Linda Glaser

My All Time Favorite Rejection

2009-02-03T22:54:00.006-06:00

News flash! This week I received my all time favorite rejection. According to my records, I'd sent my manuscript to this particular publisher in October 2005--a mere 3+ years ago. By now, I had assumed that my story had somehow found its way into their recycle bin without my being notified. But, amazingly enough, I was wrong!

Just this week, I received it back with a rejection letter explaining that they couldn't see a place for it on their list. I actually laughed out loud. Ha! I thought to myself. Who cares about you and your list? I don't. That's for sure.

Although nowadays, most rejections aren't devastating for me, this particular one was a pure joy. Why? I'd just gotten a book contract offer for that same story from another publisher. And the editor had told me they all loved it.

I savored the moment to the fullest. I wouldn't have thought that a rejection could actually make my day. But this one definitely did!

Inauguration Day Quote

2009-01-20T08:40:00.000-06:00

I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr. quotes

2009-01-19T09:02:00.002-06:00

It was hard to narrow it down, but here are a few of my favorite quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr.

Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Human salvation lies in the hands of the creatively maladjusted.

Incriminating Photo

2009-01-16T14:42:00.008-06:00

For those who will only consider returning to my blog if there is the promise of more incriminating photos of my dog, Nikki, I promise. There will be.

Nikki is always looking for ways to entice me into playing "catch me if you can."

This particular way did not work. I am not one to chase after a sponge.

A Clever Idea for Journal Privacy

2009-01-13T10:46:00.006-06:00

Here is an addendum to my Private Writing posting of a few days ago.

A friend of mine discovered that her boyfriend—an incorrigible snoop—was reading her journal. So she began writing things in there that she actually wanted him to hear. Then she hid it in a completely obvious place where her boyfriend could find it—but think he was getting away with something.

Now, you may ask, what kind of advice is that for keeping your journal private? Be patient. That was just the beginning of her cleverness. There’s more.

She then started another journal—a truly private one just for herself. That one, she hid in a much better place. I don’t know where. But even if I did, I wouldn’t tell.

Quote for the Week

2009-01-11T11:25:00.003-06:00

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Eleanor Roosevelt

Private Writing

2009-01-10T17:26:00.013-06:00

If I were asked to list the top ten most important things in my life, my journal would not be on the list any more than breathing would. However, if I were asked what I’d want with me if I were stranded on a desert island, I’d take a lifetime supply of blank spiral notebooks and an equally ample supply of pens.

If you are interested in keeping a journal, I suggest you start with a spiral notebook. Even if you already have a beautiful cloth bound blank book that was given to you by a dear friend, I still suggest the spiral notebook. Do yourself a favor. Lower the bar.

While, a cloth bound book screams, "Write something amazing and beautiful and breathtaking and worthy of being cloth bound," a spiral notebook simply sits there waiting for you to write something. Any mundane thing.

So, now, get a pen and write "Private Keep Out" on the front.

Just kidding. Your spiral notebook is sufficiently nondescript and non-noteworthy to keep it safe from most people. However, if you want further protection, you can use the old-banana-peel-in-the-bike-basket method. I learned it years ago from my sister back when we were living in Somerville, Massachusetts--a short bike ride from Harvard Yard where I worked.

All year long, we left our bikes in Harvard Yard unchained and unlocked. And they were never stolen. You guessed it. We both left an old banana peel in our bike basket. It worked far better than a lock. I admit, they were old bikes, but still...

So, if you want your journal to be safe, you can use this method--either figuratively or literally. However, may I suggest that you simply dog-ear the cover, scribble a grocery list on it, and cross off half the items? That should work.

There are other ways to keep your journal private as well. For instance, you can write in code. I have done this at times and then, months later, when re-reading the entry, even I didn't know what I was writing about.

Another idea is to write sloppy enough that no one cares to or even can read what you've written. This is a method that I use regularly.

Now here's one that is absolutely fool proof. Write whatever you want--your deepest, darkest secrets--and then rip out the page (this is definitely easier with a spiral notebook), tear it into little pieces and burn it. I have occasionally used this method. It can be extremely satisfying. And it certainly puts your mind at ease.

Hopefully, one or more of these suggestions will give you the feeling of safety that you need in order to write freely and comfortably whatever is on your mind or in your heart. That, after all, is the whole point of journal writing. More on this later.

A Quote for the New Year

2009-01-01T10:21:00.003-06:00

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it!

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." Goethe

Queen of Rejections

2008-12-31T10:10:00.003-06:00

Did I go overboard on my previous posting about FAN emails? I fear that I may have.

In real life, I’m actually the shy, quiet type. I don’t go around bragging about FAN mail. But, let’s face it, I do have an ulterior motive for writing this blog and it is not only to avoid doing the dishes.

Anyway, to balance things out, I will now write about my rejections. But where should I start? There’s so much to say! I can see already that my future postings will be sprinkled with news, musings and words of wisdom about rejections. Because, in my humble opinion, I am truly an expert on that topic.

