What if a Favorite Work is in the Public Domain?

The Dover cover.

I recently discovered that one of my favorite childhood books is in the public domain. The book in question is the 1924 The Box-Car Children by Gertrude C. Warner. In 1942, a shorter version of the book was reissued by Albert Whitman and Company, and a whole series of books followed. Since 2023, Penguin Random House has published the series. 

Only the first book is in the public domain but I quickly pulled out my copy.  Do I have the 1924 title?  No.  I have the 1942 book, but I want to see how different the original is.  Fortunately it has been reissued by Dover. 

Beyond reading both versions, what can I do? I wasn’t sure so I did a bit of research. 

When a book is no longer under copyright, it is in the public domain. It can be reprinted, produced as an ebook, sold and adapted by you, me, or anyone else reading this post. You can even sell your new creation on Kindle. But it has to be differentiated which means that you have somehow made it different from the original. 

There are several ways that you can, according to Kindle, go about this. 

• Translation: If you are fluent enough to translate The Box-Car Children into another language, feel free to do so. You could even create a series with the book translated into Spanish, French, Mandarin, or Twi. 

• Annotation: Not qualified to translate? You could also annotate the book. Annotations are any commentary or explanation added to the original text. Annotations could include historical information such as “At the time this book was published…” Or they could be biographical information about the author and how the book parallels the author’s life. Note: I don’t know that this is the case with The Box-Car Children. I simply used that as an example. 

• Illustration: Are you a skilled illustrator? You can publish a Kindle book in which you have added at least 10 of your own illustrations to the original story. These could be photographs that you have taken, drawings, or digital artwork. 

You can copyright your differentiated work, but there’s a catch. You cannot copyright the original text. This is because it was already copyrighted by someone else. That means that if I were to annotate The Box-Car Children, I would include a note with the copyright statement. “The original children’s novel, The Box-Car Children, is in the public domain. The annotations are my original work and are copyrighted . . ."  

Do I plan to differentiate The Box-Car Children? I do not. But maybe just maybe I’ll differentiate something else. I am curious to see how Dover has made their publication unique.

--SueBE

• To find out more about her writing, visit her site and blog, One Writer's Journey.  

• Click here to find her newsletter.

• Pitching, Querying and Submitting Your Work 

• Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults 

• Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults 

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 60 books for young readers.  

She is also the instructor for 3 WOW classes which begin on the first Monday of every month. She teaches:

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Interview with Wendy Fontaine, WOW! Q2 2025 Creative Nonfiction Contest Runner Up

Wendy Fontaine’s work has appeared in Jet Fuel Review, Short Reads, Sweet Lit, Sunlight Press, Under The Sun and elsewhere. She has received nonfiction prizes from Identity Theory, Hunger Mountain and Tiferet Journal, as well as nominations to the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net anthologies. A native New Englander, she currently resides in southern California and serves as the flash editor at Hippocampus Magazine.

--interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on placing as a runner up in our Q2 2025 Creative Nonfiction essay competition! What prompted you to enter the contest?

Wendy: I’ve entered the contest before, and I always found the winning essays to be impressive. I routinely take classes through WOW, so the contest has been on my radar for a while.

WOW: Many of us can think of instances where, as a young woman, we sensed something was off with a person or situation and thankfully acted for our own safety. Your essay, “Lucky,” is a compelling look back at your own experience and other events where luck, randomness or fate spares a person from something tragic. What inspired you to write this piece?

Wendy: That moment in the parking lot has stuck with me for 35 years. Over the decades, I’ve wondered, why not me? Why do bad things happen to some people but not others? There are answers to that question and yet, at the same time, there are no answers to that question. This moment and many others, including 9-11 and the Boston Marathon bombing, make me think of how close we all come to tragedy every day, whether we know about it or not. And when we do know about it, we try to make sense of it. We try to give it a narrative or some kind of explanation, but of course there are times when no explanation can be made. We just “got lucky,” as they say.

WOW: How do you find or make time to write? What works best for you?

Wendy: I wish I could say that I have a regular writing practice, or that I have the discipline to set aside time and abide by any kind of writing schedule. But I just don’t. I’m sort of a mad scientist writer. When an idea takes hold, I go to the page. I write and write and write, then I stop. I tell myself that I’m done for the day but within minutes, I’m back – drafting and redrafting. Then I might go weeks without writing again. It’s cyclical. I write whenever the mood strikes. I’m also in a writers’ group that meets monthly, which means I’m on the hook for new or revised material every time we meet. That really helps. My writing group keeps me generating new work.

WOW: Are you working on any writing projects right now? What’s next for you?

Wendy: I’ve been writing shorter pieces these days, usually flash CNF. Part of this is because of how my attention span changed during and after the pandemic. The other part is that I’m really interested in the heat and power that comes in the flash nonfiction form. I have a few essays that I’ve been submitting and a few that I’ve been revising. I also wrote a murder mystery novel, which I hope to revisit and send out to some new agents this summer.

WOW: Best of luck to you with your novel! Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Wendy. Before you go, can you share a favorite writing tip or piece of advice?

Wendy: Whenever I’m struggling to find writing time, or I need some inspiration, I sign up for a writing class. I find Chelsey Clammer’s classes to be particularly generative. Most writing courses are online now and easy to fit into a working person’s schedule. I also rely on Sonja Livingston’s book “Fifty-Two Snapshots,” which has 52 writing prompts for nonfiction and memoir. I’ll flip to a random page, then set a timer on my phone for 15 minutes. Fifteen minutes is usually enough time to get something on the page, but not so much time that you start editing yourself. This feels like a good way to get something true on the page without second-guessing what it is that you’re writing.

***

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Leave a Comment contest runner up, Contestant interview, Marcia Peterson, Wendy Fontaine, WOW! Q2 2025 Creative Nonfiction Contest, writer inspiration

Writing with Your Five Senses

Writing lessons can be found in surprising places. Like a Kindergarten classroom. Or more specifically, the bulletin board touting the five senses.

Sight. Hearing. Touch. Smell. Taste.

For years I’ve been told to use all five senses in my writing so the reader can feel more fully immersed in the reality of the world I’ve created. But, to be truthful, I’ve been leaning toward sight with the others occasionally making it into the rotation. But after writing an essay for a journal with the theme Noise, I’m rediscovering all the senses. So let’s talk adding senses to your writing.

