Scrapbooking
25-Mar-04
OK, so I resisted the lure of this wallet-draining hobby for a very long time.
However.
I currently have 16 rejection slips in my “rejections” folder. Most of these are on small paper (half sheet or less). Some are full sheets, but could be trimmed to fit in a scrapbook. After all, it is not like anyone has written a lengthly apologetic note telling me how incredible my work is, but, alas, they would never be able to publish anything below the standard I would set with it (an actual rejection note, incidentally, from a Chinese periodical).
Anyway, today I bought a plain strap-hinge cloth-covered scrapbook (with 10 sheets) and an extra 10 refill sheets (because I know how many rejections I have right now). I also bought 4 sheets of specialty paper for collaging.
I will not be including any rejections from computer books or anything from my agent. Just over-the-transom, unagented, slush-pile submissions.
Purpose:
1. Why am I making this album? Ask yourself:
• Who or what am I celebrating (child’s life, vacation, relationship or hobby)?
In a way, I am celebrating activity. I am celebrating the act of getting back on the horse. I’m celebrating the fact that I wrote stories, and that I had the balls to send them out, over and over again, no matter how terrible they were.
• What emotion do I want to capture (romance, gratitude, remembrance)?
I think I want to capture a certain amount of humor, poke a little fun at myself, and above all, hope that *this* time when I bang my head against the door, it’ll magically open.
• How will I use this album (gift, showcase, yearly update)?
This is a showcase; it’s kind of like a portfolio, though it’s a portfolio of failure. Maybe if I ever actually sell anything, I’ll include some acceptance letters, but I fear that might give too much hope. You know, you look through a portfolio of rejection notes and start seeing actual acceptances. You might get the wrong idea!
Format:
2.What size and style of album will I use?
8 1/2 x 11, because that was the size I liked most, and because almost all rejection slips are on 1/4-page notes, to save paper and cost.
3. How will I organize my album?
Theme: Slips will be organized chronologically under each story title.
4.What framework pages will I include in the album?
Title page of the album, with an explanation of why I created it on the back of the page.
Each story will have its own title page with the name and a visual for the story on front (right-hand) of page and then a handwritten description of the story on the back, with each rejection slip following on right-hand pages. Left-hand pages are reserved for commentary…. The last left-hand page of a story section is blank.
I supposed I could have a dedication page…. “This book is dedicated to all the heartless bastards who rejected my work over and over again….” nah.
5.What is my color scheme? (Attach color swatches to the back of this card.)
Oh, let’s start with:
.
Mostly, I think I want to stay with natural tones, and accent with lavendar and pink and cornflower blue as appropriate to various stories.
6.What decorative accents will I use?
What the fuck is a decorative accent?
7. How will I arrange my photos and journaling on the framework and filler pages to create a unified look and feel? This is your design scheme. (Draw thumbnail sketches on the back of this card.)
See #4.
Also, pages might have a theme-appropriate comic image. For instance, for “The Fairies” I fully intend to have pics from Lady Cottington’s, because they’re utterly appropriate to the story and the rejection thereof. also suggests little tear-stained hankies and the like. The front title page of the book is going to be a door….. SHUT. Maybe with a sign on the outside that says “Not you.”
Preparation
8. Do I need to gather additional information (such as stories, names and dates)? If yes, what? Who do I need to contact?
I need to pull my submission tracking data so I can make note of which rejection slip goes to which story and when (because these things never actually have any kind of identifying information, like a date or the story being rejected; I think that’s why they don’t allow multiple submissions).
9.What photos do I need to complete the album? Do I have all of the photographs, or do I need to contact someone or take more photos?
I need to find any remaining rejection slips (there’s one from Circlet Press on a backup disk somewhere…) and a couple of clips from the stories themselves (so I can collage them into the pieces. Also I want to find a cut-able Lady Cottington’s; I’m thinking an old wall calendar would be best, since nobody would mind so much if the pics were cut up.