Rest in the Busy Season
How do you survive the holiday season?
Hi Everyone,
Happy Thanksgiving from California! I know it’s still early in November, but you won’t have another update from me until after Thanksgiving.
You may have (or may not have) noticed that my newsletters to you have slowed down over the last couple of months. I went back to work in August and it has been kicking my butt managing work, taking care of baby girl, and finding time to take care of myself. I never believed it would be easy, but yikes! And now the holiday season is ramping up… wish me luck!
There has been a lot of learning going on on my end and releasing some of my expectations with my writing has been necessary to allow myself time to rest and be with my family and friends. So the nonfiction writing (the short story reviews and bookish essays) are paused for the time being. I really hope to get back to them, but right now I just need to let them go. You’ll continue to receive an update email and an episode of Marredbury each month. I am trying my hardest to keep up with my fiction. That’s the part that brings me the most joy.
In Writing News
I’ve been finding inspiration with some writing contests this past month. I was excited to participate in
’s first Wicked Writing Contest on Macabre Monday. The theme was liminal spaces. I am proud to have received an honorable mention for my submission. The piece may end up in the Marredbury universe. You guys will see it at one point, either way. Check out the winners:
Wicked Writing Contest II is going on this month. I need to play with the theme (Proprioception. Look at that SAT word!) and see if I’m up for another round. I also have a piece of flash fiction due next week for an anthology that I have yet to write… so I’ll be working on that first.
Contests really help me when my writing slows down. Having themes and restrictions actually gets more words on the page, like the rules eliminate the panic of too many options. Can anyone else relate?
In Publishing News
Marredbury got a shout out in
’s Talestack News for the Spooky Special Issue. Check out the other spooky writing going on on Substack if you’re still in the mood to be scared after Halloween. I like to use Talestack News as a TBR list (one that never ends…)
In other publishing news, I have been working through some books about publishing wide. Wide is publishing refers to looking at other avenues and platforms to sell your writing outside of Amazon’s exclusive Kindle Unlimited (KU). I don’t have either of my books in KU right now. Amazon requires that the ebooks in KU be on no other platform. The exclusivity clause has never sat well with me, but I haven’t done the learning to understand all the aspects of being wide. I’m starting with Mark Leslie’s book Wide for the Win, one I have seen and heard about alot, to get a general idea. There is a whole business side when choosing indie, lots I’ve yet to discover!
Final Thought
In the theme of Thanksgiving and just general wellness, I’ve been practicing gratitude. I have used a gratitude journal before when I found myself stressed and overwhelmed. It really helps ground me and settles my anxiety.
I’m grateful for the support of my family and friends. They have really been an ear and a huge help as I’ve muddled my way through these last couple of months (especially my husband! Extra shout out to you, amor).
Does anyone else have a gratitude practice? Any graitutde traditions for the month of Thanksgiving?
Hello! Just discovered your substack and it's lovely :) The KU thing never sat well with me either. Good luck with the Wide adventure!