Parked in front of the post office, I sat in my car, sunlight filtered through the bare branches of a tree, and in half-shadow, half-light; I poured over pages of words. Words I had already written, new words, restructured paragraphs, chapters made over … and then it was DONE.
Remember the editorial feedback I received from Grosset & Dunlap? From the moment that letter came into my care, I began the revision process and that’s ALL I’ve done ever since. Well. Okay, I did do other stuff. But I gave this my best. I really did.
Now the revised manuscript is on its way to New York. Here are my thoughts about this: I’M SCARED! I mean, this is going to be a new kind of rejection. You know, the kind that happens after being HOPEFUL? I had REJECTION all glamorized here in my new blog. Now it’s going to be mean, raw and ugly again. No fun.
Well, I should look at the good part. Now, I have a piece of writing that I’m proud of. And I’m happy with it. That should be what matters. Right?
TOO BAD IT’S NOT. SIGH.
Venessa Bellido Schwarz 
Hey You,
this makes me so sad, you are such a good writer, I just read your paradise poem and it was so beautiful. Just because something doesn’t get published doesn’t mean that it isn’t amazing, and it doesn’t mean that it won’t ever get published, or that you won’t get a 1000x the joy you would have gotten from it being published reading it to your grand kids. hang in there, all of your hard work is for something.
Thank you for that my friend. You really make me feel better. By the way, we still have to celebrate your good news. Yipee! I’ll get a yipee soon too. I know it.