It's been awhile since I wrote something and submitted it for publication in the academic sense. Or, rather, it's been a long time since I enjoyed the depression that follows each rejection. I use the word "enjoyed" loosely. Of course, you can never have the glory of getting published unless you risk (and experience frequently) rejection.
I know this. Oh boy, I know this.
I guess it was time.
Within the past week, I've submitted two articles - one a research article that I spent WAYYYYYY too much of my life involved in over the past 2 years, the other an essay that I whipped out in very. short. order. It's funny the juxtaposition of the two. Here's one that I've poured MONTHS into - from doing the research, to analyzing, to writing. I cannot begin to describe the pain involved. The other, came spilling out from under my fingertips, formatted, cover-lettered, and submitted within 2 days. Granted, the essay is a) short b) possibly completely wrong for the audience, and, in retrospect, I may be DSM-IV impulsive for sending it out without a set of sane eyes reviewing it, but it's out there. Done. No retracting now. Gulp.
I'm putting myself out there.
And, you know what? It feels good. (At least for now, before the first rejection letter comes. Then, it will feel very, very bad as I curl up in a ball and feel like Mrs. Rejecto of Rejectville.)
Isn't this supposed to get easier? The thick skin, I mean. Where is it? My skin still looks like the same old thin stuff it has always been.
On the one hand, I feel completely of the wrong constitution to make it in this writing biz. On the other hand, I do, despite the inevitable doom, still look hopefully up into the sky.
You are a brilliant woman.
Posted by: flutter | Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 11:50 PM
Fingers crossed for more accolades...and MSNBC appearances.
Posted by: Manic Mommy | Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 09:24 AM
flutter, manic: please don't tell everyone I paid you to say that.
Posted by: KC | Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 09:28 PM
If you figure out where to get the thick skin, can you share?
And I agree with the other posters: brilliant and entertaining. What more can we ask for?
Posted by: Ali | Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 11:33 PM
Good luck! I hope you hear good news soon.
Posted by: Asianmommy | Friday, October 16, 2009 at 12:05 AM
ali, asianmommy: thank you. As I wrote to ali privately, hope you are satisfied by making me skip to work today. I looked completely ridiculous.
Posted by: KC | Friday, October 16, 2009 at 07:34 PM
I keep hoping that my skin will get thicker as I get older. Sadly, I just find that my skin gets older as I get older. And looks slightly scaly. You'd think scales would be helpful for deflecting the barbs of rejection...
Anyhow, good for you putting yourself out there! I hope it pays off.
Posted by: alejna | Friday, October 16, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Good luck!!
Posted by: Kyla | Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 05:53 PM
Hey wishing you all the best for your article publication
I just started reading your blog (link from mothers in medicine) and finished everything in a week. Love it. I am a full time working dentist and also a mother to a 18 month old girl - I can identify so many things that you've written!
Posted by: anna | Monday, October 19, 2009 at 09:15 AM
It is interesting to read your articles.I wish you best of luck for publication of article.
Posted by: ipod zubehör | Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 02:53 AM