Risking Failure (from the Glimmer Train Bulletin)
Every month, Glimmer Train sends out a monthly bulletin with information about their contests, as well as helpful advice from established writers. In the most recent bulletin (Bulletin 30), you’ll…
Every month, Glimmer Train sends out a monthly bulletin with information about their contests, as well as helpful advice from established writers. In the most recent bulletin (Bulletin 30), you'll find:
- Making Stories Out of Stories by Randolph Thomas
- The Music of Words by Lynn Ahrens
- Risking Failure by Josh Henkin (pictured above)
Incidentally, the next issue of Writer's Digest magazine (September 2009) will feature an essay from Henkin as well, in the MFA Confidential column.
Here's a little of what Henkin has to say in his Glimmer Train piece:
I
believe this is one of the most important lessons a writer can learn:
You must always be willing to risk failure. Another lesson: Don't take
rejection personally. So much is luck—finding the right editor at the
right moment when he or she will be receptive to the story you've
submitted. I know this first-hand.
Click here for Bulletin 30 (and to find archives of other bulletins).
Jane Friedman is a full-time entrepreneur (since 2014) and has 20 years of experience in the publishing industry. She is the co-founder of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and is the former publisher of Writer’s Digest. In addition to being a columnist with Publishers Weekly and a professor with The Great Courses, Jane maintains an award-winning blog for writers at JaneFriedman.com. Jane’s newest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press, 2018).