Sight

Most of us will agree that this is the easiest one. Describe what you’re seeing in your mind’s eye when you imagine the scene. Because it’s so easy to write, I often use sight to give readers subtle clues. The brief glance between characters, a seemingly random object on the bookshelf that becomes important later, a gesture or habit that gives us a hint about a character’s personality. These more subtle uses of sight don’t often appear in the first draft. They have to be planned and added in subsequent drafts.

Hearing

Sound is something I often ignore as I bustle about my day. So, if I want to go beyond the vague crash, bang, slam in my writing, I really have to slow down and think about noises. Does my dishwasher hum or whirr or thump? What are the noises a house makes at night? Can I add modifiers to give a sound more meaning? Was the train whistle haunting or spirited? Can a recurring sound forewarn my reader that something important is about to happen?

Touch

Too often I think of touch as my fingers examining something. But our whole body is touching things constantly. Clothes, furniture, the ground, the wind, the sun, other people. It isn’t just what character’s feel but how they react to it. Does the borrowed flannel shirt feel awkward and stiff or cozy and warm? Does the gun feel like a familiar friend in their hand or do they recoil from the cold metal? Even a casual touch between characters can reveal something. It’s a great way to hint at emotions they are trying to hide. The tensed muscles of fear? The tight grip of anger?

Smell

Like hearing, smell is something I don’t often take time to label in my daily life. So when I want to add it to my writing it takes time and thought. What does the air before a thunderstorm smell like? Or a wet dog? (I’m thinking a weird mix of Fritos and rotten potatoes.) Also, I try to avoid the easy choices “flowery perfume” or “acrid smell of the burnt out house” that often make their way into first drafts. I try to choose original or unexpected smells to make a scene or character memorable.

Taste

If you have a food scene, hurray for you. Two characters sharing sweet watermelon suggests romance much more than bitter coffee dregs from the bottom of the pot. Of course, I guess it depends on your characters. Taste isn’t just about food. Characters can taste something in the wind or a kiss. For me, taste is the toughest sense to add to a scene. In fact, if anyone has suggestions I welcome them.

Do you have a favorite sense to use in your writing? Or would you like to share a sentence or two using rich descriptive language including several senses? Try using the photo above as a prompt.

Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about everything from DIY projects to tea to butterflies.  She's also a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing and a writing tutor at her local university. Get to know her @jodiwebbwrites,  Facebook and blogging at Words by Webb. 

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Leave a Comment descriptive writing, Jodi M. Webb, writing tips

Unearthing True Crimes From the Archives

When I started my true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas, five years ago, I thought I would be focusing solely on missing persons cases in North and South Carolina. My creative muse had other ideas. Little did my muse know that scanning old newspaper archives would lead me to intriguing crimes from the past (many with no digital footprints) and inspire me to broaden the context of my storytelling. 

I could give many examples of how this has happened, and by reading e-mails and reviews from listeners I know they appreciate the historical crimes and stories of missing people just as much as I do. 

Most recently, I was researching a missing persons case from the 1980s in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the story of Mary Kathryn Ennis, when I learned that her disappearance was solved when two prison inmates contacted the police with information. This was strange enough, but in one of the newspaper articles reporting the discovery of her body, I learned an enterprising young college student in the area had been murdered when he tried to enter the home of a family he didn’t know in the middle of the night. Of course, then I had to follow that rabbit hole to its conclusion. These were crimes I had never heard about, so I’ve documented them for my listeners in Episode 140: The Kidnapping and Murder of Mary Kathryn Ennis and the Death of William McMichael in North Carolina. 

A few months ago, I decided to research serial killers in South Carolina, as I’ve already produced an episode on North Carolina serial killers and it received more downloads than my usual content on missing people. That’s when I discovered a man named Lee Roy Martin had terrorized a small community by kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and strangling young women in Gaffney, S.C. in 1968, and the media eventually dubbed him “The Gaffney Strangler.” 

Martin called a local newspaper editor and anonymously confessed to his crimes before he was caught, and he even shared that he had murdered a woman whose husband was convicted of the crime and was sent to prison. This case was even more fascinating because two concerned citizens, driving around to search for one of the missing teenage girls, spotted Lee Roy trying to hide the body of one of his victims. If they hadn’t followed him and taken down his license plate, police might have had a harder time finding the killer. This story has been featured on numerous true crime documentaries, including “A Crime to Remember.” 

Writing about true crime was never something I imagined myself doing, but I find myself drawn more and more to these old cases. I think I appreciate the challenge of finding the long-forgotten primary sources and making sense of them in a new timeline. 

One of my listeners commented the following on a social media post about a 1972 crime: 

I love that you report on so many crimes I’ve never even heard of! Than you for giving a voice to these victims. 

When I first created my podcast, I never knew I’d had have the opportunity to share these stories in such great depth and even provide closure for family members who never knew the full details of these crimes. 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer and host/creator of the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas.

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Interview with Katherine Scott Crawford, Runner Up in the Q2 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest with "Only Water"

 

Congratulations to Katherine Scott Crawford from Brevard, North Carolina for her amazing nonfiction essay titled:

 Only Water!

Check out Katherine's submission, Only Water, as well as all the other winning entries and then stop back here to read Katherine's enlightening interview with Crystal J. Casavant-Otto from WOW! Women on Writing. 

Katherine’s Bio: 

Katherine Scott Crawford is the award-winning author of The Miniaturist’s Assistant and Keowee Valley. A former backpacking guide, adjunct professor, and recovering academic, her newspaper column appeared weekly across the U.S. and abroad, including in USA Today, The Detroit Free Press, and the Herald Scotland. Winner of a North Carolina Arts Award in Fiction, she holds an MFA in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. She’d rather be in the woods with her dog than anywhere else, enjoys curious people, adventure, and snow—and believes historical fiction the best way to time travel. An eleventh-generation Southerner, she directs writing retreats at a remote mountain lodge in Western North Carolina, where she lives with her family.

WOW: Katherine, thank you so much for taking time today to chat with me. Thank you also for your personal and touching entry into the Nonfiction Essay Contest and Congratulations! We have just a bit of time today so let's get to it!

Where do you write? What does your space look like? I’d love to know more about your mountain lodge - (dear reader - check out this view!)  >>>>>>

Katherine: I write in what I call my "Boffice": it's my bedroom plus office, which sits at the top floor of my house. My desk is in a corner of the room. It's an antique, sort of mission-style secretary which my mother-in-law refurbished years ago and gave to me. Unfortunately, it's probably killing my neck and back, as antique desks weren't built for modern computers--but it's hard to let it go. I have twinkle lights draped over the top, my grandmother's antique glass lamp, my storyboard nailed to the wall beside me, and my dog, Merlin, usually asleep at my feet. 

