Wednesday, November 27, 2013

FOR THE LOVE OF IT

   by Kathy Cannon Wiechman


If you have followed this blog, you know that I have been writing since I was a child. I loved it then. I love it still.

In one recent post, called THE SPIDER, I talked about persistence and vowed to never give up. I have never been tempted to give up writing because I write for the love of it. However, I have often threatened to give up submitting my work. Rejection hurts!

I rarely mention how many years I have been submitting, because I feel it makes me sound like such a failure. Would someone say, “If she hasn’t been published in all that time, she must not be very good.”? Today I confess. Earlier this year I marked 39 years since I first submitted a novel manuscript to an editor. 39 years of submitting and 39 years of the pain of rejection. But I refused to give up. And after all, I love to write.

I received some consolation. A few of my poems were published, and I won prizes with some of my short stories. And many of you have read my blog posts and left encouraging comments. But a novel contract remained out of reach.

Until now!

Last week, Calkins Creek (American history imprint of Highlights/Boyds Mills Press) offered me a contract on Novel #11, titled LIKE A RIVER. It was worth the wait! A novel I wrote for young readers will finally be available to be read by them. It’s what I dreamed of for almost 40 years. I’m still pinching myself.


I’ll keep you posted here on LIKE A RIVER’s progress toward publication. I hope you all will read it when it launches.

But when I begin the next novel and the one after that, it will be for the love of it. After all, that’s the real reason I write.

26 comments:

  1. Congrats and yes doing what your love is worth it!

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  2. Congrats! So excited for you! That's so awesome that you stuck with it.

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    1. Thanks, Natalie. Some of the rejections were really painful, after getting so, so close. But I'm glad my love for the process kept me from throwing in the towel back then.

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  3. So proud of you! You deserve this, Kathy! Can't wait to get my copy :)

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  4. Congratulations, Kathy! I'm so thrilled, and so proud of you. You are a testament to the truth of perseverance. Write on! Keep us posted.

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    1. Thanks, Clara. Support & encouragement from friends like you have made it easier.

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  5. Great news. Great publisher and perhaps the best history editor in the business. Can't wait to celebrate with you. So well-deserved.

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    1. Thanks, Rich. I appreciate all your help & encouragement.

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    2. You both make a great team! All of those Highlights workshops paid off big time!

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  6. Congratulations. What an inspiring story. Best of luck to you on your journey.

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  7. Kathy, knowing your work will be published and read by many young readers brings me great joy. I'll be celebrating this for many years, as I know you will, too. I can't wait to hold a copy of Like A River. Congratulations to you, and Hurray for the World!

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  8. You are such an inspiration! I will be the one openly sobbing at the ALA dinner when you accept your Newbery.

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  9. Congratulations, Kathy. You are a much-needed inspiration.

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  10. Oh my gosh, congratulations, Kathy!!! Definitely well worth the wait!!

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    1. Thank you, Lynda. I guess I am the "poster child" for not giving up. You just never know when it will be your turn.

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  11. Kathy, you are a testament that perseverance in writing is a must. Congratulations!! And How Exciting!

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    1. Thank you, Cathrina! I hope writers who were as frustrated as I was for so long can find the hope it takes to keep at it. It is worth it!

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  12. Congrats! You're fulfilling the dream. May I live vicariously through you?

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    1. Absolutely! At least until your own dream comes to pass. I'll keep my fingers crossed for that.

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