I will now reveal a deep, dark secret. I fancy myself The Queen of Rejections. Is there anyone out there who cares to challenge me for the title? I daresay I have more rejections than most writers. For many years, every single rejection was a stab in the heart. I’d be walking around looking like a normal healthy human being but inside, I was doubled over with one lethal wound after another after another.

The good news is that I have learned to deal with rejections better. And that’s a very good thing because I estimate that my twenty published books represent about 2% of all the writing I’ve submitted over the years. You can do the math yourself. I'd rather not.

Sometime, I will share a recent rejection that really got to me, but not now. Right now, I want to talk about my two latest rejections—both from agents. One agent emailed back (after a mere ten months or so) saying she had decided against my story. She did say my writing showed “potential” and invited me to try her again. Hmmm. Any guesses if I will? Maybe, if I were immortal.

The other agent didn’t make any promises, BUT she suggested I get a “platform” to show the big publishers with whom she deals that I’ve established an “audience.” She suggested that I start a blog.

At that point, I barely knew what a blog was. I dismissed the idea entirely—for about 24 hours. Then I thought, hey, what do I have to lose? So here I am, writing this blog and absolutely loving it. Rejections are not all bad. There can be a silver lining. Or, as my mother always says, “From bad comes good.”

My Latest FAN Mail

2008-12-28T22:34:00.027-06:00

Why do I love email? Well, for one thing, I never know who I'll hear from. Sometimes it's from a friend or relative (even my sister and mother have recently joined the ranks of emailers). Sometimes it's from an editor (Can you believe I've gotten a book contract offer by email? Now that made my day.) Sometimes it's from a conference organizer asking if I'll present a journal writing workshop--which I absolutely love to do. And sometimes, it's from...drumroll....a FAN!--a real live person who has taken the time to tell me that one of my books is now a family favorite, or that it made them laugh or cry or even better, both.

Now, mind you, that doesn't happen every day or even every week. But when it does, well, nothing quite compares. It reminds me that my books have lives of their own. They are out there in the world connecting with all sorts of people--most of whom I will never meet. But once in a while, I get a glimpse of what they're up to. What a wonderful thing!

A while back, a teacher wrote thanking me for Bridge to America. She told me that her class was hanging on every word and begging for just one more chapter. She said she loved the book as much as they did and that at one point, when reading to the class, she could barely keep from crying. Now that was pure music to my ears.

One of my very favorites was from a 9 year old who wrote saying that he had recently read Bridge to America and had chosen it for his class project. Could he interview me? He wanted to take me out to lunch--his treat! He'd been saving up his allowance. A 9 year old! I was totally smitten.

A college student studying to become a teacher wrote to say she was using It's Winter for her class project. Would I be willing to answer some questions about my writing process? (Would I? Well, I'll let you figure that one out for yourself.) Weeks later, she wrote back with happy news. She'd gotten an A on the project. Bravo!

Not long ago, out of the blue, an email arrived from Canton Symphony Orchestra saying they wanted to use Our Big Home, An Earth Poem as the featured book for their fall children's concert. How cool is that?

But yesterday's FAN mail was definitely a first. A woman named

Mrs. Greenberg wrote to say she loved both my Mrs. Greenberg books

The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes

and Mrs. Greenberg's Messy Hanukkah.

The characters reminded her of her own family. She wanted me to inscribe copies for all the Mrs. Greenbergs in her life--great grandma, grandma, the aunts, and of course, herself--the mom. Let's hope they all enjoy them in good health! (a direct quote from The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes--for all you fans out there)

So how many times do I check my email everyday? Well, more than I care to admit. But hey, can you blame me?

My newest book Singing Crickets

2008-12-28T12:37:00.009-06:00

Hello! Welcome to my new blog! I'll be sharing book news, journal writing tips and lots of other interesting, hopefully entertaining, tidbits.

Here's my newest book Singing Crickets. Actually, my mother deserves credit for this one. She kept suggesting crickets as a new book topic for my young nonfiction "critter" series.

A true animal lover, my dear mother believes in feeding all animals. (How many times on family vacations did we discover her on the other side of the fence feeding the goats, the horses, the geese, you name it?) So, when she discovered crickets in her basement one winter she fed them--of course. Doesn't everybody do that sort of thing? Don't you feed your house guests? Well, they seemed very happy with that arrangement. Over the years, they multiplied and took up permanent residence.

Whenever we visited my mother, we shared quarters with countless hopping little ones. The babies were truly adorable--tiny miniatures of their parents. If my memory serves me, they especially liked the sliced grapes that my mother set out for them in a tiny upturned lid.

As far as I know, when she sold the house, my mother did not give the new owners feeding instructions for the downstairs clan. So I suspect that the descendants have re-established themselves in the great outdoors--which is where my new book, Singing Crickets, takes place.