Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Someone said to me…(week 1)

Someone said to me, “You need a platform if you want to get published.”
I said, “I choose B.”
Read how I got there


 Someone said to me, “You need a platform if you want to get published.”

I replied, “But you don’t understand, I have a platform.”

But they didn’t answer because they couldn’t hear me – even though I waved my hands wildly and hit my forehead with my fist. And if I really did respond to their email, I’m sure I’d be given the scarlet letter for new authors – a big letter ‘S’ for stalker, also known as ‘S’ for spam.

So I looked out my window and decided to speak to the tree that was graciously hanging on my every word. I gently pushed the curtain back so he won’t miss any of my speech.

I began, “My platform is me. I mean my platform is embracing adversity. If you read my book, my platform is clear. Hmmm.. Shit, maybe I don’t have a platform.”

Ahh… self doubt found its way into my heart again. Self doubt is a frequent visitor of many aspiring authors like me. Realizing I was not alone, I said to myself, “If you let self doubt win, then you lose. It’s that simple.”

I stood up to show the tree that I was serious now. “Look, I was given lots of hurdles; an alcoholic parent, abuse and poverty but I’m standing strong on the other side. I always thought I was so different and I longed to be the same. First I longed to be part of the normal-kid-club and then I longed to be part of the normal-mom club. You know, the ones that have it all figured out.”

The glare of the sun interrupted me. “Most of us don’t have it all figured out, you know.”

“Exactly!” I said as I threw my arms in the air. “If you know someone that has it all figured out I would bet you don’t really know them.”

The tree shook a leaf off toward me and said, “So what’s your point? You’re platform sounds more like a therapy session.”

My point is that we all know how it feels to be different. We all have our own struggles and we don’t always have the power to overcome them. I am saying, stand strong, be different, be yourself and don’t give up. My family was weird and screwed up as many familes are. That's why people relate to my story. I'm their sister, mother, daughter or friend. They will cry with me, laugh with me and in the end they will feel there is just one more person in the world that understands.

So, here's my platform:
Individuality and empowerment through acceptance of adversity.

And here's my mantra for today:
If I don’t believe in myself, I can’t expect you to believe in me. I will be published. I truly believe it. I can see it. I can feel it. I will say it out loud.

For writers in the midst of query and rejection letter hell, I say you are not alone. But you have a choice to make.
A) Let one letter from one person who doesn’t know you, determine your fate, or
B) File the letter away, shake off the self doubt and move on.

I said, “I choose B.”

Thanks for stopping by.
Please support me with your honesty.

11 comments:

  1. Hey Buffi. As someone who is yet to reach that stage in my writing career (that's if i ever reach it) i admire you greatly in the handling of rejection. It's difficult when someone doesn't understand your story or its message, or when they are overly critical of it. It can be too much. But with perseverence you will get there. The book sounds fascinating. I absolutely would read it. So file that letter away and keep going. :)

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  2. It's all about believing in yourself! You're right, if you don't, who will?

    I hope you get published soon! Your story sounds extremely... relateable. Good luck!

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  3. This post is a breath of air for my soul. Have you thought about writing fiction too? Your writing is fantastic and it might be fun to see what characters you dream up. It helps to know I'm not alone in this- it's sad looking at my list keeping tracking of agents I've queried to realize that the big black word 'rejection' is next to more and more of them. The word 'platform' is the bane of my existence right now!

    But still. We believe in our story. We believe in our writing. There is someone, somewhere who will take a chance on us. Keep truckin!

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  4. Lou & Christine > Thanks so much for the words of encouragement. Every word helps me move forward.

    Sarah > We're on this path together girl!!! Hey - I just submitted my first page to webook.com - checkout that site for your book. Thanks for your support!

    -Buffi

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  5. I am going to be very antsy in the car tomorrow, until we get to our first stop that has a computer, so I can read more! Thanks, Buffi!!

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  6. Buffie, I just read about "Breaking The Silence."
    Sister, you and I have to talk! I will tell you what happened when I broke the silence.

    I am seriously sorry that I have to take this damn trip!

    More later!
    J.

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  7. Following you from Friday Follow and look forward to reading more about you as an author and your path toward getting published!

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  8. I too am following you from Friday Follow and can't wait to get to know you better...I came from Ozzie and Harriett but ended up married and living in "Disfunction Junction" with an alcoholic husband (now ex) and a recovering drug addict son...I look forward to reading your books...Best of luck!
    ~Mary

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  9. I took your poll and never give up
    Visiting from FF, and I am now following you from on GFC as thrifty canucks.
    Please visit my blog and if you can follow me too at
    http://www.thriftycanucks.blogspot.com/

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  10. Love the overview of the book:) I found you on Friday Follow and I am happy to say I am your 100th Follower! I also took your poll. I hope you will stop by my site and follow me too!

    Thanks, Mellisa
    www.funsavingmoney.net

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  11. Acceptance of Adversity is hard for me. I am still trying to get to that stage. But you are right, we must move on to grow..or we get stuck in the anger. '

    This was powerful.

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