Susan Writes

As a teacher and as a mother, I’ve said it a thousand times.  “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again.”  I’ve stood over students’ shoulders and said, “You almost got that problem right.  Check your addition and try again.”  And I remember when each of my children learned to ride a bicycle.  I held onto the back of the bike seat as my child peddled.  I ran along beside the bike and when I let go, the bike wobbled and fell.  “It’s okay.  Try again!  You can do it,” I said.

Words that flowed easily from my mouth.  Try, try, again. But when those words were aimed at me, I wanted to chomp them and spit them out.

About three years ago, I shared with friends a family Christmas story that I’d written, and they said, “That’s a Chicken Soup story.  You’ve got to submit it!”  I was familiar with Chicken Soup for the Soul books.  I’ve had one on my bookshelf for twenty years.  According to its cover, it includes 101 stories to open the heart and rekindle the spirit.  And I knew that several local writers have published stories in a Chicken Soup book.  From looking at the Chicken Soup website, I learned that as many as ten books, on different topics, are published each year.

I submitted my story.  And never heard a word from the publisher.  “Try again,” my friends said.  I did.  I sent a dog story and a cat story and didn’t get responses.  “Don’t give up.  Keep trying.”  With little enthusiasm and less confidence, I submitted a story about mother/daughter relationships and received an email that said, “Your story has been selected for the final selection of Chicken Soup for Mothers.”

“Aren’t you glad you kept sending in stories?  You’re in!  Congratulations!”  my friends said.  I sent the required release form to the book editors, and I gloated a bit.  And then, a month before publication, I received an email, “I regret to inform you that some of the final selections have been cut…blah…blah…blah.  We hope you will try again.”

By then, I was determined.  I hung a poster beside my writing desk that had hung in my school classroom.

It’s okay to try and fail and try and fail again. 

            It’s not okay to try and fail, and fail to try again.

I submitted a story about my first house and one about friendship.  No responses.  I revised a story about being a parent and emailed it on the deadline date for submission.  Many months later, I received an email stating, “Your story has been selected for the final selection……”  I read the rest of the message with great skepticism.  I’d believe it when I saw it.

And, now six months later, I believe.  Chicken Soup for the Soul, Parenthood is now available to buy and there’s my story entitled “More to Life than Basketball.”  Way in the back of the book, under the heading Giving Them Wings to Fly.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, again.  Those words taste sweeter today.  Chicken Soup is now accepting submissions for a proposed book entitled Reboot Your Life.  I surely have a story for that book.

Filed under: Writing | Tagged: Chicken Soup, try, Writing |