Thank you for reading. It's been on my mind lately as I see so many posts about getting an agent, or a book deal, or an industry review, and I think there needs to be a balance between understanding it is NOT easy to follow a passion. But it can be rewarding to focus on the incremental wins.
That line stood out to me too, "it is NOT easy to follow a passion." That truth deserves more airtime.
What I’m still untangling is whether it’s the passion itself that’s hard, or the invisible rules around how we’re “supposed” to pursue it. Traditional publishing still looms so large, but sometimes I wonder… what if it’s just one gate in a garden full of entrances?
You’ve clearly found your voice and footing. And I’m so glad you decided to share both.
I might be addicted to writing for anthologies. Something about having an "assignment" (aka: theme) just lights up certain parts of my brain and makes the whole thing feel shiny and fun again. Even though I consider myself primarily a novelist, only four of the works in my catalogue are novels…the other thirty-four are anthologies. (Hoping to change that soon by finishing some of the novels on my back burners)
For me, I've definitely found that the pain of rejection has lessened over time. I take it less personally than I once would have, knowing that sometimes it's not even a comment on the quality of my story, but about how well my story does or doesn't fit in with the rest of what has been submitted/accepted or technical details like what POV it's told in or how long it is.
I totally agree that over time, I get it about rejections and that I don't need to be all in my feelings about it. So, interesting that you consider yourself a novelist and not a short story writer. I'm trying to be a novelist and it is hard work! Thank you for sharing your insights. I always look forward to your hot takes!
I love the dedication and perseverance here🔥
This is the permission to proceed forward when you said, "You may become the trend in doing so."
Thank you for sharing. This was a joy to read.
Thank you for reading. It's been on my mind lately as I see so many posts about getting an agent, or a book deal, or an industry review, and I think there needs to be a balance between understanding it is NOT easy to follow a passion. But it can be rewarding to focus on the incremental wins.
That line stood out to me too, "it is NOT easy to follow a passion." That truth deserves more airtime.
What I’m still untangling is whether it’s the passion itself that’s hard, or the invisible rules around how we’re “supposed” to pursue it. Traditional publishing still looms so large, but sometimes I wonder… what if it’s just one gate in a garden full of entrances?
You’ve clearly found your voice and footing. And I’m so glad you decided to share both.
I might be addicted to writing for anthologies. Something about having an "assignment" (aka: theme) just lights up certain parts of my brain and makes the whole thing feel shiny and fun again. Even though I consider myself primarily a novelist, only four of the works in my catalogue are novels…the other thirty-four are anthologies. (Hoping to change that soon by finishing some of the novels on my back burners)
For me, I've definitely found that the pain of rejection has lessened over time. I take it less personally than I once would have, knowing that sometimes it's not even a comment on the quality of my story, but about how well my story does or doesn't fit in with the rest of what has been submitted/accepted or technical details like what POV it's told in or how long it is.
I totally agree that over time, I get it about rejections and that I don't need to be all in my feelings about it. So, interesting that you consider yourself a novelist and not a short story writer. I'm trying to be a novelist and it is hard work! Thank you for sharing your insights. I always look forward to your hot takes!