At the beginning of my short-lived writing career success and failure in twenty-four hours is not uncommon. I remember when Christine said I had five years. Five years to be successful and make a living at writing. I’m not sure I’m there yet and this is my fifth year. Yesterday, I was given great accolades by a local group of downtown business owners after a blog I’d written sparked wide interest and favorable comment. Today I had a phone call from someone in New York who didn’t fancy another project I’d been working on. I’m back to those massive mood swings that I create by putting myself out there and assuming everything is always perfect. I am sensitive. I take all criticism to heart. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I put myself out there instead of hiding. The initial rejection feels as if the oxygen coursing through your lungs has been usurped by sarin. You’re breathing but dying and there’s nothing to do. You feel alone. Very alone. Then you breathe again, and the candle at my side glows brighter. The sound of George Winston in the background, more pure. My outlets are few, but the keyboard and journal remain. People who like my writing, tell me things that I believe to be true. People that don’t like my writing, tell me things that I believe to be true. At some point they shall mesh. It took Kurt Vonnegut 14 years to be found. Each rejection makes me improve all the more, but honestly? I improve more with a successful venture. It gives me a baseline to never dip below. I know I wish and hope for one thing: To be discovered as a writer. While gaining that locally, I want a bigger stage. Not for the prestige or for the money, but for the knowledge that people who don’t know me, like my work. No, love my work. The Penny sits with an editor at this very moment. She has agreed to work with me and I like everything about her. Better yet, so does Christine. While the book may exit different from its entrance, I will trust the Universe to conspire and create a memorable piece of literature. Cheers to rejection, and cheers to success. One exists because of the other.