This is a writing update, but it is also a reminder not to give up. In the last two years, I’ve been trying to be more intentional about my writing, seeking to have it published to a larger audience. If you aren’t a writer yourself (or maybe you are a writer, but have not sought publication) you may not realize how challenging it is to be published, especially in this internet age where even small publications have a very large pool of talent and content from which to make a selection. Even having a short essay or poem published is challenging, much more so if you are seeking to publish a book!
In 2023, I made eight short form submissions over the course of the year. Five of them were published and I was paid for one piece for the first time! It was an exciting year for my writing goals!
In 2024, I made twenty-two short form submissions, but only two were published this year, neither of them paying. (Though I did get a tip unexpectedly from a friend who appreciated my writing and wanted to encourage me. Thanks so much!) Part of the reason my “acceptance rate” went down may have been that I tried to submit to more publications on a higher tier, that either paid or were a more widely know publication. This meant these publications had more submissions from which to make their selections.
There are some things I wrote this year that I am really proud of and I’d like to share them with you all! However, I am holding onto them for now because publishing them on my blog would make them ineligible for other publication. If I don’t find publishers for them this coming year, I’ll share them with you all here anyway because I hope my writing is helpful to others, even if the audience is small.
I also took a break from social media this year (I kept my resolution until about October), but was disappointed that this meant fewer people read along because they hadn’t followed my blog through email. This year, I’m going to go back to sharing each new post on social media. However, I would still really, really appreciate it if you would follow my blog through email! Unfortunately, social media algorithyms can bury a lot of good work.
To end on a positive note, I did receive one other acceptance this year, but have to wait for its publication. I’m pretty excited about it, but will wait to share the details until the Kickstarter goes live soon. Stay tuned!
Photo by Cathryn Lavery on Unsplash
Welcome To The Carriage House 