I did 300 words on a mythical motorcycle gang earlier today, based on this one. We would, I decided pass our time hanging round on electric mobility scooters annoying teenagers and lecturing the police on how young they look when chastised for geriatric anti-social behaviour. Then I started to wonder if I really could start such a group and go round raising funds for local charities. I often have such ideas. They usually come to nothing, and this will be one of those doomed ideas. I no longer have the energy to do such things. Blame LA, it was one of her comments that started my train of thought. Anyway, by the time I’d finished, I realised I had better things to write about. That really sums me up doesn’t it? I was going to write about “The Sons of Apathy” but I couldn’t be bothered.
Meanwhile, I had the provisional acceptance confirmed (after a discussion of the correct spelling of Breughel). That’s the correct one for all the family apart from Pieter Breugel the Elder, who dropped the “h” in 1559. As this was the man I was writing about, it meant I was wrong, or even worse, sloppy with my research.
The eighth and final editor replied today. I have been trying to get one of my haibun into his magazine since I started writing haibun. It’s probably six or seven years – time flies. I wrote to him to make up the numbers and didn’t expect much, but he has finally accepted one! Not only that, it is one that has been submitted to something like five other editors. Admittedly it’s been tightened up over the years, but it just goes to show the value of persistence and the way that different editors view submissions. So, the final figures for January – nine submissions, eight acceptances. It’s a good start but it’s obviously too good to last.
Finally, we had long-tailed tits in the garden this afternoon and as the light faded the parakeets flew over to their roost in the country park. One day, I hope, one will drop in for a snack.
The Cormorant Tree
Awesome acceptance rate!!
Thank you. 🙂 I am happy. The next lot are going to be a reality check as they are places I traditionally do less well.
Good luck
🙂 Thank you.
A very commendable rate of acceptances. Your bird life seems to be very active too. I am expecting an essay from you entitled, “Zen and the art of not writing about apathy.” I am thinking of something similar to the famous piece of music by John Cage.
One of my accepted haibun is actually on the subject of the John Cage music piece. Once it is published I will reprint it on the blog. 🙂
As for “Zen and . . . oh, what’s the point?” _ may have found another title. Thank you for the inspiration.
Congratulations on that hard won acceptance! I am glad you persevered, Simon!
There are pockets of parakeets living in the US, too. None in my area, though.
It’s clearly an adaptable bird, and one we could learn from. We had Monk parakeets but they have all been eradicated as a danger to the infrastructure.
Yes, the value of persistence. Congrats, congrats. And parakeets in your neighborhood? Wonderful!
The parakeets seem to find the country very much to their liking, despite really being birds of the tropics.
Absolutely amazing! Poor things couldn’t survive here.
They would have to become migratory like the hummingbirds. Summer in Maine, winter in Mexico. So much for the wall.
Good acceptance news. Your not being bothered to write about “Sons of Apathy” raised a 🙂
Thank you Derrick. Any day where I made someone smile is a day that has been used wisely. 🙂