It’s the day before Thanksgiving (at least, it is if you’re in the United States.) I don’t know about you, but I can’t believe it! This year has gone by so quickly. It started with me writing a little romance novel from a seed of an idea acquired during a trip last fall, and seems to be concluding with me in the middle of the querying trenches (I just got a rejection today, as a matter of fact.) Who knows what these next few weeks will bring in regards to my writing journey? Either way, I know that I am thankful for it, regardless of the outcome. In the words of Taylor Swift, this slope is treacherous, but I like it (I also like the ten-minute version of “All Too Well” that’s been on repeat for me basically all of November, but this is a newsletter about writing, not Red (Taylor’s Version.))
The writing and publishing journey is, indeed, treacherous, but it’s also one filled with so many amazing things! Like you—I am thankful for you reading this, right now. I am also thankful for the words of others I am blessed to be able to consume (it’s Outlander release week…you know I’m talking about Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, here…what else could be filling my mind on this momentous occasion?) And I’m thankful for simply having the capacity and passion to write. I truly believe that words can change the world or, at least, they can change each of our worlds, one book, one chapter, and one sentence at a time.
On another note…
I intended to keep this week’s noteworthy short and concise, but it appears I am already starting to ramble.
I am curious, though, to know your thoughts on something. I recently saw a fellow writer on Twitter musing about receiving query or sub news over the holidays, and it had me wondering (as others were in response to said writer)—are rejections (or hopefully acceptances, too) something you’d prefer to receive on a non-holiday week? Would a rejection like the one I received this morning—the day before Thanksgiving—sour your festive mood? Or would you rather get an answer, regardless of when it comes and what that answer is?
I thought, when first reading through this Twitter thread, that I would definitely prefer to hear back from agents (or literary journals, as it were—the only other places I’ve submitted to as of late) regardless of the holidays or any other such event. I thought this, on Monday, with the caveat that I hadn’t experienced a rejection over the holidays yet, so perhaps I would feel differently when it happened. Well, now that I’ve received one today (I think today counts as a holiday for all intents and purposes since many are out of office or otherwise preparing to celebrate), I still would rather have an answer. My rejection today will not ruin the day tomorrow any more than a rejection at any other time of year ruins my day.
Rejection is disappointing, yes, but it’s inevitable and gives me some sort of conclusion. I’d rather have a rejection any day than an agent ghost me (which is particularly heartbreaking on a full request like I’ve experienced—just noting that here.) I like to think I’ve become fairly immune to rejections, though they, of course, still sting when they pop up in my inbox. I know others, though, struggle with rejection more than I do, and therefore may have an altogether different answer.
So what do you think?
I’m too curious for my own good and want to know your answer to Hannah Sharpe’s question. What would you prefer? No news over the holidays, or all the news, whenever there is news, regardless of the time of year?
Here are the places my words have ended up since I last wrote:
You Don’t Need to Get Over Your Fear, You Need to Learn to Live With It published in Curious
Why Writing on Medium is Worth it Even if You Don’t Make Thousands of Dollars a Month published in Curation and Meedium Matters
How to Utilize Paragraph Structure in Your Writing republished on my blog
I am super excited to be appearing on Barrett Laurie’s YouTube channel for a livestream interview on Sunday, November 28th at 10 am MST. I recently interviewed Barrett for borrowed solace: the podcast (episode to come on December 7th), and now the tables are turning! We’ll be discussing the literary journal, the podcast, and the querying trenches (as if you don’t endure me talking about that enough already.) If you’re free and want to join us for a couple of hours on Sunday, I’d love to see you there—link below to Barrett’s YouTube channel where we’ll be streaming.
Speaking of the podcast, we’ve officially launched season four, and our first two episodes are now live! If you’re not familiar with borrowed solace: the podcast, it’s a show where I and the other borrowed solace editors discuss all sorts of writerly topics; feature readings of short stories and poems that were published in the journal; and talk to amazing guests (like Barrett) who have unique writing experiences and insight to share. The first episode of this season was with the other editors, and we discussed what it’s like running a literary journal—a behind-the-scenes sneak peek, if you will. The second episode is a short nonfiction essay that was published in the fall 2021 journal read by the author, Melanie Chartoff (who happens to also be an amazing stage and screen actor.) I’ll link our website page for the podcast below, but you can also find it by searching on your favorite podcasting platform.