Where Do I Go From Here?

I received an email notification from the Chicago Tribune last week.  In it they thanked me for submitting my short story "As The World Burns," but they were really sorry that it didn't make the final cut for their contest.  Three weeks ago Poetry Magazine notified me by email that they would pass on the poems that I had previously submitted.  They were apologetic about it too.  A week prior to that Electric Literature, an online publication, passed on my short story "Hero Cops." As of this moment, I no longer have any further submissions out in the "seeking publication universe."

So where do I go from here?  I don't exactly have an answer to that question.  I believe that I'll take some time to continue writing on the projects that I'm working on, while I edit and revise the things I've already finished. 

I haven't written much poetry lately, but I have been working a little bit each day on two longer stories that I'm writing.  I've resorted to writing with pen and paper.  It seems that I'm more productive with that format.  When I write on the laptop I get distracted easily with editing and researching. 

I think that I've submitted to over 20 different publications and contests in the last year.  All of them have apologetically declined.  I've saved every rejection notice.  Someday soon, I will print them out and display them somewhere.  They are a badge of honor for me.  Proof that I've taken a chance. 

Part of the reason for a delay in updating this column and the lack of poem writing, is due to my current depression type issues.  My doctor prescribed an anti-depressant.  It made me feel groggy all day, so I stopped taking it. 

Am I good writer?  I don't know.  I do know that I can only improve with continued effort.  In the face of uncertainty of where to go from here, I'll just keep stringing words together and see what happens. 

Thank you all for your continued support.