Happy Birthday Jeannine and Billie and all the WITD people. I'm so glad I found you. This post on being brave hits the spot, as the writing I'm doing now terrifies me. I expect some kind of Twitter-style backlash, but then I realize how silly that is. Spotlight! But I spent six hours yesterday in love with crafting an essay, working with the language, playing inside it. I know it won't matter to anyone else that I spent that time, and will spend more on it too on something people might never read. But that focused attention is time "between the worlds" for me, and that's the part of writing I love most. That feeling is grace. Thank you for the story of surviving failure. I think I needed that the most.
" . . . the chase after writing that wrings you out and leaves you in a heap of dishwater and memories in the basin of that old porcelain farm sink where you once stood to rinse sour milk from plastic sippy cups, where you stared into space toward the far end of the porch and the horizon of another marriage, another life, and grieved the old self whose next chapters you would never write."
"It’s almost a rebellion, really, to insist that language can do more than simply communicate. That to do language can mean more than just saying words. It’s a defiance, in a sense, to insist on caring about words." What a time to read this sentence – ooof!
Happy (almost) Big Beautiful Birthday #2 to WITD! Your heart in this just sings, and that last paragraph grabbed me-- those sour sippy cups are beautiful. Your words and our words combined in this space are the exact defiance and rebellion I seem to be wired for. The bravery I'm developing here has transformed me, my life, and my writing. xoxoxo
Thankyou for reaching for beauty (and for being brave). A little one within is putting her hand up and saying "Please Miss, I dont know how to join the write-in festive thingies and i will be in Australia then and need to make sure ive got the time right". That's the immediate brave taken care of, now fir the beauty. Somewhere, sometime, you linked to a published puece about a woman who was betrayed, drugged, and violated in Greece. One of the mist stunning pieces of that writing was about a statue of a woman reaching beyond the moment of violation and betrayal. Im not sure what im trying to say other than that reaching beyond resonates so much wuth me. And here we are writing in the dark (which may have a different depth or hue for each of us on any given day) abd Jeannine, you continue ti consciously, reach for beauty. And, oh I appreciate that. Thankyou
Melanie, this is just beautiful. Thank you for every word of it.
For the write-ins, we send Zoom links out the morning of, and the time we post is CENTRAL, so you have to look up the difference depending on your time zone. We try to move the times around to make it possible for our writers around the world to join us. xoxo
Thankyou. Ill double check the time zones, i'm excited! Other than New Zealand, the sun reaches Australia first on every new day, so I'll be waiting for the sun's rays to reach you all and "write together". 💖
I'm so grateful to you Jeannine that you took that first brave step, and followed it with many more brave steps that have led you here - where I have found you, and this beautiful community that encourages me to be braver and write (hopefully) beautifully.
I hope it encourages all of us, myself included, to keep being braver and to write (hopefully) more beautifully, with each other--all while doing so with so much less loneliness. xoxo
Thank you for your courageous act of doing more than just showing up here in this space. You have created a place filled with light where those of us who have truly felt like we were left in the dark when it comes to writing can come for inspiration, instruction, and connection. Happy Birthday WTD!
Jeannine, when you wrote that a book editor from one of the Big 5 "really hated" the book you co-wrote with your friend, I thought, "They don't know the depth and excellence of her work." Next thought: "Well, editors are human, too, and they are allowed to love and hate art, based on their tastes, preferences, and experiences."
I am preparing myself for these moments, as I begin to query agents in January. I really don't have a specific expectation of a "unicorn agent" or anything like that. I've just been thinking, "There has to be someone out there who will appreciate my work, see the value in it, want to be a collaborator with me in sharing it to a wider world." I write this, only because I used to be lofty in my goals about visibility, acquiring tens of thousands of subscribers or followers, even obtaining somewhat of a celebrity status.
But what I'm noticing, as I read and read and read one book after another, is that the books that hit the bestselling lists aren't always written well. They aren't necessarily nuanced, don't dive deeply into anything, but instead skim surfaces. I find myself frustrated when I read such books, because I want substance. I want meat. I want something that makes me angry or delighted or surprised. I want something that challenges my worldview, makes me think and wonder. Something that opens my eyes and my heart. Deepens my capacity for compassion.
