the craft. the jealousy monster.

I try my best to keep these newsletters craft based. Lessons on building real writing skills. However, I think there is some nuance to the writing conversation that’s important as well. Writing is a mental game, so hopefully it’s okay if I share a little about the mental roadblocks we all have to overcome in order to be our best!

This week, I wanted to talk a little about the jealousy monster. That’s right. Maybe it doesn’t happen to you, but I will focus on me. Fair? No matter how far you get in your writing career, there will always be more. You spend time coveting other writers because they’re getting the bylines you want or they sign the book deal. But guess what? Even as you start piling on those achievements, you’ll always be looking towards the next thing if you don’t get a hold on that emotion.

Here are just a few important things I’m finding important to remember, when that familiar feeling creeps up:

There’s always more to the story. It’s so easy to see the wins. That’s what’s in the forefront most often. But guess what? Although I did get a traditional book deal, I spent all of 2019 being rejected by agents. So much so, I started therapy because I was internalizing the rejection and feeling extremely stuck in my circumstances. Wanting to move forward but being told no at every turn. I also recently met another author whose book is doing well in the market, but you know what I learned? They worked in publishing for over ten years before writing their book. Imagine all the insider knowledge they have on making a book successful. Just know that there is always more that you don’t know or understand about what got a person to that particular place.

There’s no such thing as overnight success. I mean it. Even if it seems like we can hit a lick with a “viral” moment, I promise you, there was other work that person did to get them there. Oftentimes, people’s first business is not what’s most successful. They’ll have gone through multiple iterations of failed ideas before they get to the one that clicks. Beyoncé has been singing since she was a child. Most of us have been writing in one form or another since we could hold our little pencils straight. Greatness takes time. Haven’t found a way around that yet.

Community over competition. It can be made to feel like you’re in competition with other writers. What press hits did they get over you? What publications gave them a starred review and not you? But that mentality is so limited and rooted in this idea of scarcity our society sells us at every turn. I promise you when I see other amazing writers getting great opportunities, I don’t want them not to have it. It helps me to know what’s possible. It inspires me. There is enough for everyone to be successful, which is why I love sharing so much in this community. My knowledge is your knowledge because as much as I want to win, I want you to win too.

What is for you will not miss you. You have probably heard this in many different ways but it is the truth. Not to get too spiritual, but this is a foundation for my life. Touré Roberts recently talked about being able to trust God’s no just as much as we trust his yes. And this stuck with me. Do you know that even with a published book I was rejected from three different fellowships this year? It’s laughable to me now because I trust my journey. But a few years back, those rejections really stung. But I have truly gotten to a place where I trust that where there is a no, something better is ahead of me. That is hope. And to me without hope, without a belief beyond what’s in front of me, I don’t know how chasing writing as a career would be possible. In any creative field, you have to be just a little bit crazy. Crazy enough to believe that no matter how many books, or articles, podcasts or songs that are out there, that somehow you’ll stand out.

I hope this helps. Just keep writing. I ran track when I was younger and the biggest mistake you could make was looking left or right. Keep running your own race and focus on the finish line.

Writing/Job Opportunities

Leah Johnson is looking for writing about writing for Catapult. Craft advice you learned in school that was complete BS, how your writing space influences your work, etc—there are a million ways to spin it, just make it ~fresh~. leah.johnson@catapult.co.

Laura June is the new interim Tech Desk editor at Buzzfeed News and she’s accepting pitches. laura.june@buzzfeed.com.

DogTime is looking for freelance writers. If you’re a dog loving writer, email darby.mcnally@dogtime.com.

Isha Thorpe is always offering editor or writer opportunities on REVOLT’s news site, hit up editorial@revolt.tv with your resume and 3-4 published links.

Severn House Books is hiring for two roles, Managing Editor and Assistant Editor. (London based).

Quill & Quire is hiring a Managing Editor. (Ontario).

Fiyah Lit Mag is accepting Haunting and Horror submissions. (July 31)

USA Triathlon is hiring a Communications Manager (Colorado)

Andscape (Formally The Undefeated) is hiring a Senior Editor, Culture. (Washington, DC, hybrid work model).

LA Times is hiring a Television Editor.

Los Angeles Review of Books is hiring a Senior Editor.

Variety is looking for an editor to join its Variety Content Studio team (LA)