I may not have collected as many rejection slips as some writers who are more consistent with sending their work away to publishing companies. But I have persisted.
I have attended writing conferences, I belong to a writers' group, I have sold my novels at Indigo and Word on the Street in Toronto, I have appealed to newspapers, I have reached out on Twitter, and, as you can see, I have contributed to this blog.
I am currently writing a novel that concerns a school shooting and the effect it has on the people it involves. Is it timely or...just another?
What will I do differently with this attempt? I will pursue an editor and, if they see potential in my draft, an agent.
And wouldn't you know it, while I was labouring away at my own creativity, my niece snuck up on me, tapped me on my left shoulder. When I looked, she surpassed me on the right and is publishing her own novel. Below is the front cover of her book.
I am damned proud of her and I live vicariously through her hard work, claiming that I, in some small way, have inspired her.
It's one way of getting recognized.