Main characters feeling sorry for themselves

I heard a line in the movie, The Bad and the Beautiful, with Kirk Douglas, that said something to the effect:

"Never let your character feel sorry for themselves for too long."

I was also read the blog, Greetings from Nowhere, and the blogger, Barbara O'Conner, asked the question:

Does she (your main character) MAKE the story happen?

OR........

Is the story simply happening to her or around her?

Eureka! That's it! My main character is feeling sorry for herself AND not doing anything about it.

Time to give my character a pep pill.

First nonfiction article rejection

Yesterday, I received my first rejection for a nonfiction article. However, (yes, you have to have a however), it was handwritten! That means they took the time to tell me what was wrong with it and the only thing wrong was that it didn't fit their themes.

If only they'd publish their themes!?

Anyway, here's a toast to my first rejection and to many more attempts at publication.

Happy Fourth of July

Happy Fourth.

Last night I watched fireworks with a German, Russians, and Americans. The Russians were older people who had been taught to assemble automatic weapons in school in case of an American invasion. We all felt the beauty and majesty of a country where we could all come together.

May next year bring more troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Go America!