The mountain lodge where I direct writing retreats is the wonderful Earthshine Lodge in Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. I work with the fabulous folks at Earthshine to host writing retreats and workshops there for writers in all stages of their journeys once or twice per year. Earthshine is at a remote location at 3,000 feet with views of the Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests. It's heaven. (photo at right)

WOW: Let's just take a moment here - we are all absolutely jealous of that view from Earthshine Lodge. What a great place to work, and I love your support of others with the workshops! That begs the next question though, who is your support, and what have you found to be most supportive in your writing life as well as in life in general? You are clearly a very busy writer, but who do you turn to when you need some support? 

Katherine:  My greatest support is my husband, Stuart. We met as camp counselors two weeks after I graduated from college. He is my biggest cheerleader, sounding board, and partner-in-parenting and life. I could not be a publishing writer without him. My family and friends, especially my parents and sister, show up for me in more ways than I can express, and often have had more confidence in my abilities than I have had over the years. I'm ridiculously lucky to have them in my life. Frankly, I also rely a great amount on my dog, and on the natural world, when I need support. A hike along the river, in the open air, gives me much of what I need when it comes to slowing down and listens to my creative voice. 

WOW: Oh Katherine, that makes my heart so happy! Support is so important and I love that you have a village supporting you! 

This is a favorite question of mine: Do you have advice for your younger self when it comes to making decisions, believing in yourself, and/or writing? What would your current self say to the younger you? 

Katherine: If I could tell my younger self anything (and not that I would actually listen; I've been pretty focused and headstrong my entire life), I'd tell her to take as many risks as possible when it comes to life, which creates writing: to say "yes" to every adventure, be it a study-abroad opportunity, classes, contests, internships, and more. To talk to teachers and professors. To check out writing groups, go to the poetry reading, ask to join classes she might not feel ready for, be brave. I'd encourage her to write, and to read, as much as is humanly possible, and to seek out people, environments, classes, and more which align with her passions and hopes. And then, to be unafraid to mess up. 

WOW: Well, I'd say that is great advice for anyone. If only our youthful selves would listen...

You have an impressive bio; it begs the ask - tell us more about your professional goals? Long term aspirations? 

Katherine:  Thank you! I want to keep writing and publishing novels, and to reach more readers. I'd love to teach in a low-residency MFA program or take on writing students of my own, and I'd love to direct writers' retreats overseas at some point. I long to marry two of my great loves, travel and writing, in any way I possibly can. 

WOW: Does Stuart know you're looking to marry again? Seriously though, I love those goals not just for you, but for many of us! I hope all your dreams come true (for you and Stuart that is!)

What advice do you have for others during turbulent times? What works or doesn’t work for you when it comes to dealing with stress and the pressures of everyday life? 

Katherine: This is such a great question, especially in our current national and world climate. My best advice--at least what I have found to be the most helpful for me as an individual and a creative person--is to rest when you can. To take the time to sit in the comfy chair, wrap yourself in a blanket, and close your eyes, even if it's for twenty minutes. To say "no" to unnecessary asks, and to be with yourself. 

Then, it's to reach out to the people and activities you love in small ways: call your people (for me it's my sister and best friends), even if it's just to hear their voices. Grab tapas and sangria at your favorite hometown restaurant. Walk in your neighborhood and let yourself enjoy the way the dandelions push their cheery yellow selves up through the cracks in the sidewalk, the house finches fighting with each other in the trees, the way your elderly neighbors hold hands on their nightly walk. Watch a favorite movie with your friend, spouse, or kids. Enjoy each other. And always, always, find a way to get outside in nature, wherever and however you can find it. This is the stuff of life, and it's all that really matters.

WOW: Katherine, thank you so much for that fabulous reminder. I find myself taking time to relax and that inner voice kicks in a reminds me of how much work there is to do. Your words resonate deeply with me. 

Thank you for your time today and for sharing your many talents with us and the world! I'm ordering The Miniature's Assistant and Keowee Valley right now and look forward to reading them. I'm also looking forward to being your WOW! Blog Tour Manager on your next book! Keep my email and cell phone number handy!

and until we meet again - enjoy your twinkle lights and that antique lamp!

Today's post was penned by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

Crystal Casavant writes. 

Everything. 

If you follow her blog you have likely laid eyes on every thought she has ever had. Her debut novel, It Was Never About Me, Was It? is still a work in progress and shall be fully worthy sometime in 2025. She has written for WOW! Women on Writing, Bring on Lemons, and has been featured in several magazines and ezines relating to credit and collections as well as religious collections for confessional Lutherans. She runs a busy household full of intelligent, recalcitrant, and delightful humans who give her breath and keep her heart beating day after day. 

Crystal wears many hats (and not just the one in this photo) and fully believes in being in the moment and doing everything she can to improve the lives of those around her! The world may never know her name, but she prays that because of her, someone may smile a little brighter. She prides herself on doing nice things - yes, even for strangers! 

Check out the latest Contests: 

www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php

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Leave a Comment author interview, casavant-otto, crystal casavant, crystal otto, katherine scott crawford, keowee valley, runner up , the miniature's assistant, writing advice, writing contest

Don't Underestimate the Power of Habit

 

Somehow, over the past month, I've become disconnected from my writing routine. I have thought about writing, and I certainly would have liked to have written. Yet, those thoughts never turned into action. The anti-muse that is busyness crept back in, whispered in my ear that there's far too much to do, and turned my attention away from my creative work.

Oops, right?

Over the past week, I have been thinking about this and realized one aspect I needed to build back into my day: habit.

Think of your own habits in your life. Your teeth brushing. Your exercise routine. Your laundry. All fall under routines 

While I'm not a fan of habit stacking, I have embraced the idea of writing routines in the past. And it's worked. 

So lately, I have made the intention of starting my writing routine as early as possible. Instead of meandering around stories I have no connection to at the moment, I have returned to a familiar routine of grabbing one random picture and five random words to accompany it. And just responding until I have somehow used the image and words in a piece of writing

I have no idea if this will lead to anything, but based on my experience in the past, simply incorporating a regular routine (or habit, if you will) is the key to reclaiming my former sense of writing self. 

If you have sort of lost your way this year, don't waste too much time bemoaning it. Dust off the writing notebook. Fire up your laptop, typewriter, or whatever creative sword you battle with, and get back to your stories. Incorporate one act of writing in your day and mark it off the calendar. Hey, even download those goofy toothbrush tracking charts for kids to track your successes and treat yourself to a sticker after five days. 

