Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Never Surrender


When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you,

Till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer,


Never give up then,

For that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.

(Harriet Beecher Stowe)

Rejections. I've gotten my share from agents and editors. Probably more than my share. WAY MORE. And some days I want to say screw this and give it all up. All of this work. This striving. This slogging.

 I allow myself to wallow in those moments, feel sorry for myself, have heavy thoughts.

But after each time, I imagine the actual process of just letting it go. Letting my dream float up to the clouds--suspended there, waiting--until I'm ready to reach for it, pull it tight, tuck and fold it into myself again. Back where it belongs.


And somehow that image ignites a spark of hope in the very center of my soul. 


*******
This post was part of ELANA JOHNSON'S Never Surrender Blogfest, happening all of this week, in celebration of her second book: SURRENDER



I'm reading her book right now and loving it. Two Words: Raine & Gunner. *sigh*

(imageimage)

18 comments:

Natalie Aguirre said...

Thanks for sharing your experience of never surrendering to those rejections. I'm worried how I'll handle them when I query. Thanks for giving me a good way to deal with them.

Christine Danek said...

I must get a copy. I'm so behind. Anyway, this is beautiful and puts a little hope into my heart.
Thanks.

Laura Pauling said...

Love the first picture. Breathtaking! We all have to have the attitude of Never Surrender in this industry! :) Can't wait for the day we get to party with you!

K. M. Walton said...

Your words and the images are quite powerful. You already know how much I believe in you and your writing!!!

Stina said...

Ditto what Kate said. I love your stories and your writing. You must NEVER stop believing. It will happen for you. And I can't wait for that day. :)

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Okay, you need to put this in real print. So inspirational. You always know just what to say to me. Yes, to me. That's what it feels like anyway. ;D

Christina Lee said...

Thanks guys. This blogging community is so awesome. *hugs* :D

Kate and Stina, what would I do without your daily support?

Stefanie Wass said...

We all believe in you. There's strength in that. And so much power in knowing that you are doing what you love, each and every day.

Christina Lee said...

Stef, YES there's that (always that)-- that love part! xoxo

Meredith said...

Such a beautiful post. This whole business can be disheartening, but imagining letting it all go--it's unthinkable.

Elana Johnson said...

"Never give up! Never surrender!" --Galaxy Quest. We can learn a lot from cheesy Tim Allen movies.

But seriously, girl, your day will come. Sometimes it doesn't come when we want it to, but you are nearly THERE! I believe it will happen for you, in exactly the way it should.

Dianne K. Salerni said...

Beautiful, beautiful pictures! And perfect for this post.

Sending lots of hugs. Even in the darkest trenches of rejection, giving up is just not an option.

Matthew MacNish said...

That's the thing isn't it? Because not surrendering seems so hard sometimes, but when you really think about it, actually giving up would be even harder.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." - MLK Jr.

DL Hammons said...

HOPE has saved many a dream from evaporating. For some, not surrendering is about the refusal to step backwards...for others its allure of greater promise over the next horizon.

Great post!!!!! :)

Kelly Polark said...

Beautifully said. Beautiful photos.

Kimberly Gabriel said...

Stopping by from the blog hop... I LOVE this post! It's beautifully written and captures something so many of us have gone through or are going through.

I love the quote and the pictures too. Like I said, beautifully done....

Unknown said...

Beautiful pictures and post.

Krista McLaughlin said...

I know I've felt sorry for myself too, but I like your picture of just letting it go. And holding onto the dream when you can. Great post!