I recently survived 5 days in the French Quarter. I say
survived because I thought I would burst at some point from the rich food, the
tasty drinks, and the just plain fun of the whole experience. I was overloaded with lots of music, and
quite a bit of history, too, since my friends and I took in a few museum
tours.
This was my fourth trip to the area, and when I am there, I
am just bombarded with evidence of creativity that’s all around us, but
especially in places like this. I attempted to tweet some of what was going on
around me, but I found the multi-tasking a little too difficult. I just wanted
to experience the moments. And by the time I made it back to the Inn, I was
exhausted.
I am not discouraged though. Just because I couldn’t get all
the thoughts and ideas running through my head down right then doesn’t mean
they haven’t set up camp somewhere in a corner of my mind, biding their time
until they’re needed.
So, while I am still recuperating, here’s just a little of
what has made its way to the front of my mind:
“Not for us” doesn’t always mean
“not good” and “people want this” doesn’t always mean “this is good
stuff!” Some of the best music, meaning,
the most unique and interesting (at least to my ears), was being performed in
the less crowded venues on Bourbon and the rest of the Quarter. It may have been because of the football
games that were happening at the same time (LSU one day, Saints the next), but
we didn’t have to struggle for seats or crane our necks at a few places. At The Funky Pirate, we were swept back in
time listening to Jazz of the 30s and 40s. At the Tropical Isle Bayou Club, we
heard Cajun and Zydeco, and even had a little history lesson from Bruce
Daigrepont and Kevin Aucoin of the Cajun Drifters when they came and sat with
us between sets.
We could have went with the
crowds and found ourselves singing along to the 80s and 90s cover bands, but I
can do that at home (especially since my husband performs in one). Besides, just because it is familiar and I
know what to expect doesn’t mean it is always good (kind of like a predictable
plot line…).
So, when your unique work is
rejected, remember, it may just be that particular reader hasn’t developed a
taste for it. Don't sell yourself short and follow the crowd if you truly believe your work has potential. There's someone who will light up from
your work; you just haven’t found them. Rejection doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad. Do you enjoy the process? Does it
enhance your life? Good.
Keep writing like nobody’s
critiquing.
--Tina
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