When I read books published by indie presses, I have found they are hidden gems. Works of excellence but without the viral or popular backing, which makes me sad. But then again, I think, "I can know the secret, that these are the artists of our time, speaking into a culture--or against it--whose works are timeless." It's funny, but that's how I am as a reader.
Saying all that to come to my point here: I wouldn't have found you, or Writing in the Dark, if I'd never taken the risk to switch my newsletter to Substack in 2023. I found you by way of Sarah Fay, and I have no idea how I found Sarah, except to say that she popped up everywhere in my "suggested" list in those early days. Now I am not only honored to support your work and participate in this community, but I have your lovely memoir sitting on my bedside table, and once I read it, I will share with you and the rest of Substack what it means to me.
That's the power of one connection and one person. That's what I keep in mind as I move forward with my own book.
The book situation back then, this was 30 years ago, was a big bummer. We had signed this contract with Simon and Schuster, and then my friend was just really not able to complete her part of the project (it was, interestingly for you, Jeannie, about raising a larger family!). Anyway, my friend had already written one parenting book, which was very traditionally how-to nonfiction. When my friend tagged off and asked me to do the first draft by the deadline, I was very willing, because of course I wanted the project to go into production as planned. But because I am me, I wrote the project differently than my friend would have. It was much more literary, more lyrical, and more "artsy," and not at all like my friend's previous book, and, to make matters even more complicated, the acquiring editor who'd bought this book on proposal had moved on, so we had a new editor assigned to the project, which is rarely ever good. For us, it was ... the kiss of death.
Anyway, all you say here is true, and of course I would add that there are beautiful, heart-wrenching Big 5 bestselling books, but for sure not all of them are that way. And, as you say, everything is subjective.
I'm glad you found Sarah Fay and, thanks to her, Writing in the Dark!!
Oh, yes, this adds more context to your situation, Jeannine. I appreciate that. I have heard similar stories from other authors. It seems to me that many Big 5 publishers do want more commercial works than literary. I am like you and tend to write more poetically or use metaphor and nuance in my stories. So that’s yet another factor I’m considering in the back of my mind as I prepare to pitch my manuscript: commercial or literary? I have to be true to my voice, but thankfully, I also do know how to work with editors and incorporate their suggestions into revisions of books, since I have done so in the past with my NF spirituality books.
To clarify: I didn’t mean that ALL Big 5 published books are superficial, just that many are. Many. I have read some bold and beautiful ones, too, like you have. There are all varieties everywhere. It’s just my observation that, by and large, the bigger the publisher, the more likely the book will appeal to popularity and trends rather than to complexities and depth. Not always. But again—subjectivity, right?
All true. And to this I would add, three cheers for our indie presses, who publish books for reasons other than their marketability. I hope we never, ever see the end of indie presses (it's hard out there right now, though!).
This resonates Jeannie "...books that hit the bestselling lists aren't always written well. They aren't necessarily nuanced, don't dive deeply into anything but skim surfaces. I find myself frustrated when I read such books, because I want substance. I want meat. I want something that makes me angry or delighted or surprised. I want something that challenges my worldview, makes me think and wonder. Something that opens my eyes and my heart. Deepens my capacity for compassion." Thank you! With the intention you have set, you will find your agent :)
Thank you for stepping into your courage because, as we know, it’s contagious. Congratulations on your wonderful growth! It is so great to see a heart-centred leader, and her team, rise to the top.
Happy Birthday Jeannine and Billie and all the WITD people. I'm so glad I found you. This post on being brave hits the spot, as the writing I'm doing now terrifies me. I expect some kind of Twitter-style backlash, but then I realize how silly that is. Spotlight! But I spent six hours yesterday in love with crafting an essay, working with the language, playing inside it. I know it won't matter to anyone else that I spent that time, and will spend more on it too on something people might never read. But that focused attention is time "between the worlds" for me, and that's the part of writing I love most. That feeling is grace. Thank you for the story of surviving failure. I think I needed that the most.
