Holiday Greetings

Merry Cheesemas?

It’s Christmas week, and we don’t have chestnuts roasting on an open fire or Jack Frost nipping at our noses over here. But we DO have another batch of Chex Mix roasting in our (closed) oven, and the temperature has dipped low enough this week to leave tiny traces of ice on our windshield here in the south a few times.

At the end of this year, we’re intentionally taking things easy and keeping our holiday traditions simple.

I hope that whatever this year has looked like for you and your family, you know in this season that you are loved.

Writing Updates:

I haven’t done too much writing this month, but I have been able to read a bit more and do some brainstorming as well.

I’m only four chapters into my new book which I’m still calling Project Fictional. I’m having a lot of fun with this magical Christmas story, and my critique partner recently told me that my male main character gives her Flynn Rider vibes, so I’ll be riding that high for a while (Seriously, who doesn’t adore Flynn?!).

I had some art commissioned for Seashells too, and seeing my story and characters come to life has been incredible. I cannot wait to share the pieces with you soon!

I’ve just started on my first round of edits for my publisher and look forward to knocking them out when school starts again in January and my house is a bit quieter so I can focus.

CTA Spotlight:

This month, I’m thrilled to introduce you to a beautiful author and friend, Emily Barnett. You can find her on Instagram at @embarnettauthor. Here is my interview with her (snuck one in before her book releases and she gets way too famous for this newsletter).

1. Will you tell us a little bit about your upcoming book Thread of Dreams?

Sure! My debut is fantasy with a touch of sci fi. It was written for teens and set in a whimsical and dangerous sunless planet, where the people have to harvest human dreams to survive. Nova is the main character, and she is one of the Harvesters. She enters the dreams of a boy who is already dreaming of her, and they begin an impossible relationship across space, and help one another in the hardships both are facing within their own worlds. Until, you know, catastrophe strikes.

2. You're the creator and host of #flashfictionmagic. What inspired you to start this hashtag/community and has it lived up to your expectations? How can others join in?

It has definitely exceeded my expectations! I had this idea a couple years ago to start posting short stories on Instagram once a week. I wanted to make sure I was practicing my craft, but also to gain confidence in sharing my work. Drafting, editing, and then submitting manuscripts to agents or publishers is a LONG process and oftentimes it can take years for the spark of an idea to turn into a book and find its readership. But in the meantime, I had a great desire to share my words! That's what we want as writers, right? To find our readers and to have some sort of impact on our community. I asked my IG followers if anyone would be interested in joining me, and the response was great! The first week I had maybe ten people. And since then, there's around 12-20 stories a week, depending on the prompt and season. No one HAS to commit to the prompts every week, only if you feel inspired and want to share. Though there aren't hundreds and thousands of people who are involved, I think what HAS exceeded my expectations is the impact its had on the writer community. I've heard from countless people that writing stories for Flash Fiction Magic every week has given them courage to submit short stories to anthologies, to finish their manuscripts and send them to agents or publishers. And it has also organically created a REALLY amazing and encouraging community as well. It's been a blessing to me, and it seems to be a blessing to others as well!

You can find the prompts in my Instagram stories under #FFM. My handle is @embarnettauthor and you can DM me if you want more instructions! Find the prompt for that Friday and write your own story and post it on your feed. Use the hashtag #flashfictionmagic and tag me so I can point others your way!

3. What are you working on now?

Since my edits are finished on Thread of Dreams, I've been working with my agent on a few projects. One is on submission (being looked at by traditional publishers) and another is about to go on submission in the New Year. This has been an editing season for me. The beauty of shelving manuscripts is that at some point you've grown enough to dust them off, rework them, and hand them over to your agent or a publisher (or self-pub!). So that's the stage in my "career" right now. Taking older stories and making them shine—and hoping a publisher will love them too. One I'm very excited about is a YA about four sisters who have seasonal magic—think Little Women x Hunger Games x dangerous fae.

4. What encouragement would you like to share with other writers and readers right now?

Trust that things will happen in the time they are meant to. I have always been a fast writer, fast submitter, and an optimistic dreamer. But sometimes things need work and sometimes things take time. I've been in awe of God's timing for my work. It's painful to be rejected time and time again. But then I look back and think, thank the heavens no one saw that story as it was. I needed time to grow and learn. I needed the right support system too. God knew that. So I've been trying to rest more, even as I honor Him with my gift. Instead of trying to think of EVERY single thing I can do to sell a book, I do what I can to spread the word, but know He ultimately will bring the right people to my stories. Otherwise you will drive yourself mad trying to squeeze and twist and manipulate. We are asked to write and share. That's all. We don't have to shove it down people's throats. That's awkward for everyone.

Also, if you're a writer and experiencing rejection, that is okay. In fact, welcome to the club! We are burdened with glorious purpose, and it is a painful right of passage. Congrats! I queried four books before a small publisher picked up my fourth. And an agent signed me on my fifth. I have hundreds (HUNDREDS) of rejections. I could wallpaper my whole house with them, but that would be pretty depressing. Again, it is timing. Sometimes our books need to percolate, and sometimes you get it right on your first shot (looking at you Rachel and your BEAUTIFUL debut coming soon! Seriously guys, I beta read this book and it's amazing!). So don't lose hope. Write the story burning in your soul. Write what fills you with joy or purpose, or keeps parading around in your brain like Harold Hill. Keep your eyes on your own paper and write what YOU want to read, not what you think the readers of Sanderson or Brandes or Rowling would want to read. I promise that if YOU are excited about what you write, readers will be too. Don't give up!

5. What is your favorite kind of cheese?

I love a nice sharp cheddar or Monterey Jack. Date and goat cheese pizza if I'm feeling fancy.

Thank y’all for doing life and this writing journey with me. Adam the Goose & I wish you a very Merry Christmas. I’m looking forward to what the new year will hold and getting to share it with you!

Love, Hope, & Cheese Toast,

Rachel