Because what matters is that you aren't giving up. And if you can't seem to get back into it, start a regular routine (or habit) of writing into your day. You might just be surprised.

Nicole Pyles is a slightly overworked solopreneur who somehow can't admit she's running a business and not simply a side hustle. She loves the Lord and spending time with her family. She dreams vividly and loves writing metaphors in her fiction. When she's not checking her email obsessively, she enjoys watching old episodes of Twilight Zone and black-and-white monster movies. If you ever want to be on podcasts, let her know. And if you have a podcast, you could be her new best friend.

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1 comment Nicole Pyles, The Power of Habit, writing habits, writing routines

Even Google Wants You to Have a Team

Recently I signed up for the Google Digital Marketing and E-Commerce Professional Certificate through Coursera. My library had scholarships available, and I’ve been wondering how much of the content would be useful to me, a freelance writer. I need to be visible online.  I want people to find my work especially that I am now preparing to self-publish. 

I’ve just completed the first course, Foundations of Digital Marketing and E-Commerce. I didn’t learn a lot that was brand new to me in this introductory class but I'm taking that as good news.  This was just the introduction and there is overlap with my knowledge as a writer. I don't remember where as a writer I heard about marketing funnels.  That's the path potential customers go through from the beginning when they learn about you and what you are offering to the end where they engage.  

But another area of overlap that was especially interesting. Elle Duncan, a Google vice president, discussed building the confidence needed to go on the job search. Though I’m not planning on looking for a job in digital marketing, free lancers are frequently searching for opportunities and sales. So this is information I'm going to need especially if  I do apply for a job.  

In her session, Duncan mentioned two groups of people job seekers need in their lives. She called these people cheer leaders and practice buddies. 

The first group is somewhat obvious. Cheerleaders cheer us on. For a writer these might be the people who talk you through rejections. They lift you up when you are dealing with imposter syndrome. They tell you that no matter what your cousin twice removed said, your book does not need to be one of Reese Witherspoon’s book club selections for you to be a successful writer. 

Practice buddies may require a bit more thought before you see how it relates to your writing. They are the people who help you get the practice needed to perfect your craft. When I heard this term, I immediately thought of my critique group and my accountability group. These are the people who read my work and help me make it better. They recommend books on writing like Reimagining Your Nonfiction Picture Book: A Step-by-Step Guide by Kirsten W. Larson. They nudge you to sign up for classes that you've been talking about but not taken action. That's what Ang did when I talked and talked about Self-Publish Your Masterpiece with Barbara Noe Kennedy (an excellent class). These women are definitely my buddies. 

We writers definitely need a community. Whether you write something like picture books for young readers or essays about being a caretaker, you need your fellow writers. These are people you will get to know. That way when you spot a call for manuscripts, you'll remember that someone in your group is working on something appropriate. Together you will celebrate wins and mourn losses. They are practice buddies and so much more. 

If you don’t have an accountability group or a critique group and would like to connect with fellow Muffin readers, post below. Let people know what you write and what you are looking for. Do you need a critique buddy? Are you interested in assembling a group? This is how the accountability group that I’m in assembled here on the Muffin. 

And if you want to know about this certificate when I have completed it, let me know. One class down and six more to go. 

--SueBE

• To find out more about her writing, visit her site and blog, One Writer's Journey.  

• Click here to find her newsletter.

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 60 books for young readers.  

She is also the instructor for 3 WOW classes which begin on the first Monday of every month. She teaches:

• Pitching, Querying and Submitting Your Work 
• Research: Prepping to Write Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults 
• Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults 

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Leave a Comment accountability groups, classes, critique groups, digital marketing, e-commerce, writing community

Interview with Annalisa McMorrow - WOW! Q2 Creative Nonfiction Essay Runner Up

Annalisa McMorrow returns! After placing in the Fall 2024 Flash Fiction Contest (see her interview HERE), Annalisa is back showing us that she is equally talented with nonfiction writing. She was a runner up in the Q2 2025 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest with "The Sound of One Hand Clapping".

Annalisa McMorrow is a writer and editor living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her love of words comes from her screenwriting father who told her magical serials every night at bedtime, and her mother, an accomplished poet. She has been published in periodicals from People to Parenting and once abridged a 92,000-word novel (from the 1600s) to fit onto an audiotape. Her favorite genres to read are memoirs, noir, and 50s pulp, but she has been known to buy books for their covers.

--Interview by Jodi M. Webb

WOW: Congratulations on "The Sound of One Hand Clapping" about the time after your husband's strokes. That's such a vast experience, how did you decide which details to focus on for the essay? Was it difficult to condense your experience to fit the contest word count?

Annalisa: I have been writing about caregiving and his strokes since December of 2019. Most people know someone who survived a stroke, but few people know anyone who survived two different types of strokes in 24 hours. I honestly only had a difficult time choosing which part of our “journey” to write about that was standalone. I live for tight word counts. I mean, I adore them. Give me 50 words, 150, 500, 700. I am going to noodle and tweak and polish and dissect until those words sing.

WOW: And sing they did! The memories in your essay are so vivid. Do you keep a journal to help capture your life?

Annalisa: The day after my husband’s strokes, my father brought me a notebook and pen to the hospital, and I kept almost excruciatingly careful notes (mostly for the insurance companies) from then on. (My husband was in facilities for three months.) I have probably written a million words about his illness in the past 5.5 years.

WOW: I have the same thing from when my husband was ill! Do you have any advice for writers?

Annalisa: Don’t be afraid of a blank page. Get words down so you can edit them. If you are stuck, ask yourself questions: Who is this piece about? What is my goal in writing? Who is my audience? And if those are too broad, just keep asking smaller questions: Where do my characters meet? What does the room look like? Re-read your words to make sure that what you’ve written matches the vision in your mind.

Also, draft. I draft forever. I draft all day long. This is my fourth draft of this interview.

WOW: When writing do you have a favorite topic or type of writing?

Annalisa: Two broken people meet and fall in love. I love love.

WOW: Don't we all? In your bio you also mention that you've been known to buy a book because you fall in love with its cover (me too, especially those with stenciled edges!). I'm dying to know, what are some books you bought just for their covers?

Annalisa: The Further Adventures of Slugger McBatt by W.P. Kinsella — gorgeous writing, probably one of my all-time favorite short stories is in this book. It’s called “K Mart.”

Blue Heaven by Joe Keenan—oh, god, so funny.

