Good Stuff for Writers, 12/14
pitch Catapult, Technology Review, LA Times Food, and more
Hi writer friend,
I open with the above greeting because it really is an honor to be connected with all of you.
Yesterday I was thinking about how lucky I am to have friends in my life who share my passion for writing—friends who are also working really hard at writing for work and friends who are toiling away on big, ambitious projects alongside other jobs. Some of them are doing both. Forgive me for a moment while I get a little sentimental on this topic…
I regularly work across the table from a dear friend who has just completed a brilliant book of essays (and I get to read the first draft!), another friend is sending me excerpts from her novel, and another recently moved to the UK for an exciting content strategy position.
I’ve landed some of my best clients from friends who have referred me. They’ve introduced me to editors, passed along assignments, and given me advice and guidance that’s been pivotal to my career. But what’s been even more consequential, I think, is simply witnessing the ups and downs of other writers. Seeing their successes shows me what’s possible and what kind of dedication makes the possible a reality. Hearing of their challenges reminds me that building a business, creating, and pursuing work you love never stops being hard. These relationships have impacted my career and my creative pursuits more than any grant or class or expert advice.
And then there are so many of you who I hear from here or on Twitter with your questions, your pitches, and your stories. Perhaps we’ve never met in person or even spoken one-on-one, but I am so often learning from your journeys, just as I hope you’re occasionally learning from mine.
You hear a lot of advice this time of year as writers reflect on what worked and what didn’t in the last 12 months.
Here’s mine: Surround yourself with people who inspire you.
Connect with people whose work you admire. Take those relationships seriously. They’re not just handles that might follow you back or bylines on a story you share. They’re fellow writers who are dealing with and working towards so many of the same things as you. And those connections can be the best part of this job.
So thank you for being here! Thank you for asking questions and sharing your stories. If we haven’t connected in awhile, or if you’re brand new to OMQ, you can always hit reply on these emails and say hello. Hearing from subscribers is definitely my favorite part of writing this newsletter each week.
Education, Funds, Inspiration, Etc.
Submissions to the Nowhere Fall Travel Writing Prize are due tomorrow.
Kenyon Review’s The Short Nonfiction Contest is open to submission till December 31.
Applications to the Scripps Howard Fellowship are due December 19. The 12-month fellowship program is done in conjunction with the Scripps Washington Bureau/Newsy and The Texas Tribune.
Women and non-binary reporters, you have two days left to apply for the Kim Wall Memorial Fund for a $5,000 grant to support work covering subculture, broadly defined, and what Kim liked to call “the undercurrents of rebellion.”
The Writers’ Co-op is hosting a webinar on New Year, New Clients on January 18. Tickets are $35.
I’m loving these responses from people sharing the stories they wrote that felt overlooked this year. Let’s see yours!
Megan Walsh shared some inspiring insight on writing a novel in yesterday’s Q&A.
If you’re a paid subscriber, you now have full access to the 2022 Big List of Deadlines for Writers.
Editors Who Want Your Pitches
That’s all for today, friends. I’ll be back in your inbox later this week.
And don’t forget! Subscriptions are 40% off for 2 more weeks.
Stay inspired,
Britany
Amen to the sentiment at the top of this post. I have a very strong "found family" feel from all the fellow writers & creative folk I've come to know, especially since I returned to fulltime writing a few years ago.
It's also a powerful antidote to the feeling that social media can create of 'Everything Is Too Big To Change So What's The Damn Point In Trying'. But when you refocus, and see the quiet genius being put into the world by people you admire & have hung out with without fully realising what they're creating, you realise that the people writing those We're All Doomed headlines are frequently not seeing the big picture and not looking closely enough. There's *so much* to learn about what's being done, quietly and persistently and increasingly impactfully. Sometimes, all it takes is...one more question.
#rimshot #yourewelcome #IAcceptPayPal