You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take

/ Rae Cod

This quote is attributed to hockey star Wayne Gretzky. The only ice hockey match I’ve ever seen was in Mighty Ducks the movie, but the man had a serious point that applies way beyond sport.

I’ve only every had one story published before: a first person narrative which was published anonymously in an online magazine.

Since then I’ve submitted a couple of other pitches with no success, and I must admit my confidence took a battering.

What if my first publication was a one off? What if I have no other interesting stories in me? What if I’m just not cut out to be a writer?

I stopped pitching. I told myself I didn’t have time to pitch anyway, I was just starting out and I should stay in my lane and concentrate on my blog, instead of trying to be too big for my boots.

But then I realised, the only way to get used to pitching stories (and to get anything published for that matter) is to, well, pitch! So I gave my inner critic Brian a serious talking to and got on with it.

I’m feeling so lucky today to have had TWO pieces of my writing featured in online independant magazines.

On the 11th of July Gobblers/Masticadores published my flash fiction story Runaway.

On the 16th of July Edge of Humanity magazine published my poem Another Way.

I’m so chuffed to have my writing in these amazing magazines, which feature the work of so many talented writers.

My favourite writer featured at the moment, and my inspiration to sumbit my own writing, is Bogdan Dragos.

Check out his work if you haven’t already. It’s dark, emotional and lingers in all the wrong places, just like a good Stephen King story.

So after pinching myself and trying to dim the smile that’s threatening to split my face in half, I’m off to write some more.

I’ve got a rhyming story brewing about a squirrel and an eagle, it’s coming slow but I’m persevering, I think it’s going to be worth it.

If you’re new to my blog then welcome, feel free to have a browse. You can enter your email or follow me on WordPress to subscribe and receive notifications whenever I post. I never spam because I honestly don’t know how. You can also follow me on Instagram.

12 thoughts on “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take”

  1. You’re an awesome writer!

    I understand what you’re saying though. I write poetry. It’s never really went beyond my poetry blog. And it gets such little interaction that I often think of deleting it. And it makes me wonder if my best days of writing are over, because a lot of what I post is old stuff. Then again, I think I should delete it all. It becomes consuming and taxing.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thanks John 😊

      I must admit I don’t read that much adult poetry, but I do love the rhyming books I read to my children, which is probably why all of mine rhyme!

      Don’t delete it all!

      How does it make YOU feel when you read it back?

      I think poetry comes from deep in the soul, so we’re writing it for ourselves more than anyone.

      Keep writing your poems, you miss 💯 of the shots you don’t take remember 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • I don’t feel 100% satisfied with my writing. I deleted the blog once. Some made a stink about it. So I brought it back. And some still didn’t follow lol🤦‍♂️

        I feel like I write to make others happy. I myself think it’s mostly garbage.

        Like

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