I'm so glad my failures (there are many more) can be a source of solace and courage. They are that for me, too. Much love to you, Susan!
" . . . the chase after writing that wrings you out and leaves you in a heap of dishwater and memories in the basin of that old porcelain farm sink where you once stood to rinse sour milk from plastic sippy cups, where you stared into space toward the far end of the porch and the horizon of another marriage, another life, and grieved the old self whose next chapters you would never write."
MIC DROP!
My accidental joining of WITD about a year ago has made all the difference to me. Thank you so much for all you give us!
That's both sweet and funny. I am glad you accidentally joined us, Cathie. I love your voice here.
"It’s almost a rebellion, really, to insist that language can do more than simply communicate. That to do language can mean more than just saying words. It’s a defiance, in a sense, to insist on caring about words." What a time to read this sentence – ooof!
Inspiring, as always.
Happy (almost) Big Beautiful Birthday #2 to WITD! Your heart in this just sings, and that last paragraph grabbed me-- those sour sippy cups are beautiful. Your words and our words combined in this space are the exact defiance and rebellion I seem to be wired for. The bravery I'm developing here has transformed me, my life, and my writing. xoxoxo
You're such an incredible encourager and cheerleader, Emily. I appreciate you. Glad to be here with you in this space.
My pom poms are your pom poms— so happy to read and write with you, Jeannie!
Thankyou for reaching for beauty (and for being brave). A little one within is putting her hand up and saying "Please Miss, I dont know how to join the write-in festive thingies and i will be in Australia then and need to make sure ive got the time right". That's the immediate brave taken care of, now fir the beauty. Somewhere, sometime, you linked to a published puece about a woman who was betrayed, drugged, and violated in Greece. One of the mist stunning pieces of that writing was about a statue of a woman reaching beyond the moment of violation and betrayal. Im not sure what im trying to say other than that reaching beyond resonates so much wuth me. And here we are writing in the dark (which may have a different depth or hue for each of us on any given day) abd Jeannine, you continue ti consciously, reach for beauty. And, oh I appreciate that. Thankyou
Melanie, this is just beautiful. Thank you for every word of it.
For the write-ins, we send Zoom links out the morning of, and the time we post is CENTRAL, so you have to look up the difference depending on your time zone. We try to move the times around to make it possible for our writers around the world to join us. xoxo
Thankyou. Ill double check the time zones, i'm excited! Other than New Zealand, the sun reaches Australia first on every new day, so I'll be waiting for the sun's rays to reach you all and "write together". 💖
I'm so grateful to you Jeannine that you took that first brave step, and followed it with many more brave steps that have led you here - where I have found you, and this beautiful community that encourages me to be braver and write (hopefully) beautifully.
I hope it encourages all of us, myself included, to keep being braver and to write (hopefully) more beautifully, with each other--all while doing so with so much less loneliness. xoxo
Thank you for your courageous act of doing more than just showing up here in this space. You have created a place filled with light where those of us who have truly felt like we were left in the dark when it comes to writing can come for inspiration, instruction, and connection. Happy Birthday WTD!
Thank you, Sally! ❤️
Happy almost 2nd WITD birthday, Jeannine! Thank you for being brave and writing beautifully. We are all learning from your example.
Thank you so much, Lisa. I love writing with you.
Jeannine, when you wrote that a book editor from one of the Big 5 "really hated" the book you co-wrote with your friend, I thought, "They don't know the depth and excellence of her work." Next thought: "Well, editors are human, too, and they are allowed to love and hate art, based on their tastes, preferences, and experiences."
I am preparing myself for these moments, as I begin to query agents in January. I really don't have a specific expectation of a "unicorn agent" or anything like that. I've just been thinking, "There has to be someone out there who will appreciate my work, see the value in it, want to be a collaborator with me in sharing it to a wider world." I write this, only because I used to be lofty in my goals about visibility, acquiring tens of thousands of subscribers or followers, even obtaining somewhat of a celebrity status.
