Rejected for 2 Residencies, Magazine Rejection 327 and 1 Story Published

My home for the next 19 days!

Let's reverse that heading! 

My story, "Gladness or Joy," was published in the newest issue of Puerto del Sol along one million people I love and admire including, but not limited to: Sara June Woods, Brandi Wells, Dan Beachy-Quick, Matthew Salesses, Ravi Mangla, Kim Yideum, JiYoon Lee, Don Mee Choi,  Johannes Goransson, Brooks Sterritt, and Anne Valente. Killer. Monster. Call it what you will.

But, I also learned that I did not receive residencies from Brush Creek or Norton Island and that the Southwest Review doesn't want the story I sent them. 

This all seems fine, considering i have been home for only a few weeks of 2016 so far. In fact, today, I started my residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and it is swanky! So happy to be here!

Waitlist for Conference and Rejection for Residency

I found out I was waitlisted for admittance to the nonfiction segment of the Tin House workshop this summer and declined for a residency at the Edward Albee House. 

Real talk: I was bummed about the Tin House news and felt not much about Edward Albee, and I'm wondering if this is because I thought the Tin House thing was more within my reach and the Albee House was a longshot? Anyway, it's good to be humbled, and, when I think about it, it's not particularly surprising that I wasn't accepted to Tin House. I applied for nonfiction because I know my nonfiction needs work, and perhaps it's not to the Tin-House-level of "needs-work" quite yet. It's good to know there's still a lot more to hope for! And this was the first workshop/conference type thing I've applied to. It's a totally new thing for me. So that's good that I didn't hear a yes right out of the gate. It will help quell my sense of entitlement.

I am headed out to VCCA in just 36 hours, so I will count my blessings. 

Rejection 326

Get it through your head.

Guernica sent a really nice rejection encouraging me to submit again. They're so dreamy to me. Makes me want to work harder! If I get something accepted there someday, I will award myself with one of their totes I've been coveting for so long!

Poetry Collection Rejection

Side. Eye. Brow.

My poetry collection was rejected from Sidebrow, but the two books they chose were “Field Glass” by Joanna Howard and Joanna Ruocco and “Inherit ” by Ginger Ko, so who can argue with that. They have a very well-written rejection letter, too, in my opinion. That goes a long way!

Residency Rejection and Acceptance

I was not selected for a residency at Wildacres, but I was accepted as one of four international writers to attend the Danish Centre for Writers and Translators at HALD Hovedgaard in Denmark for the month of June and I. am. over. the. moon. Especially after I found out one of the other residents will be Amanda Michalopoulou. I love her work so much. Such an honor. I've heard from a friend that this is a really magical place to get work done and I can't imagine it being anything but. So thrilled.

James Merrill House Rejection

James Merrill looked a little like Joel Grey, right?

I applied for a residency at the James Merrill House, but wasn't accepted. I just got some good news though and I'll be able to share it soon!

SLS Disquiet Partial Scholarship

I am the black heart of this cloud.

I submitted a novel in progress to the SLS Disquiet Contest and made the longlist, awarded a partial scholarship, but sadly this is not enough to allow me to go to Lisbon for the conference. Tanya McQueen won for nonfiction though and I'm so, so excited for her! I love her work. Silver linings...

Rejection 324 and 325

Perhaps third time will be the charm.

Fairy Tale Review did not want the story I sent them. 

Missouri Review encouraged me to send more work (second encouragement in a row). 

Essay up at drDOCTOR and a class at StoryStudio Chicago

I've got an essay on Christian Boltanski and our instinct to find ourselves in the work of others at drDOCTOR.

And in May I'll be teaching a class at StoryStudio Chicago on how to get your novel published. Come join  me! Or spread the word!

Residency Finalist and Rejection

Isn't he just the coolest?

The Baltic Writing Residency Sweden informed me I was a finalist for their residency in Stockholm, so that's pretty nice!

Sarabande also informed me I was not chosen for their residency in the Bernheim Forest, but I had a feeling that one was an especially slim chance. Last year's winner was D.A. Powell, who is just about the greatest. I had the pleasure of hearing him read in undergrad and I still think, often, about how terrific he was.