Pamster,
what happened in 2 days...sweetie?
you were entering a new contest and now you are quiting?????
You sound very frustrated.
Don't give up your dream...you're a writer...it is who you are.
((((HUGS))))
bizi

I got some hard feedback on the book I am so proud of at that writer's board. it hurt a LOT and made me feel like a two bit hack, not a writer so I just don't know. I just don't think this rejection is helping me, it hurts pretty bad and it's so easy for someone reading it to just say do this over you know? I just don't feel like I can continue giving it the same level of attention I used to. I just don't see any prize at the end of the tunnel anymore. I am sure they will not accept my entry for the contest, we'll see though, I just doubt it's going to matter much if they did accept it, I know there is just too many entries to have any chance of being appreciated you know?

Pam

I realize you want to sell a entry or book.

But how about starting smaller? Like say you write a story about what
its like to go through a week or month with a child with autism.

But also tell what its like when you are technically the only real support
emotionally for this child say 6 days of the week. Tell how his ups and
downs change when the meds aren't just right.

Give a account explaining how it is when you also have a disability if your
willing. Explaining that you have to think about what you need to do for
yourself too.

The meds, the therapy, the needs for others to understand.

Do this and send it to say parents, exceptional parents.

Things that are wanting to show more on autism, and children with special needs.

Do small things and build up.

DOnna

Just thinking of you tonight sweetie,
wondering if the trazadone is helping you sleep any better?
How is your anxiety?
((((HUGS))))
bizi

Thanks for the advice Donna, I will see if the urge to work on something like that hits, right now I just feel all sick over it and depressed.

Thanks for the hugs bizi, I woke up kinda tired today and had a headache, but it's gone now. I don't think the trazadone is really going to work for me, but I am giving it a few more days. I don't know if its just because it takes awhile to really start working but it didn't make me tired for over two hours, and that kinda sucks. *Sigh* I just feel terrible. Like I wish I could lay in bed all day and do nothing. In fact I am going to go lay down right now.

((((((Pamsters)))))),

You're taking the feedback as 'rejection' and the rejection as 'rejection'.

There's a lot of different ways of looking at this though:

* Does this person have the skills to 'criticize' you?? Have you ever read anything that this person has written??

If he/she is a lousy writer and just criticized you to be mean, then he/she is an insignificant gnat and you shouldn't be listening to him/her.

If they write well, then the advice could be valuable, even though it was harsh.

If you take the 'advice', will it make you a better writer??

* It depends what audience you're writing for. If *I* were to read a book about algebra, I'd find it boring. So ... my honest opinion would be 'boring'.

If you weren't writing for ME or someone like me, my criticism wouldn't amount to a hill of beans.

If you were trying to write for ME, then you'd need to change the writing to hold my attention.

Do you see what I'm trying to say, Pamsters?? If you weren't hurting so much about other stuff gong on in your life, then is it possible that the 'advice' could be considered "valuable" and might show you what you need to know in order to move along??

THEN, there's the whole other issue about the way that some people give 'advice'. Advice should come from the heart and be an offer to help. Some people are just not capable of that. Like I said "gnats on the @$$ of society"

Can you take another look at this whole encounter and tell if this person was REALLY trying to help or not?? Even if their technique might have ??

Hugs.

Barb

I don't know whether they meant it nicely or not, it's the tone that upset me. It was just that some of it seemed sarcastic, although I can't be sure. It's been discussed and others have agreed with the feedback so what can I say? I don't know. I really don't know. I think I am too close to the book to see it for what it is so I appreciated the feedback on one hand, but thikn they could have gone a little nicer in how they said what they had to say.

Thanks for the hugs Barb.

Dear Pamster,
I am sorry that your son is having such a hard time right now.
I hope that you hear from your doctor soon.
This creates an enormous stress for you and and your family.
I wish it were easier for you....
better days are coming my dear
((((((HUGS))))))
bizi

I sure hope so bizi, I need some good days. So far the doc didn't get back to me and as it's after 6 so I doubt we're going to hear from her tonight.

Pamster,

Have you ever tried taking tylenol PM?
Alot of people take jsut benadryl to help them sleep(that is the PM part of OTC meds).
I know what it is like to not sleep well....hoping you are able to rest.
bizi