Next month, I’ll go to BlogHer in Chicago, and it will mark my fifth time at the conference and my fifth time hoping to read in Voices of the Year (VOTY). Only this time I will actually read in VOTY alongside some incredibly talented bloggers**!
Every year I’ve nominated posts that I love from my favorite bloggers, and every year I’ve nominated a post or two of my own. Every year when I find out I’m not reading, I feel a pang of disappointment and self-doubt. Those reactions vary from “sob on the bed” to “oh well, I think I’ll go create my own show,” to “casting sucks and I’m so glad I’m not in charge of this.” I think of all the writers I admire and how many of them never had the chance to read in VOTY. Then, every year I move through it and have a fantastic time at BlogHer. As the odds have grown—only 12 readers were selected this year from 2600 posts submitted—I’ve adjusted my expectations accordingly. So much so that this comes as a huge and delightful surprise.
Still. Even when rejections hurt I think they’re good for me. They force me to keep working and keep me compassionate toward everyone brave enough to put ourselves and our work out there.
The truth is, if I would’ve been selected to read in 2009—at my first BlogHer—I doubt that Listen To Your Mother would even exist. Ambition serves as such a powerful force. Whatever it is you’re working on, keep at it. Rejections mean you haven’t found the right home for your work (or not at this time). Keep knocking on doors. Or better yet, go build a home of your own.
And in the meantime, please join me for Friday night’s Open Mic. Throw your name in the hat for a chance to read one of your own posts before hundreds of your blogging buddies! This event is open to all BlogHer attendees—no RSVP, just show up! (full conference pass or party pass required).
Thank you to the selection committee for their exhaustive efforts, and to BlogHer for this incredible opportunity to share my work before thousands and thousands of my fellow bloggers. Check out the list of 100 VOTY honorees—dozens of LTYM alumni among them!! SEE YOU AT BLOGHER’13!!
**I’ve sworn to keep the post title a secret until the event, but I will post the video after when it becomes available.
Yay! So happy for you, Ann! And I can’t wait to see you there.
Congrats! Well deserved my friend!!
If you had read in 2009 (also my first year), I would not have known you, and I would not have been as excited as I am now to see you take your rightful place on stage. Congratulations! Mazel Tov!! And Three Cheers for Rejection!!!
I am thrilled for you, but even happier to read this post, as I was feeling bummed not to get selected on my first year of trying! It’s my first time going to BlogHer too, but I have put a lot more effort into my blog over the past year, and I wanted a bit of recognition, somehow. But I am planning to attend the open mic night, and look forward to seeing you read your post in person, and hopefully getting to say hello too. Congratulations.
Thanks for this. And congrats!
Congratulations! Also, I am happy that I’m not the only one that cried in my bed (was me last night – despite being so happy for so many friends who were selected) because I “wasn’t good enough”.
I will take this as a challenge to better myself. To make this rejection into something powerful. So thank you as well.
Wish I could be there to see you read. Have a tremendous time!
Congratulations! So happy for you.
Congratulations! I am SO EXCITED to share the stage with you!
So many great readers this year. Congratulations!!
Congratulations!!! This is awesome! Trying to figure out a way to be there…
Huge congrats to you! So very deserving. xo
Congratulations, and you’re right on so many counts. The timing was just right. Can’t wait to hear, to cheery, and to try for the mic at Open Salon for LTYM… my second favorite thing about BlogHer, after VOTY. It’s always so great in so many small ways.
Congratulations, Ann, you are something very special.
Ann, this is the reality check I needed. I’ve been blogging for two years and just starting to find my voice; it’s one thing to shoot for the stars, but another to have the timing right. Thank you for the inspiration!
God’s timing is ALWAYS right. 🙂 So completely thrilled for you, my dear friend, and I know you’re going to be stellar at VOTY. Can’t wait to see you kill!!!
Congratulations Ann! So excited for you.
Thanks for all the congrats, guys!!! And for reading. Hope to see many of you in Chicago in 3 weeks!
Looking forward to cheering you on, Ann – you’re going to be great!
I can’t wait to hear you speak! Congrats!
Thank you for your honesty! It is so refreshing (and a comfort that I’m not alone, as it is exactly how I feel!)
I won VOTY 2 years ago, but for a piece I submitted on a whim that was more photos than anything. It wasn’t the piece that I wanted recognized for my writing. Then last year I didn’t win while Shari got chosen to read, so I asked her if she minded very much that I was super duper excited for her, but that I felt a tiny (enormous) twinge of disappointment that I didn’t win? And this year, I was chosen, but not to read, and I slapped that bad boy disappointment down and made it my slave. Because nope – I’m not going to be jealous.
But I’m working through it! And it has forced me to “seek honor” in other ways, like putting my book out there, which I’ve found an editor for. I’ll post the last chapter tomorrow and then remove the free version from my blog before publishing it. And I’m already trying to figure out what to write next.
I’m at a place where I really CAN sit in the audience and laugh and cry and cheer on the aMAzing writers that are out there … like you! I am sincerely happy for you (I always love your writing), and can’t wait to hear you read. 🙂
oooohhh!!! Hindsight and all. You’re getting deep, Ann. SO glad you didn’t get to read till this year. 🙂 Waiting to hear what you have to say at VOTY!
So impressed how BlogHer does VOTY- and appreciative of all reviewers. I am a newbie, and this will be my first blog event- I was lucky enough to be chosen as a VOTY, and can’t wait to hear all the readers!
Everytime I read about LTYM I think about Scottsdale. There is a small writing group here for Mothers run by a friend of mine, They do a ” Mothers Who Write, Mothers Who Read” event on Mother’s Day- that I have read at, but it would be such an awesome fit for you two to hook up! I don’t know any other bloggers here in Scottsdale- do you?
Open Mic sounds like big fun! Can’t wait!
Hit Send too soon. Can’t wait to hear your reading! love your blog.
I’m really, really surprised to know that you haven’t been selected before this, but,as you mentioned, maybe it was for the best!
Oh Ann, can’t you have a LTYM in San Diego or LA?! *hopeful*
I can’t wait to see you and getting to hear you read is just an amazing cherry on the sundae. Or something. That might not be the best metaphor 😉 Love you. So excited for you.
Roshni, I’ve been an honoree for the past three years. I might’ve indicated that in the post–just never selected to be a reader (which you can only do once). Thank you!!
Such great news!! So happy for you, Ann!
And this “Ambition serves as such a powerful force. Whatever it is you’re working on, keep at it. Rejections mean you haven’t found the right home for your work (or not at this time). Keep knocking on doors. Or better yet, go build a home of your own.” is so true and such good advice.
Congrats!!! So exciting. I’ve submitted the last two years and had the awkward I hope they pick me moment when pressing submit and the sad moment when they don’t. But you have to keep trying right?!
Congratulations!! I so wish I could be there in person to hear you.
And wow, so interesting that you might not have even started LTYM if you had been selected a few years ago… I mean, WOW.
I cannot explain to you how excited I am — for all of it: your being an honoree (congratulations!), your reading live (you’ll do great; do NOT throw up! The person after you will hate you for desecrating the podium), then the open mic. You are an amazing talent and your drive, determination, and vision-to-reality doing inspires me. I keep looking at the calendar like WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME? MOVE FASTER, DAYS.
Congratulations! I actually just found your blog via The Mama Bird Diaries. Loving it! I’m a fellow Wisconsinite – I would say Cheesehead, but my Chicago-born-and-raised parents have never been keen on the Cheesehead thing. I’m indifferent. Cheese is good. Why not wear it on your head? Again, congrats! Very exciting for you!