Ironweed by William Kennedy—I prefer Legs (the sequel, I think) to this, but Ironweed was my first taste of William Kennedy.

WOW: Tell us what you do when you aren't writing (or reading). Do you have any hobbies? 

Annalisa: I crochet every day, and I give most of my scarves away. I’m a very shy person, but I have a little speech. When I see a stranger I want to gift with a scarf, I say, “I crochet scarves and like to give them to people who inspire me.” And then I hand over the scarf. I’ve only been turned down twice. I’ve probably given away 1000. My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was five, and that was (gasp) 50 years ago. I also write fan mail. Which is something I have done since I was small. Every so often, someone will write me back.

WOW: You've been published in a variety of publications throughout your writing career. Do you have a white whale publication that you're hoping to land? 

Annalisa: Years ago, I wanted Yellow Silk. I don’t think they’re in existence. I also wanted Libido. Ditto. I tend not to write literarily enough for literary magazines. But I made it into the NY Times with a 100-word submission for Thanksgiving, beating out (I think) 1500 entries. That was a big moment. I wish I could write a Shouts & Murmurs for The New Yorker.

WOW: The NY Times? I am officially in awe of you. Thanks for giving us a peek inside your writing life.

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1 comment Annalisa McMorrow, Jodi M. Webb contestant interview, WOW! Q2 2025 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

Everything's fine. Or not.

If my life was a song, the refrain would be “Everything’s fine.” I am that person. The one who tries to put a positive spin on every person and event. Part of it is wanting everything to be fine and the other part is not wanting to worry people with my problems. So I’ve been singing “Everything’s fine” for years. Even when things were not. It just seemed easier.

My writing reflected that refrain. Fiction, articles, essays…none of my writing was dark. Yes, there was the occasional murder in a short story but it was always bad people who died, not innocents. I was the Pollyanna of the writing world. Even when I wrote about things in my life that were less than ideal, I always added a hopeful twist to balance out the negatives. Or more often, I would ignore the negative aspects of my life, focusing on the things that made me happy.

Because there are so many things in my life that make me happy: family, friends, art, nature, travel. When writing, I am never at a loss for a new subject.

But I’m getting too old to leave a portion of my life unwritten. I started writing about my fear, my anger, my failure. It started as middle-of-the-night letters to myself to get all the emotions out so I could finally sleep.  I guess it was my homegrown version of therapy. Then I began thinking, “Would other people read this?”

Of course, that was followed by, “Do I want other people to read this?”

Slowly, I’ve started polishing certain pieces into essays and sending them out into the world. Although it’s a part of myself few people have met, it is powerful. I’m still conflicted about the reaction of my loved ones if any of my middle-of-the-night writing is published. So I started out with flash essay contests. I didn’t win anything, but just sharing it with the contest judges was a big leap for me. Yesterday, I sent an essay to a dream market of mine: The Sun Magazine. So I’m seesawing between “Yes! What if it gets chosen?” and “Oh, no. What if it gets chosen?”

Have you found it difficult to share writing about aspects of your life you normally keep hidden?

Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about everything from DIY projects to tea to butterflies.  She's also a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing and a writing tutor at her local university. Get to know her @jodiwebbwrites,  Facebook and blogging at Words by Webb. 

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2 comments Jodi M. Webb, personal essays, trauma

Interview with Janet Hise: Fall Flash Fiction 2024 Runner-up

 

Janet’s Bio:

Janet Hise is a Nebraska-based author with a writing degree from Wayne State College. Her debut book was published by Arcadia Publishing, and her work has been featured in Nebraska Life Magazine, Flash Fiction Magazine, Splickety, Plains Song Review, and more. A member of the Nebraska Writers Guild, she works in an academic library and writes across multiple genres, from eerie tales to historical fiction to young adult.

Janet spent her first 14 years on a family farm, where stories of life in the countryside sparked her passion for writing. Her latest work, a Christian thriller for adults, began as a NaNoWriMo project and evolved into a full-length novel about near-death experiences. It is currently seeking representation.

Connect with Janet through her website, www.janethise.com, or on X: @JanetHise.

--------------------------interview with Sue Bradford Edwards-------------------------------

WOW: What was the inspiration for "Lost One Standing"? Great title, by the way. 

Janet: This story began as a class assignment many years ago, unfolding in one of those rare moments when the words seemed to flow effortlessly. I started writing it as a 200-word filler with a title of “Write Me Your Secret,” thinking it would be light and funny with anonymous people spilling their “secrets” on postcards. In the original version, I decided to throw in a twist at the end. The final secret? "Never leave a return address." I’ve always loved this short version because it starts off as something innocent and charming, only to end with a sinister last line. 

WOW:  The contrast between the start and that last line is so powerful. So much of what makes a story great comes together through revision. How did this story change during the revision process? 

Janet: I recently dug up some of my old stories and started submitting them again, and this one got a little attention from a literary magazine. Although it was turned down for publication, they wrote, “An interesting concept that deserves a longer treatment than 200 words.” My writing excitement flared, and I started expanding the story, trying to answer all those questions from the short version. Thea Jackson just showed up along with the images surrounding her. Honestly, I have no idea where some of my characters come from; they just appear and take charge! Then came the big question: Who is the stalker? That is when I got the idea of a doppelgänger stepping out of the ether and swapping places with Thea. The new title suddenly appeared the same way Thea had. 

WOW: You obviously aren't afraid to make big changes in your work. We have so many writers who are new to writing flash. What piece of advice would you give them? 

Janet: Writing short fiction is tough. One of the biggest mistakes I have made in flash fiction is squeezing too much into a tiny space. Flash fiction is not about telling an entire epic. It is about offering a brief, powerful glimpse into a moment that speaks volumes on its own without relying on a mountain of backstory. The key is to let something small carry big meaning. A single moment, a sharp detail, or a carefully chosen sentence can hint at an entire world beneath the surface. 

WOW:  I feel like I could spend weeks unpacking that piece of advice.  There is just so much there. Your writing is so varied. What themes wend their way through your work? How do different types of writing (flash, novel writing, etc.) help you explore them? 

Janet: I tend to write about hope rising from tragedy, the power of faith, redemption, and the kind of forgiveness that does not always come easy. There is something fascinating about the unseen forces that shape our lives, nudging us in ways we do not always notice. Sometimes, my stories take a deep dive into the strange and eerie where reality gets a little slippery. 

