Two days ago I published a link to my latest published haibun. That night I had an email to discuss some changes to a submission I’d made just before Christmas. I’ve made them so I’m hoping for an acceptance there. Then last night I had a n acceptance for four poems. They are senryu rather than haiku (based on human nature rather than nature) but the line is blurred in English language Japanese-style poetry. It was a bit unexpected as I’ve never been much good with the short poems and, to be honest, never expect much. To have four accepted at one time is close to being unbelievable, and puts my total of short poems published (well, theoretically published – they won’t actually be published until next month) up from two to six, which is a big jump.
It’s quite a good way to end the year – all I need to do now is find a good way to start the New Year.
It goes to show what happens when you set your mind to something. I had a rest at the beginning of the year. I had had a series of rejections, one of my favourite magazines closed and there was a change of editor at another one – a man who has never accepted anything from me, and continues to accept nothing from me. I admit I did give up for a time, but you can’t keep a good man down and at the end of July, after a lapse of nearly a year, I started submitting again.
Twenty submissions. Nine acceptances. This includes an acceptance from a magazine that turned me down three times previously.
The moral of the story is never give up. And if you do give up, remember that you can always start again. It’s not meant to be easy.
This is a lesson that can be applied to many things, and one which I really ought to remember, because I’m very bad at letting things lapse.
Latest News – just had confirmation the changes are acceptable and I therefore have another acceptance. This is a good end to the year.
I love this and your positive outlook! Keep doing what you’re doing… this is just the beginning to the beautiful future headed your way!
Thank you. 🙂
Well, that was a very good note to end the year on. I shall put your advice to good use and try to persevere a bit more in 2021.
Sometimes perseverance is all it takes. Sometimes, if I’m honest, perseverance is all I have…
Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration so I think that you are on the right track.
Yes, I keep telling Julia “This is what genius smells like”.
Congratulations, it seems you have found the winning formula!
Thank you. I have the winning formula at the moment, but it may all change. 🙂
Last year’s submissions included two blocks of three successive acceptances, but one run of five consecutive rejections and one of three. A delicate balance.
A brilliant end to 2020 for you – well done. May you have many more success in 2021. Happy New Year to you and yours 😊
Thank you, and to you. I see you are in still in Level 3. I hope this continues for you. We went into Level 4 this morning and I have been given another lockdown holiday. 🙂
Thank you!
Enjoy your lockdown holiday. I hope it won’t last long😊
Goodness only knows why Yorkshire is in Tier 3. But yes, I hope the number of cases doesn’t escalate.
Just be anti-social. You’re from Yorkshire, it should be second nature. 🙂
I’m not from Yorkshire. I just live here 😁
🙂 OK, I’ll let you off.
Thank you 😊
Goodwill to all men, etc… 🙂
Great news!
Thank you. I am now, of course, worrying about whether I have now peaked and it is all downhill from here… 🙂
Well, there’s that….
🙂
https://pacificparatrooper.files.wordpress.com/2020/12/new-year-baby-father-time-happy-new-year-animation.gif
Very well done. Happy New Year
Thank yuo Derrick. Now I need to engineer a good start to 2021…
🙂
Congratulations on all those acceptances, Quercus! That is a very good note to end the year on. 🙂
Yes, it is a good time of year to dwell on the good things that happen. Thank you. 🙂
🐱🐱 🐱🐱 🐱🐱 🐱 All the cats agree!
Any animal which can sleep all day and train a human to feed it is a good judge of these things. 🙂