Just a couple more days to enter my contest if you're of a mind to. The deadline is midnight Sunday, April 6. I'll do the drawing sometime next week and announce the two winners here.
I didn't make it around to blogs yesterday. I spent the whole day, from 7:00 in the morning until 7:00 at night at am OHRP conference. OHRP stands for Office for Human Research Protections. This is one of the major government agencies that overseas human research in the United States to make sure that it meets ethical standards. How did I end up at such a conference, you may ask. It's because, at Xavier University where I teach, I'm also chairperson of the IRB (Internal Review Board), which is often known as the Human Subjects Committee. We are sort of the OHRP of Xavier and oversee all the human research there.
Although I generally don't care a lot for conferences where you spend your day sitting, sitting, sitting, taking notes, there was a fair amount of interesting stuff at this one. And it was stuff I needed to know and my committee needs to know. Plus, I had to present on problems and solutions to the difficulties that IRBs at small universities experience. The presentation went well, despite the fact that I'd been rather dreading it.
Anyway, I'm back today, just in time to get notice that "Love in the Time of Cybersex" has been rejected once again. And this could be the ultimate indignity. The story was rejected from a magazine that was publishing an "all rejects" issue, all stories that had been rejected before by other magazines. Ouch! Well, it was actually outside their word count so I can console myself with that as the reason for the rejection. I'm not giving up on this tale, though. Each rejection makes me believe in it more. (Talk about irrational thinking!)
PS: If you haven't had a chance to read and vote for my wife's (Lana) hilarious drinking story yet, time is running out. You need to vote today, and she's in a neck n neck race for the championship. The link is HERE. Check it out!
And now, off to visit blogs and comment on the comments made on my recent post.
You're on the right committee, Charles.
ReplyDeleteScientist have become maddened in their lust for money and recognition.
When drunk, we in the Air Force would do a parody of that old song:
"Oh if I had the wings of an angel
And the b*lls of a hairy baboon."
I don't know how any editor in his or her right mind can reject a poem with a title like that. Period.
ReplyDeleteI too ahve been negligent in checking others blogs but my reasoning isn't as noble as yours. Just lazy i guess but I don't seem to be able tog et everything done this week.
ReplyDeleteYou may consider the lovely and talented (but not very alcohol-tolerant) Mrs. Gramlich voted for.
ReplyDeleteGlad the presentation went well, Charles. I don't know if I'd enjoy that sort of thing, I tend to doze off in stuffy rooms when I have to sit a long time!
ReplyDeleteBut I can definitely see the need for this committee. People get short sighted sometimes, and when you use human subjects it can be horrid. I recall hearing about a couple of tests gone wrong (that prison guard situation in the 70s, I think) and it makes me shudder.
Ok, I can see I'm gonna have to go back and read some of your archives if I'm gonna be a regular reader/commenter, dammit.
ReplyDeleteScrolling back to try and suss and sort out what ya about lol....
ReplyDeletex
Ivan, just let me say I can't imagine you withthe "wings of an angel."
ReplyDeleteBilly, I wish the editors thought that way.
Travis Erwin, sometimes we need a bit of time away.
Steve Malley, thanks. Her story is by far the better one I thought, even objectively.
Writtenwyrd, there have definitely been some abuses and it so blackens the eyes of good, honest scientists.
Wil, welcome. Glad you stopped by.
Marmitetoasty, now that name is a mouthful. Welcome and thanks for coming by.
Conferences and committees; someone's gotta do 'em. Thank you for your service.
ReplyDeleteI voted, but I'm not telling who I voted for. Let's just say I voted for someone that's close to you. I even read the stories, too. I made an informed choice.
I made my best attempt to read, but it hurt my head.
ReplyDeleteHang in there with "Cybersex." It's day will come. And I'm sure you make an excellent chairperson. As if you aren't busy enough! I'd better go check on Lana.
ReplyDeleteDonnetta
just voted for Lana's story... funny!
ReplyDeleteif that happened to me, I don't think any of my friends would be that close-lipped about it.
It always amazes me how much you get done despite how busy you are. I was in a meeting too, and it made me want to go back to school for cinematography. The bad thing is that I don't think I'd really spend the time slicing films when my time is already taken with writing, but these speakers were really convincing.
