I’d like to first and foremost, dedicate this newsletter to K.L. Burd who recently participated in our Permission Granted Office Hours and was a dedicated mentor for our fall program. I was devastated to hear of his passing. In the event that you watched that conversation and maybe got something from it, please consider sending up a prayer or giving in support of his wife and two boys. This is unthinkable, but I’m confident that with his faith, he is well and in the presence of the maker. Giving is happening through Zelle and can be directed to Katie Liburd using the email address katieliburd@gmail.com.

With that said, it’s a little difficult to jump right into characters or world building or other specifics about writing I guess. So this week, I want to encourage you in this craft that we all love.

One of the things that was great about K.L. was his sense of community. He was most certainly a bright light on Twitter which is how I came across him and his work. We were all in the querying grind together and it’s great to have other people who understand. Writing is this lonely thing, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t build beautiful communities to help each other along. I want to encourage you to take advantage of this intimate group that we have right in front of us. Sure, you may keep up on the monthly fee and read the weekly emails (maybe) but I promise you, there is more to gain when you participate in the Slack channels sharing your favorite books or great things that have happened in your career. Or take part in the work critiques to get feedback from other writers. Or the office hours to hear others talk about craft.

The other thought that I had here was “don’t wait.” You know, the pandemic settled a little, I know we are still in it, but once we were able to essentially go outside again, I decided that I didn’t want to waste another minute. Which might be why I accepted a gig on the other side of the country. And absolutely why in even the smallest way, I stopped saving clothes I really like for special occasions. I just wear them. Whatever I’m feeling that day, I wear it.

I don’t want to dredge up fear here or impending doom. I guess I just want to revert back to the prolific quote that Lupita Nyongo shared about Chadwick Boseman. “Take your time, but don’t waste your time.”

There are fascinating stories inside of you. And so often I hear people talk about wanting to write or hoping to get to it, but I want to challenge you to start right now, if you haven’t. And to stay the course, if you have.

Writing for me has always been a lifeline. Sure, it was an amazing thing to realize that it was something that could actually bring income for me, but it was never about that. Writing is the thing that I would most certainly do whether I was being paid or not. So, I want to encourage you that even if you never see the six figure book deal or write the cover story for that big time pub, your stories and your words still matter. Don’t you wait another minute to start getting them down on paper. Or keep getting them down on paper.

But even with that, why not you? From the time I started writing musician bios for $50 a pop, I would have never been able to wrap my head around selling my debut novel to a top five publisher. But when I look back on it, I think, why not me? Why would I assume that kind of opportunity is somehow only reserved for the literary elite or anyone but me. Hell, what makes them so special?

I am not special. What I am is ambitious, a hard worker, and a forever student. I will be a great writer. But if you never take the steps to get there, you will never know.

I’ve said this before and I just want to reiterate it here, “You’re a good writer.” If you really know that, now what is possible? After you get over that mental block, because we all have it in various forms, worlds will open up to you. I am silly enough to believe that I am a good writer that will one day be great. That hope, that idea, I believe, is what has manifested some of the greatest opportunities for me that were beyond my wildest dreams.

We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming next week. But I would be remiss not to encourage you, the way that K.L. did for me in regard to this community, and giving him the opportunity to show up in a way he hoped for as a mentor. Rest well, K.L.

Writing/Job Opportunities

Teen Vogue Politics section is looking for Holiday pitches and op-eds on rest under capitalism—time off (or lack thereof), the supply chain "crisis", faith and justice, labor, untold histories. E-mail alexa_mcmenamin@condenastdotcom. ($250-$400)

Teen Vogue is hiring a Fashion and Beauty Director.

Catapult Editor Tajja Isen is looking for essay pitches.

Washington City Paper is hiring a City Lights Editor to produce their annual Arts guide and contribute arts stories to City Paper.

Netflix is hiring a Writing Apprentice for an adult animated procedural dark comedy series.

NPR is hiring a Deputy Culture Editor.

MacMillan Publishing is hiring a Spring 2022 Intern. ($15/hr)

Sundance Institute is hiring a Brand and Editorial Writer. (62k+, LA based)

PEN America Writing as Activism Fellowship (NYC)

Well+Good is hiring a Sr. Fitness Editor.