Writing novels gives me room to stretch out and dig into my characters’ flaws, strengths, and motivations. I get to explore how their past and environment shape them, throw in a few red herrings, and weave in multiple themes. Watching characters grow and change with the story is one of my favorite parts of writing, but I also love keeping them true to themselves, with quirks, mannerisms, and inner thoughts that remain consistent no matter how much the world around them shifts. 

WOW: You are currently seeking representation for a novel you drafted during NaNoWriMo. What advice do you have for our readers about completing that first draft? 

Janet: Time slips away faster than we realize. Writing has always been my passion, yet life constantly tries to pull me away from it. NaNoWriMo forced me to push everything else aside and focus solely on getting words on the page. Writing finds its way into your schedule, no matter how busy life gets. Another powerful tool for writers is to find an accountability partner. When someone expects your words, excuses fade. Clear goals also make a difference, helping to balance writing with other responsibilities. Even if you are only piecing it together a little at a time, every word written is progress.

WOW:  I do hope that people will take the time to visit your site and read "Piecing It Together."  And this is such important advice about fitting writing into your schedule.  Thank you so much for taking time to share with us.  Good luck on your writing and your agent hunt! 

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Leave a Comment Fall Flash Fiction Contest 2024, flash fiction, interview, Janet Hise

Interview with Joanne Lozar Glenn, 2nd Place Winner in the WOW! Q2 2025 CNF Essay Contest

 

Joanne Lozar Glenn is a writer, editor, and educator whose work has been published in Beautiful Things (River Teeth), Peregrine, Journal of Compressed Creative Arts, Under the Gum Tree, Brevity, Brevity Blog, JMWW, and other print and online journals. 

 ----------Interview by Renee Roberson 

WOW: Thank you for joining us today, Joanne, and congratulations on placing 2nd in the contest! As a person who has struggled with the very topic of your essay, "Encore" resonated deep in my core. Mental illness can be difficult to explore in creative nonfiction. What was the drafting piece for this process was like, and what do you hope the main takeaway for the reader is? 

Joanne: Thanks for sharing your personal experience, Renée. This piece emerged during a 10-year period of trying to figure out a way to tell this story. I drafted multiple first-person narratives, fragmented narratives, and other related "micros" that never quite clicked, grappling with the question of what was mine to tell. I'm not sure where the idea to start this piece with "the boy" came from, but once I did, that particular draft seemed to catch hold. So I kept going, following the image(s) in my head, letting the piece sit, then continually tweaking until it felt done. As for takeaways, I don't believe I consciously was this purposeful at the time, but now I think the use of "the boy" (and letting other characters be identified by their roles rather than by their names) shows both how this loss affected me specifically as well as the swirl of unanswerable questions this kind of loss creates. My hope is that telling such a story will part the curtain on what is often shrouded in secrecy and shame and therefore silenced--and that readers who might have a similar but as yet untold story will feel seen. 

WOW: I’ve noticed a lot of your essays explore your familial relationships, such as this one published in Brevity. Both “Encore” and “Solstice” provide poignant descriptive details of everyday life involving mental illness that engage the reader and highlight that you never know what a family might be struggling with. What has exploring this topic taught you about your own role in your family? 

 Joanne: First, thanks for reading those other essays! TBH, I'm not sure how to answer. Maybe it aligns with what someone once said about the importance of stance to telling a story effectively: i.e., that you must have one foot in and one foot out of the experience. Until recently I lived three states away from most of my family. This layered an "outsider" stance over the "insider" history I had before I moved away. This has advantages and disadvantages: I can bring a different perspective to a situation, but I might also miss something important, despite my best attempts to be as true to the story as I can. 

WOW: Having been published multiple times online and in literary journals, what is your process for finding markets to submit your work? 

Joanne: I first make notes of familiar journals that I'd love to have publish my work. I also consult lists I keep of lit mags that might be potential markets---markets I've found through research or that have been shared with me by fellow writers---and see if I can read online samples to see if my work might fit. When I've decided which markets might work for a specific piece, I either list each one on paper or open browser tabs to each one's submission requirements. Then I follow their guidelines and submit. If a particular market isn't reading during that period (many lit mags only read submissions during a specific time of the year), I make a note on my calendar for when submissions open so that I can submit at that time. I once read that it takes an average of 12 submissions for one acceptance, so I try to submit to multiple markets when I can and hope one of them picks up the work. (Then, of course, if a piece is accepted I withdraw that piece from other markets.) This process is usually more messy and sporadic than I've described it here; like many writers, marketing is my least favorite part of getting my work "out there," and I do the best I can in the time I have. 

WOW: What advice would you give to someone who’s looking to explore writing creative nonfiction for the first time? Any do’s and don’ts you’d recommend for the process? 

Joanne: Prompts such as keepsake photos, treasured (and often even random) objects, and/or lines from a poem or memoir can be great starting places for a piece. Once you've got a starting place, write with abandon. Get it down before it's gone. Do not judge how good it is. Simply turn the page, set the writing aside, and return to write another piece later. When you have a lot of pages, maybe a whole notebook's worth, take them somewhere quiet and read them. Pull the ones that make you feel, and acknowledge that yes, you can write. Find a community of others, maybe one or two at a time, and support each other in this work by writing and sharing what you wrote (if you want to). Because this is first-draft work, call out (or mark) only what is strong, what stays with you, what you're jealous of not having been able to write yourself. (Celebrating strengths is how you gain the confidence to write more!) Then decide if you want to develop any of these pieces more fully and deeply. If yes, find people (teachers, classes, published writers) who can teach you by their example and experience. 

WOW: I love this advice! Often I already have an idea of a theme when I sit down to write an essay. I'd like to see what I could come up with using a visual prompt. What are you currently working on now? We’d love to hear about it.

Joanne: I''ve been experimenting with creating "snapshots' of a caregiving situation I've been in. The writing is raw, but except for obvious flaws or shortcomings, I prefer it for this project--at least for now. I want to be fair but also honest. It's probably the most challenging thing I've written about--or lived.

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A Day in the Life of Working from Home

I primarily work as a freelance writer, podcaster, and aspiring novelist. But if I’m to be honest, I spend most of my days being distracted by bright and shiny objects. Something tells me I’m not alone in this. Consider what an average day looks like for me. 

Wake up anywhere between 7 and 8 a.m. Get my coffee, catch up on the national news (most of the time I regret this), drink a glass of water, and make breakfast. From there, I get dressed and walk my two dogs. One is an elderly dachshund who is not too keen on walking, the other is a feisty chihuahua terrier who will NOT have her walk cut short unless it is raining, or she hears thunder in the distance. 