ReplyDeleteJust here to let you know I was not at that conference.
ReplyDeletePeace
Mark
By the by the final vote is on today and so far someone named Lana is in the lead.
That sounds like a sort of interesting conference. I'm not one for conferences either, I'm afraid. And your wife's story was hysterical!
ReplyDeleteSam
Jack, an informed choice is a good choice. ;)
ReplyDeleteHeff, it's a repetitive use injury. You've got to stop banging your head so much on stage. :) Thanks for stopping by.
Donnetta, it is very time consumming unfortunately.
Greg Schwartz, I suspect it is because Lana has "knowledge" to us against them as well. Because, otherwise, friends are not so....friendly.
Christina, I often feel as if I'm getting very little done.
Mark, I could have sworn I saw you in mirrored shades near the back.
Calderwoodbooks, thanks for stopping by. The conference wasn't as bad as I dreaded it being. Thanks for having a look at Lana's story.
Can imagine the conf areas given the sheer range of research that's going on. You'll laugh when dogged persistence pays off on the publishing front...
ReplyDeleteIf only you were the chair at my U's IRB. I just submitted my proposal for my master's thesis on Wednesday. The current chair is a marine biology prof - me-thinks my topic on the neuro-biological basis of criminal behavior might be over his head. lol
ReplyDeleteGetting that IRB thingy done (and having to make a special trip - 70 miles - to campus to get the signatures), plus massive and multiple car trouble and an appliance meltdown (accompanied by flood) have kept me from visiting other blogs this week.
Go, Lana, go!
Just a quick note on Your comment, then I will be back after dinner :-D
ReplyDeleteCharles
That is great, me I am one of the "bridge-builders" between Psychoanalysis and Developmental Psychology, and much of the experimental studies that supports observations are from the neuro-biological area.
I am glad You enjoyed the "Freudian ingredients" :-D
I think I would have been rejected from the conference. Pleased your presentation went well.
ReplyDeleteKeep going with "Love in the Time of" - one day it will be published I am sure :-D
Hey Charles,
ReplyDeleteHere's to not sitting on commitees when you can avoid it! I have a bunch of that bs coming up and dread it like nothing else. Voted for your lovely Lana's wonderful story!
I think you've got the right attitude with rejections! Be more determined!
ReplyDeleteJulie, I've been pretty doggedly persistant.
ReplyDeleteJosephine, most people who go through our IRB rave about how relatively quick and easy it is compared to other places.
Anna-Lys, it's important work.
Miladysa, I'm just glad the presentation is over.
Michelle, this week is preregistration and so I'm swamped again. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I want to think.
Barrie, thanks. I've gotten enough rejections by now, and later sold those pieces, that I can be somewhat philosophical.
Cybersex and conference I get picture in front of my eyes ...*ROFLOL*...
ReplyDeleteYou know what I have the same issue with Cursed. No one is liking it but I believe in it and dang it will get accepted somewhere. So I feel the pain. Head up and re-submit!
ReplyDeleteGood luck
The conference sounds like it was a goldmine for writers! Sounds like it was fun!
ReplyDeleteThe bit about the magazine cracked me up (sorry!). But really, a rejections issue?
I wouldn't even tempt it. Not on my life.....
:-)
I voted for Lana's story all the way. She came very close.
Rejections have made me believe more in my stories too.
ReplyDeleteSince I have read your writing I'm absolutely sure it must be the word count. Rejection sucks.
ReplyDeleteI'm off to vote for Lana.
I'm always "a day late & a dollar short." I'll never win anything that way.
ReplyDeleteFancy, now "that" would be an interesting conference.
ReplyDeleteSarai, good luck with "Cursed." As you say, head up.
Christine Eldin, the concept for the rejections issue was pretty good, I thought. Pick those stories that just don't fit other magazines requirements. Yes, Lana came close and I was more disappointed than she was. She was leading all the way to the end when I guess the other contributor really recruited a bunch of votes.
Monique, If we don't believe, who will?
SQT, thanks for the kind words. I appreciate it.
JR, good to see you still kicking around. It's better than being a dollar late and a day short.