You Are Not Just One Story + Writing Tips, Workshops, News
When spring doesn't always mean something new; upcoming workshops; Substack, reading in tough times, and writing great villains; lots of industry news; a stress-free herbal tea
Greetings readers & writers,
Spring is emerging here in New England. Chilly mornings and warm afternoons, crocuses unfurling from the muddy ground, forsythias blooming lemon yellow. Every day there are new colors, buds opening, more hours of daylight.
Despite nature’s waking up, I’m finding myself still pulling the covers up over my head. Health issues and writing set-backs, not to mention everything else going on in the world, have made it hard to focus on anything new that isn’t episodes of Our Flag Means Death or scrolling Pinterest for recipes.
Most pointedly, my agent and I had a conversation last week about how Ghost Roads doesn’t appear to be going anywhere with the editors we’ve sent it to. That it might be time to set it aside. I thought I had already resigned myself to this — I’ve been working on this project so damn long — but when I got off the call, I sat in a sense of deep sadness I wasn’t expecting.
Now, this is one set of editors. This is one moment in time. There are other potential paths for Ghost Roads (all puns intended). But this particular one — finding a traditional publisher in this season— has gone dark. Its something I’ve been working towards for years and it hurts. It’s disappointing and taking me awhile to pick myself back up. But I’m not done writing.
I am not just one story.
Neither are you.
In his essay “Why Read Fiction in a Bad World” (linked below!) Morten Høi Jensen shares his theory on the importance of stories:
Fiction satisfies, intermittently and imperfectly, a metaphysical longing, a desire to extend life beyond its arbitrary limits. Without it, life just wouldn’t be enough — “life as it is lived” would be unbearable. As Gore Vidal put it: “The creation of a work of art, like an act of love, is our one small “yes” at the center of a vast “no.””
Outside my office window, my front yard is swarming with bees. They make their nests in the ground and emerge in the early spring once the sun begins to warm the earth. They’re gentle and only interested in mating and pollinating, but it means playing outside or gardening or landscaping is kind of off-limits while they do their thing. In a couple weeks, they’ll disappear again, as they do every year. But they’ll have left their mark: aerating the soil and fertilizing our plants so they can bloom to their fullest potential.
Each season brings its challenges. If you’re like me, waiting for the air to clear and the earth to be primed for something new to grow, know that you’re sitting in company. We’ll make it through. We don’t have to wait for permission or acceptance. We can make our own small ‘yes.’
And I can’t wait to experience whatever story you say yes to next.
Coming soon! A guest post from YA and middle-grade author N. Griffin about her new, gripping YA novel Trigger and marketing deeply personal stories.
Finally, an archives page! Check out all the 2021 and 2022 BMN interviews in one place!
Upcoming Seminars
All events are virtual and require registration unless otherwise noted.
THIS FRIDAY! April 8th (10:30AM): Marketing for Writers Series: Publicity
April 13th (*7:30 PM*): Speculative Fiction Variety Hour* - FREE! (email for link) *actually 90 minutes of exploring topics in speculative fiction, genre, and writing
April 27 - May 1: Presenter at Muse & the Marketplace!
Not available these dates? Connect with me for one-on-one coaching that fits your schedule!
Writing/Marketing Resources:
Find out “Why Some Famous Novelists Are All About Substack” and why, for writers without the audience and charisma, it may not be as lucrative. {Esquire}
“Why Read Fiction in a Bad World” {Gawker} by Morten Høi Jensen is a thoughtful examination of fiction’s role in our moral and internal universe.
In “7 Secrets To Avoiding The Biggest Problem With Villains” {Stone Soup} Charlie Jane Anders shares a series of hacks for writing highly effective antagonists.
I think metaphor is really all that is available to us as humans. Getting to the core truth of a thing is always asymptotic. I think as writers we lean into that and everything in our stories can become a metaphor for mood or emotion or events as we try to approximate what lies at the heart of what we’re trying to say…. Stories are efforts to explore larger truths. They can’t help but be metaphor. There was something incredibly powerful about reflecting my own feelings and experiences in the form of a novel.
— N. Griffin, interview with Women Writers, Women(‘s) Books
Industry News
Publisher’s Weekly and The Millions are tracking coverage of the war in Ukraine as it relates to the literary world and publishing. Several Ukrainian publishers are also seeking funds to support refugee children in this time of crisis.
SFF 180 details the weird story of indie horror imprint Silver Shamrock Publishing and how, after receiving blow-back for a new title with a white-supremicist premise, responded by shutting down and abandoning its authors. If you or an author you know was impacted, reach out to Cina Pelayo or Eva Roslin for a spreadsheet of resources.
Assistant Principal Toby Price was fired after reading the humorous picture book I Need A New Butt! {LitHub} to 2nd graders at his school. PEN America has called it “an extreme disciplinary action, truly disproportionate to the situation.”
Publishing is not immune to The Great Resignation. The resignation of four editors on the same day in early March sparked conversations about burnout, compensation, and lack of advancement in the industry.
Tea
Immunity and stress relief? Yes please! I picked up this latest tea from Yogi Tea, Elderberry Lemon Balm Immune+Stress, because in addition to seeking calm in my life right now, I’m also a fan of elderberry and lemon balm. Their tangy, just barely fruity additions nicely complement the hint of spice from ginger, cinnamon, and pepper in this herbal blend. Is it making me healthier? No idea. But it brews a relaxing cup for morning or evening.
Take a moment to hydrate and get a breath of fresh air. Listen to a good tune. Support to a cause that’s important to you {Ukraine | LGBTQ+ Rights | Banned Books}. Make yourself a batch of this delicious soup. And when you’re ready, write or read something lovely.
~Allison
Writer & Marketing Coach
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*Bookshop.org affliate links! Check out our Bookshop for other recommendations.
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Ditto! Don’t give up.
Don’t give up. We have all had our share of disappointments. Keep going, that’s the difference between success and failure.