Once we return from this walk, I try to get in a quick strength training workout. Then I consult my to-do list for the day. This usually includes about an hour of planning or research before I break for lunch, if I don’t have a podcast interview scheduled. 

After lunch is my most productive time of day. I work on research for the podcast, write scripts, and if I’m caught up on that, tinker around with essays and any fiction I’m working on. Unfortunately, I’ve become discouraged with my fiction writing as of late, so I’ve spent more time working on creative nonfiction and podcast content. However, I’m prone to falling down rabbit holes during this period of time. 

Take yesterday, for example. I was reading a back issue of a newspaper, specifically an article about a missing woman’s body being found in 1989, when another headline caught my eye. It read, “Young Man’s Success Ends with Bizarre Death.” A college-student created a lucrative business selling balloons and other celebratory items and then is shot to death when he tried to enter a random home in town? I had to learn more. I took out my true crime notebook to write down the headline and publication information for a future podcast episode. This happens frequently, as does me posting a reel on Instagram and then getting distracted because my favorite store is having a sale. But I digress. 

Thursdays I reserve afternoons for recording or editing my podcast. Throughout the week, if I feel I’ve been less productive during the day, I’ll carve out an hour or two at night to catch up on work. I try to read a few chapters of a book before I go to sleep, as it helps for a restful night of sleep (unless you’re reading a book like “The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires” by Grady Hendrix. I'll never make that mistake again. Talk about some vivid dreams). 

Somehow, even with all these distractions and stops to take in food, drink, walks, and other exercise, I manage to be productive on the projects I most care about. I’d love to hear when you do your best writing! 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer who also produces the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas. She’s currently seeking representation for a novel about, what else? A podcaster trying to solve a mystery. Learn more at www.FinishedPages.com and www.MissingintheCarolinas.

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3 comments a day in the life, procrastination, Renee Roberson, writing advance, writing productivity

Interview with Roxane Sloan - Runner Up in the Fall 2024 Flash Fiction Contest

I’m thrilled to chat with Roxane Sloan today about her dreamlike story, “Family Secrets,” which placed in the Fall 2024 Flash Fiction Contest! Join us as we discuss her ekphrastic inspiration, speculative literature, and more in this fascinating interview.

Roxane Sloan has been a children’s librarian, an elementary and middle school teacher, and a teacher of English to speakers of other languages. She is fascinated by languages and cultures, and has taken classes in Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian just for the fun of it. When she is not reading or on the road, you can find her mulling over character development and wondering whether there is any dark chocolate left in the kitchen.

----- Interview by Angela Mackintosh

WOW: Welcome, Roxane! I absolutely love your story “Family Secrets,” and how you incorporated Japanese folklore. What inspired you to write this tale?

Roxane: It started with my address book which features woodblock prints by the Japanese artist, Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858). As I was looking for an address, the print of New Year's Eve Foxfires At The Changing Tree (1857) caught my attention. It's magical! I was soon online researching the print, foxfires, and enoki or hackberry trees. I ended up in the library checking out a stack of books on Japanese folklore, travel guides of Japan, and foxes. I'm not sure if I ever did find that address.

WOW: Oh wow, Hiroshige's woodblock print is magical! I had to include a photo of it, so our readers can see how well you captured the mood of the piece. One of the things that made an impression on me was the brilliant way you used the father’s dialogue as a retelling, which has this folktale feel to it. When the father starts with “I was enthralled,” it reminded me of a documentary! How did you come up with this structure?

Roxane: To be honest, I didn't consciously plan the structure. I wanted to portray a person reliving an important moment in his life, using language to convey the mood and his feelings of being spellbound. Having the father retell what happened seemed the way to do this.

WOW: Would you call your story magical realism or more speculative because of the shapeshifters? Who are some authors in the genre who have inspired you?

Roxane: I consider it speculative, but this is my first attempt writing in the genre, so I might not have gotten it right. Also, the story continues in my mind; I know some upcoming plot twists that might make it more speculative to me than the flash fiction story appears to the reader. I have enjoyed reading magical realism and speculative fiction for years. I admire the writing and story-telling abilities of Orson Scott Card (especially the Tales of Alvin Maker series, and the Ender series), Octavia Butler (Kindred and Parable of the Sower), Rebecca Roanhorse (Sixth World series - Trail of Lightning and Storm of Locusts), and just for the pure fun of it, Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series.

WOW: Those are all fantastic authors! Your bio mentions your fascination with cultures and languages (Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian). I admit, learning Japanese is on my must-do list, to be able to better communicate with my relatives. Do you have any recommendations for language learning resources?

Roxane: That's a tough question for me. I find language learning (actually, most learning) depends on the learner's individual motivation, likes, and interests. If you can tap into those, the learning will flow. For me, it helps if I see the written language as I'm learning the sounds and words. There are so many opportunities for language learning, from online classes, programs, and tutors to old-school hard copy books. If one class or program doesn't work for you, don't give up. Try another! It sounds as if you may have the advantage of some built-in practice with relatives! Have fun with it!

WOW: In your previous interview with WOW, you mentioned two middle grade novels you were working on. Are you still working on those and/or what are you working on now?

Roxane: Thanks for asking! I'm getting up my nerve to send one of the MG novels to agents this spring. The other still needs some work. After writing flash fiction stories for adults, I'm interested in trying a longer work of fiction for adults.

WOW: This is the second time you’ve placed in a WOW contest! We are thrilled to celebrate your work and love returning writers. Do you have any tips for entering contests?

Roxane: I love the WOW! Flash Fiction contests! The WOW team is so supportive and encouraging to writers! I find it a comfortable environment for trying new styles and to experiment and grow as a writer. The critiques that are offered have been a boon to my writing. To have someone who doesn't know me (and doesn't have to "love" my writing) give me a critique, tell me what speaks to them or what they find confusing - that is valuable! So I guess my tip would be to take advantage of the WOW! Flash Fiction contests and critiques!

WOW: That makes me smile! Thank you for your kind words. Okay, final question: What’s your favorite writing quote or piece of advice and why?

Roxane: I like the Mo Willems quote: "If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave." It works on so many levels!

WOW: Great tip and so true! Thank you, Roxane, for chatting with me today. It's always a pleasure to catch up with you and celebrate your writing, and now I have a few books to add to my list!

