Congratulations on your wonderful accomplishments--and for your rejections, too, of course! I have been wrestling with my anger in these recent months (and how to deal with it) and so appreciate your thoughts today. Thank you, Jessica.
I have to admit that when I wrote the post, I was feeling more hopeful than I currently am. My anger since then has been boiling over. I fear these next four years will be worse than his first term. But I just think that makes it even more imperative that we use our voices to speak out, to resist.
Congrats on “The Day I Went Missing” being selected for Best Microfiction 2025. Your last 2 posts--this on writing being magic and the previous one on leaving stuff yr no longer interested in--have been really inspirational. And a big thanks for helping me to think something positive after way too much of the new pres.
Thanks! And I agree, it's definitely hard to see the positive with this new administration. It makes me feel like something's got to give, but who knows what that might be...
First of all, congratulations on your publishing successes *AND* your 7 rejections and counting! I enjoyed reading your 2nd place win in the 12th night contest...you totally got me with the sweater twist as you stuck the landing. And thank you for this post. It was just the pep talk I needed to hear at the end of this dreaded day. The reminder that it is far more powerful to be an actor than a reactor was also well-timed.
Yes, there will be (is already) a LOT of grist for the writing mill to come of these times. I loved your aspiration to have one of your books make it to the banned list. Also lovedlovedloved your bumper sticker.
I haven't done as much writing since the election for the specific reason of "wise mind." I have been absorbing my thoughts and feelings and processing. I needed time and space to take it in and to sit with it. I completed my Autumn 30 Days of Poetry just before the election, when I was stunned again by the result.
I follow a writer called Anne Able on IG and she tells short reel/s stories about herself and her writing daily. Today she reflected on reading a short story 10 years ago and how much reading it impacted her. I think about how writers read, and how reading influences their thoughts, their responses, and how they see the world. Anne Able's brief retelling of this story and how it impacted her, for me, was a meta-example of storytelling/reading is so powerful to our minds, and how, especially for writers, it's so necessary.
Thanks as always for your insightful reflection JK!
Well said! I cranked up my relaxing sleep music, breathed, and wrote this morning into the afternoon. We are indeed living in interesting times. May fear turn out to be worse than reality.
Congratulations on your wonderful accomplishments--and for your rejections, too, of course! I have been wrestling with my anger in these recent months (and how to deal with it) and so appreciate your thoughts today. Thank you, Jessica.
Thank you!!
I have to admit that when I wrote the post, I was feeling more hopeful than I currently am. My anger since then has been boiling over. I fear these next four years will be worse than his first term. But I just think that makes it even more imperative that we use our voices to speak out, to resist.
Congrats on “The Day I Went Missing” being selected for Best Microfiction 2025. Your last 2 posts--this on writing being magic and the previous one on leaving stuff yr no longer interested in--have been really inspirational. And a big thanks for helping me to think something positive after way too much of the new pres.
Thanks! And I agree, it's definitely hard to see the positive with this new administration. It makes me feel like something's got to give, but who knows what that might be...
First of all, congratulations on your publishing successes *AND* your 7 rejections and counting! I enjoyed reading your 2nd place win in the 12th night contest...you totally got me with the sweater twist as you stuck the landing. And thank you for this post. It was just the pep talk I needed to hear at the end of this dreaded day. The reminder that it is far more powerful to be an actor than a reactor was also well-timed.
Thank you, Keith!
It's hard to find the silver lining in the political situation, but maybe some good writing will come out of it...
Yes, there will be (is already) a LOT of grist for the writing mill to come of these times. I loved your aspiration to have one of your books make it to the banned list. Also lovedlovedloved your bumper sticker.
I haven't done as much writing since the election for the specific reason of "wise mind." I have been absorbing my thoughts and feelings and processing. I needed time and space to take it in and to sit with it. I completed my Autumn 30 Days of Poetry just before the election, when I was stunned again by the result.
I follow a writer called Anne Able on IG and she tells short reel/s stories about herself and her writing daily. Today she reflected on reading a short story 10 years ago and how much reading it impacted her. I think about how writers read, and how reading influences their thoughts, their responses, and how they see the world. Anne Able's brief retelling of this story and how it impacted her, for me, was a meta-example of storytelling/reading is so powerful to our minds, and how, especially for writers, it's so necessary.
Thanks as always for your insightful reflection JK!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFDDbTOOQCx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
I love that! Thanks for sharing; we never know how our writing is going to impact someone.
Well said! I cranked up my relaxing sleep music, breathed, and wrote this morning into the afternoon. We are indeed living in interesting times. May fear turn out to be worse than reality.
Thanks for reading! And, indeed, wouldn't it be nice if our collective fears were unfounded...