Writing • Page 24

Hi friends. Hopefully, the creative juices are flowing for all of you.

Excited to share that my first-ever-published book Palm Lines, a poetry collection, is releasing this November. Taking preorders for signed author copies now (the best way to directly support me- only 45 are left). They are only $15 ($12+$3 shipping) and I've spilled my entire dang soul into this one. Here's an image of the cover art as a teaser. Please DM if you're interested.

 

Y'all, Toho is open for submissions again. No theme in particular for this issue, so hopefully that's more doable than duality. Let me read your stuff!

Toho Journal Submission Manager

 

i didn’t realize the word limit was so short. was holding a piece for whenever submissions opened up. maybe i’ll throw something separate together.

 

Dang yeah, the word count is 500. Maybe in the future we’ll push it further for prose (I’d personally appreciate that too). Hopefully you can figure something out

 

my homework for the weekend is to narrow down the three poems i want to submit to this contest.

 

what contest?

 

If by any chance you live in Philly or the Greater Philly area, Toho is accepting (free) submissions for short stories up to 3,000 words for an anthology. I'm not involved in the selection process at all for this one and I just submitted one of mine. Deadline is 9/30. Published pieces are allowed if you retain rights. Submit here.

Also, deadline for the journal (500 words or less, $3, photo/art/poetry/fic/nonfic) is also 9/30 so get that ish in so I can publish your ass. Submit here.

 

Just in case any of you didn't get a chance to submit by 9/30, submissions are open again for fiction and non-fiction until tomorrow. Submit here.

 

Anyone have any recs for a consolidated list of places accepting submissions or hosting contests? Especially for creative nonfiction, essay kinds of things?

 

I think getting a Submittable account is your best bet.

 

Anyone interested in ordering my poetry book, preorder page is up.

I worked my ass off on this and I really think y'all would dig it :)

 

Attended Philadelphia’s virtual PushToPublish conference on Saturday and paid to meet with two lit agents through a speed dating event. I’ve never attended a writers conference before and also have never directly conversed with a lit agent so I was pretty nervous, especially knowing I was pitching my fiction novella to them (the one ive been querying around for about a year now).

I made a PowerPoint presentation for my pitch with a cover (that’ll inevitably be changed) along with my book description, bio, and credits ive gotten along the way of this book’s journey. Super easy to make- took me maybe 10 minutes because i already had the materials for the slides.

The first agent told me she was only seeking childrens and middle grade for now (diff than what her online description said) but was impressed, asked me to send my ms to her to send to her colleague. Her colleague ended up passing on it (she doesnt take novellas and only wants commercial- not literary) but the agent i met with told me my work deserves to be published, but shes out of options to help me.

The other agent i met with, zoom shut down participant ability to share screens, so i had to nix out my PowerPoint presentation. I had the positive exp with the other agent earlier so i was feeling less nervous at this point, so talking with her was smoother. She asked for my ms and im currently waiting for her to read and give me her thoughts!!! Wish me luck yall, ive never been this close!

tl;dr waiting to hear back from an agent after she requested full manuscript of my fiction novella

 

have any of you struggled to find your "writing voice?" I find myself struggling to find a consistent style. It tends to follow the patterns of whatever I'm reading lately, which I know isn't a great habit. I'm probably being too hard on myself, because I've not even finished my first book, but it's something I've noticed lately

 

I think thats a common fear people share, and really all writers are growing and constantly developing their voice as they go on in their careers, picking up on things they read, experience, etc—even while working on single projects. I personally feel like confidence and consistency is key. As long as you feel like what youre doing is right for the project youre working on now, and you can make it all work as one coherent whole at the end-point, i think thats whats most important. Sometimes diversifying the style a bit, while sustaining a narrative voice, is a sign of writerly strength and not weakness.

 

ISHINOMAKI

The earth began to tremble
Raining sheet rock and metal
Before my feet could settle
The waves did crawl
The race to higher ground
Began with a screeching sound
And before I was knocked down
I turned and saw

An undertow
High above me
This overflow
Has undone me

A new door slides open
I can see through
While thousands were chosen
Cannot see you
This is not
My right of way
Too scared to go to where I now belong
I want to stay

Where the rivers met the sea
Now a painful memory
This is the way it must now be

I have become a lost soul
Longing for a place to go
One I used to call my home
Now desolate
My future was stolen
Left countless hearts broken
Here I stand out in the open
Nonexistent

I feel you
I hear you
I need you
To hear me

If I could wash away
Your misery
Like the ocean waves
That ended me
I would not
I would refuse
Know that each moment you wish you were with me
I am with you.


guys, the new episode of unsolved mysteries on netflix about the tsunami spirits, for whatever reason, WRECKED ME. that's where the inspiration for this piece comes from. i think it's finished.

jcv8481.wordpress.com

 

If anyone wants to come to the Toho/Green Street Poetry virtual open mic, it's tonight 7-9pm EST. rsvp here

we typically have anywhere between 15-40 people attend, and people sign up for reading slots at the start. you're also welcome to just observe. tonight, if you want to share, you're encouraged to bring a spooky piece (not mandatory, obvs)

 

I've just started keeping a daily journal to encourage me to actually write more. I fell off for a few months there.

 

Anyone do freelance stuff? A site called Fiverr.com came across my radar lately and it seems like a good way to pick up some work. I might look into it.

 

I used to do a lot of freelance editing. I technically still do, but haven't had an assignment in ages lol. Picked up some Fiverr jobs last year though. Cool app for finding assignments. Payment is processed directly through them, and they have some service fees / pick up on a hefty royalty, which is my biggest complaint. They also don't allow you to communicate with clients outside of the Fiverr app itself (if you ask for an email address/paypal, you get flagged). There's also a bit of a beginner's curve, as clients typically select popular services with lots of testimonials over new ones.

My suggestion is to avoid all apps or sites and just build your business yourself. A lot more work, but I think it's way more worthwhile. Build your own profile and promote your service through forums and groups (you'd be surprised how many authors are looking for editors in groups/pages on facebook, linkedin, goodreads, etc...) Set your own rates, be hyper-specific about service details, provide testimonials, etc... When scouting, individually email potential clients instead of publicly posting about it.

Good luck!

 

Holding the real life proof copy in my hands. Humbling. This is a moment to remember.

 

looks so cool!! big congratulations!!!

 

Friend and i collabed to create a lil promo video for my book. Check it out (his website if interested)

 

hi friends, how's the writing coming along? i want to hear about what y'all have in the works.

 

I set a goal to write 90 poems for NaNoWriMo. I’m doing alright. I need today’s 3.

otherwise every writing goal this year will be missed in a major way.

 

90 poems in a month is amazing.