me to strive for something that could enable me to make a difference in some small way. Sometimes, I wish I were one of those fast break writers who make all the right moves and hit it big right out of the gate. But most of the time, I’m happy to have this quest, and to write the kind of things I enjoy writing (and reading). The kind of books and stories I can take pride in and hold up as examples of something truly unique.
Now for today’s travel photo. This one is from Austria, from 1990…a shot of me cruising on the Danube River with two good friends from a tour group I traveled with: Father Larry Kiniry and Father Bob Neugebauer. Father Bob is no longer with us, so consider this a salute to him. He was a great guy and a lot of fun to travel with. See you tomorrow.
Danube River, Austria, 1990
