tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311201101178073119.post1796232872060402154..comments2023-08-24T05:28:28.355-05:00Comments on Myself the only Kangaroo among the Beauty: Getting Over My Sad SelfSandy Longhornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04735445958970512617noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311201101178073119.post-21768619930841421792011-03-02T16:45:22.260-06:002011-03-02T16:45:22.260-06:00Thanks, Molly! I appreciate the support.Thanks, Molly! I appreciate the support.Sandy Longhornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04735445958970512617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311201101178073119.post-56895152954657355722011-03-02T16:35:44.690-06:002011-03-02T16:35:44.690-06:00Sandy, I don't consider what you shared to be ...Sandy, I don't consider what you shared to be drama. To me, it's the genuine struggles and reflections of a person generous enough to share them with others.Mollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03597990526818589453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311201101178073119.post-16955725417278469772011-03-02T13:22:45.036-06:002011-03-02T13:22:45.036-06:00Thanks for commenting Justin. It's comforting...Thanks for commenting Justin. It's comforting to know that a lot of us worry about these things.Sandy Longhornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04735445958970512617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311201101178073119.post-24798354799820082472011-03-02T12:55:59.315-06:002011-03-02T12:55:59.315-06:00As just one person, I can't speak to what othe...As just one person, I can't speak to what other men think, but I worry a lot about bias and the like. <br /><br />I am constantly wondering if I can send my poems here, or there, whether I can send my manuscript to this contest or that one. I have even pulled poems after learning of the chance of bias. Still, there came a point when I learned to push through my fears and trust the editor (at least with journals) because I know quite a few---or at least I think I know them.<br /><br />For me, especially with my second manuscript, I worry when I ask for people to read my work because I always think less of it and I am afraid people aren't telling me the truth, that my book sucks.<br /><br />I mean it. I am now more afraid of people being 'nice' in giving me feedback than I am worried about getting published as a favor.<br /><br />When I edit HCR, I never make bones about publishing friends. If I like a poem, it's going in the issue, no matter who wrote it. Well, except for me. Iwill never feature my own work, but that is an entirely different subject altogether.Justin Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12161484350184865575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311201101178073119.post-18325861773622819822011-03-02T11:19:50.106-06:002011-03-02T11:19:50.106-06:00Thanks, Kathleen. It's a relief to know I did...Thanks, Kathleen. It's a relief to know I didn't insult you! Your comments are definitely useful as I work through this.Sandy Longhornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04735445958970512617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311201101178073119.post-90712941533280646102011-03-02T11:08:18.088-06:002011-03-02T11:08:18.088-06:00I agree that it's great to work out your drama...I agree that it's great to work out your drama online! I'm honored to play a small role in your drama! (And I was not the least bit insulted!) I think your nagging doubts are real and shared. I sure have them, and more! This is one of the ways we form the real connections, I think, in being honest and vulnerable, etc. Sharing our fears and doubts.<br /><br />The work has to stand on its own, and you can trust that. No friend or friendly editor wants to publish a crap poem, you can be sure of that. (Well, I could be wrong. That's one of my nagging doubts, that indeed a bunch of people who can't or don't want to judge each other's work are nonetheless promoting it, but I'll set that aside for a moment.)<br /><br />I used to work in the theatre. No director wants to cast someone in a play who can't really do the role. So if you audition for a friend, or get invited to audition because you have friends in the company, who can attest to your reliability as an actor (you won't come to rehearsal drunk, etc.), you are still only going to get the role if you are good. (And/or if your physical characteristics match the needs of the role and the other cast members, etc., an annoying reality for actors.)<br /><br />I think you have indeed clarified the difference between an annoying cronyism that has unfairness built into it and a real network of writers and editors who admire and support and help promote each other's work.<br /><br />Keep on sharing your process and the nagging doubts connected to it. It helps us all!Kathleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06559881249054540947noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311201101178073119.post-75356318947115353272011-03-02T08:42:02.624-06:002011-03-02T08:42:02.624-06:00Kristin! You make me laugh at my 16-year-old self...Kristin! You make me laugh at my 16-year-old self. I was so addicted to those myths perpetrated by John Hughes, et. al. Life in Waterloo, IA looked nothing like life in those movies, let me tell ya. :)<br /><br />Happy wandering in the district today.Sandy Longhornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04735445958970512617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311201101178073119.post-18363594892645876172011-03-02T08:39:35.565-06:002011-03-02T08:39:35.565-06:00I think it's great that you work out your poet...I think it's great that you work out your poetry drama online--it's great for others to see, and it helps to see that as individuals, we're not the only ones with doubts.<br /><br />It's like high school, where everyone seemed very cool and self-assured, and I was convinced that they all had the most amazing social lives, while I stayed home with my books or went to see a movie and have pizza with friends.<br /><br />But probably no one had the kind of amazing social life that I thought they did--OK, maybe one or two. The rest of us went to movies and shared pizza.<br /><br />Hey, in retrospect, we did have amazing social lives--just not the kind that popular media trained us to expect. Where was my special, gorgeous boyfriend? The one who secretly loved me and the only one who knew how special I was and would declare his love at the prom (yes, I have "Pretty in Pink" on the brain, even though it came out after my high school graduation).<br /><br />OK, now I should stop working out my high school angst online and taking up your commenting section while doing so :)<br /><br />I'm very happy you're part of my virtual Lake District too!Kristin Berkey-Abbotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16841824206762029363noreply@blogger.com