The ultimate aim of every writer is to be read, and in the past week people have put on notes about rejection letters, which do hit the soul, as we all know. But look at this: this site gives us all a chance to have our work, by uploading, for all to see, and I think we should take personal comfort in that fact. It isn't a wide audienace, granted, but the words we've all laboured over and delicately pruned can be seen.

So when down, as another rejection letter strikes the floor, take small comfort in this site.

Steve

Hi,

Just to put another slant on this, my ultimate aim isn't just to be read. It's to be creative and enjoy it. Generally, creative people aren't happy unless they are creating! I've suffered periods of being creatively 'blocked'. I've suffered anxiety about what other people think of my work and fears about never being successful as a writer. But ironically, I've found it's those kind of thoughts that are most detrimental to the creative process.

My attitude has changed over the last year or so. I write because it's in me to do so. I think the process should be just as important as the end result. That's what gives me comfort when the rejection letters come through my letterbox!

And yes, this site helps too (I've just become a full member and haven't seen another site actively used by so many good writers with so many interesting things to say).

Catherine

Catherine, you said it all. Respect.

Pete

I write merely because there are feelings inside me that, if I don't express, will choke me and turn me into something I cannot control. People say I have issues, and they're right! But I have a method for dealing with them that doesn't require me to vent physical rage by battering my fists into brick walls, or something worse.

I write because it keeps the darker side of what I am in the background and not the fore, and allows me to go on being me and not somebody else.

That a few people enjoy reading the results of my expression is purely and truly a bonus to me.

This morning I put on my lovely black leather gloves and started to envision them wrapping themselves around someone's throat. This is a signal to me that I need to start writing something.

I think, for whatever reason, it comes down to that one little word, 'escapism'.


steve

Oh my Goodness! After reading Insane Bartender's comments above I realise that we share yet another characteristic... I write for the same driving internal reasons. However I don't use black leather gloves, my choice is the triangular glass of steaming green liquid swallowed while standing behind a sofa.

Len

Len, what are you on!
I found a very good use for my rejection letters. I took them to the short story writing programme I've been running, and everyone had a really good laugh about them. It was my best session. The prize amongst them was from some publishers who said 'We are awful people, it is all our fault, we are not taking your story. Do not contact us.'
Becca.

Becca,
In a lot of the best comedy/horror films there is the character who drinks the steaming green liquid from the triangular glass, collapses behind the sofa and gradually rises from his hidden position a changed man.

This is one way to re-vitalise the creative streak within oneself. I know a man who produces this liquid which is also good for curling the hair and general cleaning purposes and for stripping paint... not to be missed if you are keen on DIY.

Len

<Added>

I don't receive any rejection letters.

Laughing.

I've always wanted to fill a glass with absinthe and a few cubes of cry ice, dim the lights (but have a wavy purple/green light behind me) and laugh in a deep, menacing tone to the tune of some meaningful piano notes.

But I'm happy to accept that I'm just not right.