More humble pie
Monday, Apr 24, 2006
I should’ve seen this coming.
Several weeks ago, a nice fellow emailed me to ask to reprint a post I’d written here for a small publication. I replied in the affirmative and looked forward to seeing my very first article in print. Long time readers will remember what happened with my other “first article in print.” (Instead of printing it, they used it for an online “bonus” article, and I can’t even link you up. The link is expired, just like my writing career.) While we didn’t break open the bubbly, I did casually mention it to my husband in a noncommittal way. He thinks I’m famous, but my fame hasn’t helped me get out of scrubbing bathrooms yet.
So, the magazine arrives in my mailbox last week, and I flip through it looking for my name. (Wouldn’t you secretly skip all the other articles too if this was your first time in print?) Of course, you know this is coming: I never found my name. I did, however, find my article. And there it was, plain as day. The by-line read:
Amy who?! (My name is Amy Scott, if you don’t know.) It serves me right, the way I see it. You can’t be famous and humble at the same time, and the latter trait is better for all the people who have to live with you.
23 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a comment
Amy, this is too much! I find that this always happens to me soon after I have prayed for God to teach me humility. Why am I so surprised when He answers that one?
Comment by Meredith B. (April 24, 2006 @ 12:17 pm )
Oh rats! I mean, of course humility is a good thing, but still - how disappointing.
Sorry for that significant typo…
Comment by Megan (April 24, 2006 @ 1:11 pm )
Don’t worry, Amy. Once I published an article in a publication, and they didn’t even PRINT my byline. It was just the article, and NO name. At least they put Amy.
Comment by Andrea (April 24, 2006 @ 1:44 pm )
ouch - that hurts!
I mean I know humility is a good thing, but that still hurts. As Andrea saie - at least they got Amy right! LOL
Hi - I am Janice. Just hopped over here from This One is for the Girls. Glad I did - great blog. I will be back.
Comment by Janice (April 24, 2006 @ 2:10 pm )
Being famous is good as long as you are famous for the right things. I am famous for things I am not proud of….see what I mean?
Comment by KS Milkmaid (April 24, 2006 @ 5:12 pm )
Too funny…
Comment by molly (April 25, 2006 @ 1:40 am )
Someday you will be printed somewhere special and they will get it right. Your writing is worth the time it takes to double check!
Warmly,

Kate
Comment by Under the Sky (April 25, 2006 @ 1:49 am )
BUMMER!!!
Well, it makes a great Charlie Brown kind of a story!
Jeanne
Comment by At A Hen's Pace (April 25, 2006 @ 9:07 am )
What a sad day for you! I would be upset too. But also I am so glad that it happened to you because you always seem to put a spin on it and learn a lesson from what comes your way. Your readers get to learn from a wise woman beyond her years. You bless us so much!
In Christian love,
Sweetness aka Mrs.DMG
Comment by Sweetness (April 25, 2006 @ 10:03 am )
Oh, Amy, my tea nearly came out my nose when I read this, I laughed so hard! Bless you for your good-humour. This really is funny, and frustrating. I certainly do hope that you will alert the person who approached you about this, as whatever the lesson herein on humility, it’s definitely not good policy for publications to mess up their contributors’ names!
I firmly believe that of the marks of a truly humble person is his or her sense of humour, especially about him- or herself. You always give ample evidence of this, and it’s one of the things that makes this blog a delight to read.
Comment by Mrs. P. (April 25, 2006 @ 10:09 am )
Does Greg know about your other husband, Mr. Cook?
Comment by Valerie (Kyriosity) (April 25, 2006 @ 12:52 pm )
I like the sound of Amy Scott much better, personally, but perhaps you could consider Amy Cook your pen name!
Comment by HolyMama! (April 25, 2006 @ 3:14 pm )
Hahaha! Isn’t that just like life? So funny. But - secretly, I’d be a little miffed.
Comment by sprittibee (April 25, 2006 @ 3:44 pm )
That would be so frustrating, Amy! Thank you, though, for the reminder to keep things in perspective.
Comment by Amanda (April 25, 2006 @ 8:26 pm )
Don’t think it’s escaped my notice that in the past several publications that have arrived at my doorstep, YOUR name is always spelled correctly, Moolllllly.
Dear All,
No, I didn’t write this tongue-in-cheek. It’s all good. No feelings were hurt in the behind scenes footage. We’d better move on before the editor reads this, eh?
(Greg laughed at your comment, Valerie.)
Comment by Amy (April 25, 2006 @ 9:15 pm )
Well, congrats on the publication even if wasn’t quite all it could be.
You get the publication for your portfolio and the jewel for your crown. Not a bad day’s work!
Comment by ReallyTrying (April 25, 2006 @ 9:25 pm )
That reminds me of Barney Fife who always had his name spelled wrong in the newspaper whenever he did something heroic.
Comment by Courtney, Jer.33:3 (April 25, 2006 @ 11:18 pm )
that is so funny to me because i can so relate to that. and then i go and forget your name the other day when you left me a comment. I KNEW it was you about five minutes after you left me the comment (my problem is that I know about 40 billion different amys)
looking forward to seeing you in FL
Anyways, congrats on getting published!
Comment by JenIG (April 26, 2006 @ 9:42 pm )
Ha Ha, One of the praise songs that was popular when I was in college was “Strip My Name (Lord)….” I think this might be what it means
??!!!
Comment by Kristi (April 27, 2006 @ 5:42 pm )
I am so sorry for you!! That is terrible, you must have been terribly excited. What magazine was this for? I am so sorry for your dissapointment, but you are such a great writer, that I have NO doubts that you will be published soemday………with you CORRECT name!
Comment by candi (April 27, 2006 @ 5:45 pm )
JenIg, Yes, see you next month–along with Kate!
Comment by Amy Scott (April 28, 2006 @ 10:53 am )
Well, I just got my Cumberland catalog and noticed a certain “Amy Scott,” of whom they spoke highly, even mentioning her weblog, Amy’s Humble Musings.
So it’s not the same as getting recognition for a specific article, but hey, they directed a lot of people to here where they can read your actual articles!
That is, of course, if it’s you and not somebody else whose name and blog were printed incorrectly…oh dear…
Comment by covenantmama (May 1, 2006 @ 7:18 pm )
covenantmama,
Well, I’ll be.
Wouldn’t you know, I haven’t received my catalog yet? I’ll be sure to thank the owner and beg him not to mention the bribe.
Comment by Amy (May 2, 2006 @ 12:56 pm )