This was pubbed in December in Orange Coast magazine.

Essays sometimes take a long time in coming. I started this piece many, many times over the years. Last year when I approached the topic again, it was time.

My students (and friends) often become frustrated when they write an essay, work on it, submit it and it’s rejected. I can empathize. I hate rejection, and moreover, I hate it when I think a piece is ready, when I think I’ve worked on it all I can, and the editor either ignores it, and me, or sends a form rejection or a patronizing note that says he/she knows it will find a home somewhere. Just not there.

I don’t know what to say. Sometimes editors are idiots (I’m an editor, so I can say that). And sometimes your piece just isn’t ready. You don’t know it at the time, or else why would you send it out?

Sometimes we are just so anxious to see our work in print. That anxiety can compel us to send something out before it’s time.

But if an idea harasses you, won’t leave you be, that’s a good sign that you’re not done with it and should work on it until you either place it or you become so sick of it you put each draft through the shredder.

The essay posted here was one that wouldn’t leave me alone. It seems every year since the peeper came by my house, I tried to write the piece. After I wrote the current version and was going through old papers, I found drafts. Horrible drafts. Embarrassing drafts. But drafts nonetheless. I was compelled to write it and the draft had some good elements, but it wasn’t ready.

And then, of course, not everyone will be happy. Some people will be very, very unhappy with you and your work. And that’s regrettable and sad, but it should never stop you from writing and publishing something you’re called to write and publish.

So much of writing and publishing is encompassed in persevering. No one is born a published writer.

I’m working on an essay now that I’ve brought out over the past few years and have worked on off and on. There’s no telling whether it will ever see print. But I want to continue to want to work on it, and that’s enough for me. I’ve learned to pay attention to those ideas and works in progress that bug me, that won’t leave me be.

Our second guest author will be Martin J. Smith and our event will take place on Monday evening, March 16, at 7 p.m. at the Newport Beach Tennis Club.

Marty is a journalist, novelist, and editor of Orange Coast magazine. His books include (with Patrick J. Kiger): “Oops: 20 Life Lessons from the Fiascoes That Shaped America” as well as “Poplorica: A Popular History of the Fads, Mavericks, Inventions, and Lore That Shaped Modern America.”

He is also the author of three crime novels, “Time Release,” “Shadow Image,” and “Straw Men.” Before taking the job at Orange Coast, he served as senior editor of the Los Angeles Times Magazine.

Marty will talk about his writing process, and will also talk about writing for Orange Coast. He will focus on the essay: what makes a good essay and how to write “personal, yet universal.” He’ll have handouts, as well.

Cost for the event is $15, which includes light snacks. Seating is limited; no walk-ins, please. If you’d like to attend and want to mail a check, please email me at penonfire at earthlink dot net to make arrangements. Paypal is fine, too. Choose the email address: penonfire at earthlink dot net, and send $16 (includes $1 more for handling/fees).

The tennis club is located at 2601 Eastbluff Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660. Parking is free and easy.

Upcoming guests will include Carolyn See (“Making a Literary Life,” “Handy Man”) on Tuesday, May 19, and Lisa See on June 6; locations still to be decided but will be in the Newport Beach/Laguna Beach locale. If you’d like to reserve a seat for either one, please send $15 and indicate which you’d like.)

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Judith Ryan Hendricks, author of The Baker’s Apprentice and Peter Craig, author of Hot Plastic.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: April 29, 2005)

Barbara DeMarco-Barrett interviews Shreve Stockton, author of The Daily Coyote: A Story of Love, Survival, and Trust in the Wilds of Wyoming and Andrea Portes, author of Hick.

Download audio.

(Broadcast date: February 25, 2009)

Here he is, a video with Charlie Rose. Great interview.

A student who works for a corporation wrote to me, and said she was hurt by what a friend said to her. She had shared with the friend that she hoped to be a published author someday.

Rather than sharing her dreams, the friend said she just didn’t like to work hard.

This devastated my student, who has worked fulltime for years and years.

She asked me to talk about this on the blog.

All I can say is, so many non-writers just do not get it. I might expand that to say that people who are not in the arts don’t get that while your particular art may have its wonderfully fun side, it’s still work.

Hours upon hours go into practicing an instrument before you can play a song well. Artists put so many hours into art class before creating a beautiful painting.

And you spend so many years writing, taking writing classes, reading, studying craft and writing lots of crap, before a gem of a piece emerges, before your story or book or screenplay takes form and becomes something someone–an agent, an editor–wants to buy and publish.

Non-writers just do not understand.

In Pen on Fire, I talk about keeping quiet about what you’re working on because you let the air out of it. The energy for the project dissipates.

I would broaden this to say, don’t discuss your writing aspirations with your friends, especially if they’re co-workers who feel stuck in their jobs and do not see a way out. They will want you to remain stuck as well, and the thought of you leaving, of you making something of your life that’s more than they will ever see in their own lives, will fill them with dread and fear, and they will hurt you.

Share your writing dreams with other writers or artists, people who understand what it’s like to ram your head against a wall–until it falls. And it will fall, if you ram it long enough.

Take heart. It’s all about growing a thick skin. And it’s about having empathy for people who have no dreams, or whose dreams have failed, but protecting your own dreams and doing everything you can do to make your dreams come true.

Have empathy, but protect yourself. What’s that old, old saying: Don’t cast your pearls before swine….

Your writing self is a delicate, beautiful part of yourself. Don’t squander it. It takes so many hours of work and sacrifice to create works of art. The world needs art. Your sacrifice will pay off.

The creative life is a wild ride. Enjoy it (when you can).

Interesting talk on this Ash Wednesday.