Check out the latest WOW writing contests here:

www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php

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Leave a Comment Contestant interview, Roxane Sloan, speculative fiction, WOW! Fall 2024 Flash Fiction Contest

Interview with Olivia Brochu: Q2 2025 Essay Contest Third Place Winner

Olivia’s Bio: Olivia Brochu’s work has been featured by Anti-Heroin Chic, Feels Blind Literary, The Inquisitive Eater, and more. She is a fan of gut-wrenching prose, roller coasters, and baby feet. You can read more of her work at oliviabrochuwrites.com. 

If you haven't done so already, check out Olivia's award-winning story "Contagious" and then return here for a chat with the author. 

WOW: Congratulations on placing third in the Q2 2025 Essay Contest! How did you begin writing your essay and how did it and your writing processes evolve as you wrote? 

Olivia: When my husband and I started thinking about having a fourth baby, I kept having this recurring thought – what if it's a girl? Most people would assume that a mom of three boys would want a daughter, and I did, but I was also nervous. Was I ready to usher another person into womanhood? Despite being a relatively experienced parent, it was something I had not had to face before. In my opinion, the experience of being a woman, and all the beautiful and challenging parts to it, is unique and different from the road my sons will walk. It's a path forged by the women that came before me, that I continue to trek while holding my daughter's hand. This essay was an exploration of the fears and insecurities I harbored while pregnant with her. She is here now, almost one, and a constant source of joy for all of us. When I read this essay now, I know that I've already evolved past so much of what I felt then. I'm glad I took the time to put the feelings into words and put those words on paper. This piece came together in a WOW course called "Writing is Revising" with Chelsey Clammer. I could not have done it with the help of my classmates and Chelsey's careful edits. 

WOW: I think that reading your own personal essays years later is rewarding in many ways, and you’ve captured that feeling so well here. Thank you for sharing your experience with that. What did you learn about yourself or your writing by creating this essay? 

Olivia: It took a lot of vulnerability to write this piece. I've always had a hunch that vulnerable essays resonate the most – and this piece proved that for me. It was originally published by Anti-Heroin Chic. They were so kind and supportive. And since coming in third in this contest, I've had other readers reach out to thank me for my honesty. I hope to continue to push the bounds of my own comfort while writing nonfiction in the future. It's where I find my best work. 

WOW: Yes, it’s that honesty in personal writing that captures an audience’s attention and makes it resonate. You mention in your bio that you appreciate gut-wrenching prose, which I believe can be tied to honest writing. How would you define “gut-wrenching prose” and what draws you to it? 

Olivia: The thing about "gut-wrenching prose" is that you know it when you see it. For me, it's pieces like Claudia Monpere's "The Violence of Grape Popsicles in the Fall," published in trampset. When I first read that piece, it literally took my breath away. I seek it out even still for inspiration, and to once again feel that original sense of awe. When writers manage to have all threads come together in the end, and keep the reader engaged all the way through, I'm always blown away. 

WOW: Which creative nonfiction essays or writers have inspired you most, and in what ways did they inspire you? 

Olivia: I happen to work closely with a brilliant essayist. My writing partner, Kaci Neves, manages to make the mundane both engaging and profound. See her essay for Bon Apetit, "Dining and Dreaming at the Blind Salamander RV Park", for a good example. I have the good fortune of reading lots of her work before it gets published, so I know firsthand that she has a lot of wonderful pieces coming out soon. 

WOW: What a joy to have a writing partner who inspires you! If you could tell your younger self anything about writing, what would it be? 

Olivia: My younger self was always sure she missed the boat. I was always, somehow, just a hair too old in my estimation to have any real writing success. Finally, in my thirties, I realized what a fallacy that was. The moment is now, the opportunities are there, and my age doesn't matter. My words do. The beauty of aging is the wisdom that comes with it. 

WOW: I love that advice! Thank you for sharing your writing with us and for your thoughtful responses. Happy writing! 

Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt, founder and editor-in-chief of Sport Stories Press, which publishes sports books by, for, and about sportswomen and amateur athletes. Engage on Twitter or Instagram @GreenMachine459.

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Leave a Comment Anne Greenawalt, Olivia Brochu, Q2 2025 Essay Contest, Third Place Winner

Friday Speak Out!: So You Got Rejected Now What?

By Laura Yeager

Rejection is something with which all writers are familiar. Writers can be rejected for many reasons from weak grammar to an illogical storyline. There are many causes of rejection, but what are some of the effects of rejection on the writer?

The some of the effects include the following –

Throwing the piece out and beginning afresh. This is a drastic response to rejection and is likely to be a result of hurt feelings and devastation. I don’t recommend this action, but if you’re completely tired of working and reworking a story or article, starting from scratch might be the way to go.

Getting advice from an editor or a reader and proceeding to rewrite from there. I do recommend this action. Sometimes a second set of eyes will move the story or article along and will take it to completion. My editor has saved me from looking like a fool many times, as well as spotting typos and misspellings.

Stopping writing entirely. NOT RECOMMENDED. Chalk the rejection up to an editor having a bad day.

Working harder on your own and perfecting the manuscript. Nuff said.

Shopping the piece (as is) around. This method stems from the idea that your piece will gain acceptance if it finds just the right editor. I recommend this action if you know that the manuscript is clean and interesting.

Putting the piece aside (in a drawer) and sleeping on it for a while. It’s amazing what time will do for one’s editing capabilities. You’ll be able to grasp the totality of the piece – the meaning, the syntax…everything about the story.

Of course, all these reactions have their pros and cons. What’s important is to keep at your art and to not give up. Rejection is part of the writing process, and writers should get used to being rejected. If writers can get over and learn from rejection, they can sell more of their work, which is an object of the business.

Back when writers sent their work out in paper form and received paper rejections, it was a fad to paper a wall of one’s home with rejection slips. Since most everything is electronic these days, this doesn’t occur, but, oh, those were the days! A wall papered with rejections was, in a way, a status symbol. It showed years (perhaps) of hard work and perseverance.

The most important thing to remember is to trust your instincts in your writing. This is easy to say and hard to do.

You will be rejected, and what I haven’t said is that maybe you should be rejected at that point in time. Maybe an editor is doing you a favor.

This brings me to a final point. Whether you sell a story or get rejected, don’t forget to thank the editor for her readership. This polite action will take you far.

They say that writing is rewriting. This is true. What’s also true is that writing for publication is rejection. That’s it in a nutshell.

* * *

Laura Yeager is a frequent contributor to Curetoday.com, a cancer website. She teaches writing at Kent State University at Stark and at Gotham Writers. Laura is happy and proud because her son, Thomas, has started writing and illustrating children’s books.
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Leave a Comment dealing with rejection, Friday Speak Out!, Laura Yeager, writer tips