Mountains, and two more rejections

Yesterday we took a drive out to Palmer to visit with my partner’s sister for her birthday. It was late afternoon, the sky a lazy blue, and the mountains looked so lovely that I couldn’t stop snapping photos as if I were a silly-headed tourist.

While I don’t love winter, the cold or snow, I do love the mood of snow-capped peaks and how fierce the mountains look in the winter, how solemn and almost godly. It amazes me, even after all of these years.

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It was an almost perfect day. Almost perfect, because guess what was waiting in my inbox when I got home?

Yep: More rejections, and two this time, a double-whammy.

The Forge didn’t want the flash fiction I sent.

And Star 82 Press didn’t want the 50-word stories I submitted.

I sent work to over 25 magazines so I’m sure that the rejections are going to be coming hot and heavy for the next couple of months. With most literary magazines accepting between 1-5% of submissions, the chance of acceptance is slim. Yet I foolishly keep submitting. I don’t know if I’m stubborn, determined or simply stupid.

Whatever the case, spring is slowly coming to Alaska. The light is back–it’s now light past eight o’clock and lengthening each day. It’s a glorious time. We all hunger for light. It like a gift. And we are all thankful. Amen.

I’m also thankful for this: We’re picking up Seriously, the dog we co-parent, in just a few hours. I’ve missed her so, so much. There’s nothing like having a dog in the house that makes it feel like a home. And this dog is special. She’s burrowed her way into our hearts and become part of our family. (“Oh, Seriously! Seriously, we love you soooooooo.”)

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More news: I have a new bloggy crush, this time on Tim and Joanne Joseph (they have three names!) from A Note From Abroad. They’re currently traveling in Cambodia and they’ve been doing cool things like eating fried tarantulas and fending off mean monkeys. What I love most about their posts is how warm they are, and how accepting and fair their viewpoints. Check them out if you have time. I think you’re going to love them, too.

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Hi, Tim and Joanne. Welcome to my blog. P.S. I lifted your photo from your site. P.S.S. Eat some insects for me, okay?

 

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33 thoughts on “Mountains, and two more rejections”

    1. Oh man, the views up here are incredible, especially now that the light is back. The twilight is so soft, a muted silver-blue-lavender shade that almost does me with its loveliness. P.S. I’ve been writing fiction for years and years and years. Cheers and have a great week. P.S. Did you see the moon last night? Oh, man!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I didn’t see the partial lunar eclipse (overcast). The sky can glow a variety of subtle colors during twilight. I’m fond of the gold hue that can be seen near the horizon (if it’s clear enough), but it’s not very apparent. Your description makes me want to move! Haha

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  3. Beautiful photos! I love Seriously!!! And I got two rejections the day before yesterday. Some weeks I have received five or six, and it continually reminds me that I have stuff out there. Chin up! From a fellow dog enthusiast. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi, Carla! Isn’t Seriously great? We love her so much, probably too much. But wow, five or six rejections letters in one week–oh my! How did you cope? I would wallow in self-pity and stuff my face with food, preferably chocolate. Nothing helps rejection like chocolate. Cheers and have a great week.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sorry for the late reply! Must have skipped over a few replies a couple of weeks ago. I try to send out about thirty things every two months, and sometimes all the rejections come in at once! Chocolate helps. And wine. Cheers!

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Ew, that reminds me of eating chocolate ants in 7th grade science class. Actually it was called “health” class haha. We were supposed to talk about sex and talked about truck drivers on bennies and eating bugs.
    I’m sorry about the rejections, but you have had some amazing acceptances so no whining ;).

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Ohh, I want to eat chocolate ants too, lol. Sounds like a heck of a seventh-grade class. I used to throw grapes at my seventh-grade teacher’s bald head. I didn’t learn much but developed a wicked aim. P.S. I have been lucky in acceptances but, darn it, I want to be luckier, hee, hee. Happy writing!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. I know! A house is too quiet without a dog. We’ve already taken some long and wonderful walks, and today she rolled in dead stuff that required a long and messy bath, lol. Take care, pets to Rita and have a great weekend.

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  7. It’s definitely not a waste of time submitting to those literary magazines, despite the low acceptance rate. You can’t be one of the 1-5% unless you try. So keep at it! And good luck 🙂 And I agree that snow looks a lot more beautiful than it feels.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Meredith. And snow definitely looks more beautiful than it feels, lol. Thankfully it’s now melting. I can’t wait for the grass to sprout. I’m so hungry for green. Cheers and have a great week.

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  9. Beautiful pictures! Thanks for sharing them with those of us stuck on relatively flat land. Rejections are designed to make you feel stupid and keep you humble. They’re also designed to weed out the hobbyist from the determined professional. Don’t give up!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Bea. I was in Philly for seven weeks so I totally get the “stuck on relatively flat land” aspect. I feel blessed to live up here in Alaska, that is when I’m not shivering from the cold, lol. Cheers and take care.

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  11. So one day, an old man, who’d always wanted to win the lottery, died.

    When he got to heaven, he said to God, “God, I was faithful. I loved You. But for all those years on Earth, how come I never won the lottery?”

    God said, “Because you never bought a ticket.”

    Keep submitting. While the rejections are no picnic, to not submit would be worse.

    Cheers, my friend. Cheers!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh, Julie! I love your story. Thanks for the inspiration. So far, I’ve received no rejections yet this week (just wait, they’ll slam in fast and furious tomorrow, lol). Hope your week is going well. P.S. I played the scratch lottery when I was in Philly and I didn’t win anything, though my sister won $11. Cheers, my friend.

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  14. Hi, Shelly! Isn’t that a great name for a dog? I get such looks when I call for her on the trails, hee, hee. We can’t take credit for the name, though. We’re co-parenting her with another family and they named her.
    I say “Seriously?” all the time, too, and the dog charges across the house because she thinks I called her. It is just too cute.
    Cheers and take care.

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