You're the second writer I've seen quote Wendy this week. It's a powerful urge to be done with all that. To be a writer is to live with constant rejection -- I was rejected from a fellowship I had high hopes for this week -- and sometimes it feels like the best one can hope for is the rollercoaster of ups and downs. Is that any way to live a life? It's not one I would recommend. But. One thing I think you and I and Wendy all share is that our writing practice involves a great deal of reflection, which is a tremendous asset in the face of rejection. I believe the interrogation of one's desires and evaluation of one's efforts takes the teeth out of rejection. There's nothing a rejection can teach us about ourselves if we've thoroughly investigated the work and what it means to us and to the world.
You're the second writer I've seen quote Wendy this week. It's a powerful urge to be done with all that. To be a writer is to live with constant rejection -- I was rejected from a fellowship I had high hopes for this week -- and sometimes it feels like the best one can hope for is the rollercoaster of ups and downs. Is that any way to live a life? It's not one I would recommend. But. One thing I think you and I and Wendy all share is that our writing practice involves a great deal of reflection, which is a tremendous asset in the face of rejection. I believe the interrogation of one's desires and evaluation of one's efforts takes the teeth out of rejection. There's nothing a rejection can teach us about ourselves if we've thoroughly investigated the work and what it means to us and to the world.
I loved this love note, and will write a note back soon.