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So bad they rejected it twice

Just raising my head above the parapet to report that I’m about 20k words into my book and now at the point where I have to start printing pages off and going through everything with post-its, before I lose my many threads. It’s amazing how I can be convinced I’ve already covered something, or filed something, or penciled in a name and a quote, and then suddenly nothing is as it should be. Ack! I’m trying to do this one on my own, having had some research help with the last book. Remembering all the people I’ve contacted, and where I wanted to use a quote from them, is the hardest thing, despite it all being on spreadsheets.

Anyway, poetry is entirely gone from me at the moment. Although I’ve got stuff out, half of it is to competitions which is akin to playing those fixed odds betting machines. Entering one more comp won’t do any harm! Hey, I might even win! And next thing the (metaphorical) bailiff comes knocking. And for the first time in ages I’ve nothing forthcoming in magazines.

Then, having been rejected by The London Magazine, two weeks later they send another email – we’re sorry to tell you… you mean, you haven’t changed your mind? Or were those poems so bad you had to reject them twice? I did try having a little joke with the sender of the email, but (no doubt in the spirit of not engaging with possible nutters) she declined to respond.

A couple of good things though: the Heavenly Bodies anthology which I’m proud to be a part of is out on April 30th, although I won’t make the launch as it’s the other end of the country from me. Can’t wait to see it! Plus, my pamphlet should be arriving this week. I made some amends after seeing the proof, including changing the cover title and name from all caps to sentence case, as all caps seemed A BIT SHOUTY.

Would be nice to now go out for a walk in the sunshine, but … those post-its are calling to me.

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  1. Oh yes – I remember you posting some time ago about your constellation for the anthology. I hope you got out for your walk 🙂

    • Thanks Elly! I didn’t … but am out today for a couple of appointments, so will stretch my legs. Not so sunny now though 🙂

  2. Sorry about the rejections plural, but your title was really funny. Can you put a link to the Heavenly Bodies anthology please? I or someone else might feel like buying it.

    • Hi there and thanks for commenting … yes, you have to laugh about rejections, or the alternative can really drag you down! Re: Heavenly Bodies, I don’t think there is a link yet, it’s been co-ordinated via a Facebook group by Rebecca Jane Irvine. Will post an update when I have one.

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Robin Houghton 2021