reader – Page 5 – Noreen Lace

Thanks for the support!

Published on October 14, 2019October 11, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

Have you heard the old adage, the better you do the few people will like/support you. Sad, but true, in some cases. But, as always, we must focus on those who do support us.

Those who wish others wellness and success regardless of where they are in their own life and success are the best kind of people to be around. Sadly, in this ultra competitive world, our success may go beyond jealously to make people feel as if they’re not accomplishing enough.

However, no one should feel that way. Everyone is on their own path and their life is different, their ideas of success might be different. And wishing another well should not hurt.

There is room enough for everyone. There is no proverbial “top.” There’s a large, flat surface where we can all meander, eat cookies, and drink tea.

I want to thank those of you who wish me and others well.

This poster is an example of a well-wisher. Someone, a friend of a friend in fact, made this advertisement for me.

THANK YOU!

Book Signings!

Published on September 30, 2019September 30, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

Failure is a great teacher!

Published on September 16, 2019September 15, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

Challenge yourself

Published on September 9, 2019September 9, 2019 by Noreen Lace2 Comments

Caving in the Sierras six or seven years ago.

We have to challenge ourselves to become better versions of our old selves.

To become better at anything, we must challenge ourselves.

To grow, learn, understand, and create new connections in our brains, we must get out of our comfort zones.

That is in writing and in life.

Our brain, our writing, our lives are built on what came before. If there’s nothing new to add, we can’t grow.

Growing makes us better people, better writers. Therefore, challenges make us become better people, better writers.

* saying things in different ways can help more people understand and relate.

Author to Author

Published on September 6, 2019September 5, 2019 by Noreen Lace2 Comments

Hanging out with people who are serious about their writing feeds a writer’s soul.

Here’s me with Dan Rhys, author of The Lone Escapist. Where’s my book?! I need to start carrying a copy with me!

The Unintended Consequences of Story

Published on September 4, 2019September 2, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

I heard from a woman who asked me to share a story with young people. The story was my own, The Healer’s Daughter, from How to Throw a Psychic a Surprise Party.

She said the story was valuable and every young person who has ever bullied or been bullied needs to read it.

Bullying is a part of the story, and for the little girl in the story, it’s a very big part – as it was for any and all of us who were on the wrong side of the mean kids.

She felt, I believe, it would also help bullies to gain some sort of understanding. Maybe, maybe not. But I appreciated her feedback on what some people feel is a minor part of the story.

I appreciate the feedback and that my story touched her so much she feels the need to share it.

Much appreciated.

Our stories have power. And they have unintended consequences. I’m happy that mine leaned toward positive.

Writing Buddy

Published on August 26, 2019August 25, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

My new writing buddy. He must have worked, had a breakthrough with my latest WIP!

20190825_211224

One bad rejection…

Published on August 12, 2019August 11, 2019 by Noreen LaceLeave a comment

Doesn’t spoil the whole bunch.

I usually receive rejections that are quite nice. “We really liked it, but…” or “Please submit again…”

I asked someone more experienced than I and was told that these are usually genuine and the editor, whether or not your work was accepted, liked the work.

I have been told that it didn’t quite fit their needs or that there was some disagreement between editors, which I again take as reasonably good rejects.

Once in awhile I get a rejection which makes me wonder what story they actually read.

I submitted to one journal who called for the topic of Deception, “Friends, Lovers, and Liars.” It’s a story about a woman who even deceives herself as she she comments on other’s deceptions. I thought it was spot on. The editor, however, did not and wrote, “I’m not sure why you submitted this. This doesn’t at all fit our call…” He wen ton to make me believe that I had triggered something.

The story is about a woman who has an affair. I have a feeling, the story struck a nerve. Ouch. Sorry. (The story has been published twice since then. – You can find it here.)

I recently received another long and involved rejection, although I don’t think because it acted as a trigger. But the rejection was nearly as long as the story. (haha – I’m exaggerating, of course.) But it stated things like “promises and doesn’t deliver,” “narrative too thin.”

Again, I wondered – had this editor read MY story? Or did he/she confuse it with another. This has happened once before.

I received a rejection – thanks, but no thanks, and then another the next day: “Thanks for submitting, we love it and would like to publish it!

If this happened face to face, I would nod and smile. I do something similar through email – “Great, thanks!”

Someone asked me if I respond to negative rejections with commentary. I don’t usually. I think I have once, but the editor was so nice about it. He gave me commentary, and then still asked me to submit again! Him, I thanked.

If these were feedback type of rejections, I might thank them. But I feel that they are not. It’s someone who is feeling his/her power and thinks they know everything.

I don’t respond to people like that. There is always to say no nicely. There is always away to give someone feedback – even negative – and be nice about it. Edit

ors should be experts on that.

By the way – that story with the “too thin narrative” was accepted to a number of journals within a week of sending it out. I’d barely gotten to sending out the withdraw notices when a number of others had sent acceptances – my apologies to those journals. I’ll do it the same day from now on!

That story, too, appears in my latest book of short stories – How to Throw a Psychic a Surprise Party.

One negative rejection should not upset a writer. They are to be expected. Do not let it take away all the nice rejections and don’t let it come near your brilliant acceptances!