One of the things nobody tells you about academia is that it's really more about stubbornness than brains. You have to hold fast to your determination that you have a good idea, one worth getting into print. Or pixels, these days. Earlier this week I had a manuscript accepted after two previous rejections. I didn't find a very prestigious home for it, but I found it a peer-reviewed (and non-predatory!) home. Today I sent off a shiny new manuscript, the one I mentioned to you already this week. If it gets rejected, I have a backup plan. I'm stubborn like that.
Today I also sent off the Heartbreak Paper to get some input from a new set of eyes. It's been a while since I posted about the Heartbreak Paper-- much-needed topic, rock star co-author, mismanaged review, crushing rejection, followed by another rejection last summer. But do you know, my friends, it is a really good paper and by hook or by crook I am going to get it published. Here's hoping that this new contact has some good ideas for me.
I was lying next to sleepy Stella earlier this evening and thinking about how hard we work to teach our toddlers not to be stubborn. We do this even though 90% of what it takes to reach difficult goals in later life comes down to stubbornnesss.
That's a little weird, isn't it?
Toddlers are obstinate. Adults are tenacious.
Posted by: Celeste | April 14, 2017 at 11:18 PM
Congrats! Keep being stubborn and sending out your work. I wish I had your drive to do so, but this isn't my year for superfluous energy.
Posted by: MrsDarwin | April 15, 2017 at 12:41 PM
Not stubborn. Persistent, and resilient.
Posted by: Amy G | April 16, 2017 at 12:45 PM
Can you teach someone not to be stubborn? To me this seems an inborn trait. Maybe what we teach is how to deal with the emotional side of the struggle?
Posted by: Karen | April 18, 2017 at 11:40 AM