Did I mention tenacity?

Ouch. Though I knew there were no guarantees that I would be published in J Journal (see 01/11/2011 post), the rejection letter I received from them today stung like an unexpected bite to the cheek (I meant the facial cheeks, but either set of cheeks would apply). As usually is the case, editors do not take (nor do they possess) the time to offer a critique along with the form letters they deliver to the dejected, I mean, rejected (okay -- again, I can't deny the applicability of either option).

Other feedback on my work has been positive. I ask -- indeed, beg-- for unflinching truthfulness when offering my writing for review. Tell me what I need to hear, rather than what my ego otherwise might desire to hear. If I suck, tell me I suck. If I'm good, tell me I'm good -- that's the message I send to anyone before soliciting their opinion.

Thus far, I've been given a green light, despite a few rejection slips along the way. Tenacity remains the key to success (as does whatever God-given ability I may have, notwithstanding my acknowledgment that I continue to grow as a writer).

Onward!

Two "new" poets discovered

Having just learned about their backgrounds and publication history, I am almost embarrassed to admit that I just "discovered" poets Linda Gregerson and Rowan Ricardo Phillips, the featured poets at last night's Poets Out Loud event at Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus.

I am looking forward to reading more of these writers' works and adding their books to my collection.

Target on... J Journal: New Writing on Justice

I cannot deny my disappointment that my memoir-in-progress, Play Dead, Roll Over, did not garner an award in The Missouri Review's annual contest; however, I quickly realized that I have indeed been setting my sights on potential cash winnings rather than targeting the piece toward the most appropriate literary journal. Consequently, I sent it to a publication that, just last year, initially I had identified as the logical, top-priority choice to submit the unpublished memoir excerpt: J Journal: New Writing on Justice.

The editors at J Journal this past summer had expressed interest in seeing some of my work; whether fortunately or unfortunately, I did not complete the 6,000-word piece until after they belatedly decided to move ahead their submission deadline due to the overwhelming volume of work they received. Hence, despite their expression of interest (which I am not equating with a promise or agreement of any sort), I was forced to delay being considered for publication.

Having recently discovered that J Journal's current deadline is Jan. 15, I delivered Play Dead, Roll Over to them via priority mail. J Journal would appear to be the best place for this particular piece, though it remains unknown whether the journal's editors will agree with that contention.