But what I'm noticing, as I read and read and read one book after another, is that the books that hit the bestselling lists aren't always written well. They aren't necessarily nuanced, don't dive deeply into anything, but instead skim surfaces. I find myself frustrated when I read such books, because I want substance. I want meat. I want something that makes me angry or delighted or surprised. I want something that challenges my worldview, makes me think and wonder. Something that opens my eyes and my heart. Deepens my capacity for compassion.
When I read books published by indie presses, I have found they are hidden gems. Works of excellence but without the viral or popular backing, which makes me sad. But then again, I think, "I can know the secret, that these are the artists of our time, speaking into a culture--or against it--whose works are timeless." It's funny, but that's how I am as a reader.
Saying all that to come to my point here: I wouldn't have found you, or Writing in the Dark, if I'd never taken the risk to switch my newsletter to Substack in 2023. I found you by way of Sarah Fay, and I have no idea how I found Sarah, except to say that she popped up everywhere in my "suggested" list in those early days. Now I am not only honored to support your work and participate in this community, but I have your lovely memoir sitting on my bedside table, and once I read it, I will share with you and the rest of Substack what it means to me.
That's the power of one connection and one person. That's what I keep in mind as I move forward with my own book.
The book situation back then, this was 30 years ago, was a big bummer. We had signed this contract with Simon and Schuster, and then my friend was just really not able to complete her part of the project (it was, interestingly for you, Jeannie, about raising a larger family!). Anyway, my friend had already written one parenting book, which was very traditionally how-to nonfiction. When my friend tagged off and asked me to do the first draft by the deadline, I was very willing, because of course I wanted the project to go into production as planned. But because I am me, I wrote the project differently than my friend would have. It was much more literary, more lyrical, and more "artsy," and not at all like my friend's previous book, and, to make matters even more complicated, the acquiring editor who'd bought this book on proposal had moved on, so we had a new editor assigned to the project, which is rarely ever good. For us, it was ... the kiss of death.
Anyway, all you say here is true, and of course I would add that there are beautiful, heart-wrenching Big 5 bestselling books, but for sure not all of them are that way. And, as you say, everything is subjective.
I'm glad you found Sarah Fay and, thanks to her, Writing in the Dark!!
Oh, yes, this adds more context to your situation, Jeannine. I appreciate that. I have heard similar stories from other authors. It seems to me that many Big 5 publishers do want more commercial works than literary. I am like you and tend to write more poetically or use metaphor and nuance in my stories. So that’s yet another factor I’m considering in the back of my mind as I prepare to pitch my manuscript: commercial or literary? I have to be true to my voice, but thankfully, I also do know how to work with editors and incorporate their suggestions into revisions of books, since I have done so in the past with my NF spirituality books.
To clarify: I didn’t mean that ALL Big 5 published books are superficial, just that many are. Many. I have read some bold and beautiful ones, too, like you have. There are all varieties everywhere. It’s just my observation that, by and large, the bigger the publisher, the more likely the book will appeal to popularity and trends rather than to complexities and depth. Not always. But again—subjectivity, right?
All true. And to this I would add, three cheers for our indie presses, who publish books for reasons other than their marketability. I hope we never, ever see the end of indie presses (it's hard out there right now, though!).
I hope for the same, but I hear what you're saying about the challenges in the industry.
This resonates Jeannie "...books that hit the bestselling lists aren't always written well. They aren't necessarily nuanced, don't dive deeply into anything but skim surfaces. I find myself frustrated when I read such books, because I want substance. I want meat. I want something that makes me angry or delighted or surprised. I want something that challenges my worldview, makes me think and wonder. Something that opens my eyes and my heart. Deepens my capacity for compassion." Thank you! With the intention you have set, you will find your agent :)
Wow, thank you, Lisa! You are so encouraging. I needed that.
Thank you. This was both inspiration and reminder.
Thank you for writing with us, Priya xoxo
Thank you for stepping into your courage because, as we know, it’s contagious. Congratulations on your wonderful growth! It is so great to see a heart-centred leader, and her team, rise to the top.
Ah thank you so much, Donna--it is true! Courage *is* contagious! xoxoxo