Thank you for talking about your journey as a disabled writer! I really appreciate your honesty and openness about it with your autism and chronic pain! How cool that Lonan is an autistic protagonist and how you discovered that with him. I find out similar things when Iâm writing disabled characters, especially when it comes to physical disability and sensory issues. I can definitely relate to the sensory issues as well. I know I have ADHD, but I definitely might be autistic as well. Itâs also cool to learn more about Jeremiah and the evolution of his character through your short story/novella. Your excerpts are always gorgeous! Iâm actually teaching a class online through the organization Writing the Other. It should be posted in October/November and itâs a master class on writing physically disabled characters. Listening to you chat about your characters reminded me of how important that is! đ„° Some book recs with disabled characters by disabled authors if you want them (and I have tons more recs): UNSEELIE by Ivelisse Housman (autistic MC in high fantasy) ONE FOR ALL by Lillie Lainoff (POTStie MC) WHERE YOU SEE YOURSELF by Claire Forrest (cerebral palsy/wheelchair user MC) BEING ACE: AN ANTHOLOGY OF QUEER, TRANS, AND DISABLED STORIES OF ASEXUAL LOVE AND CONNECTION edited by Madeline Dyer (comes out next month; biased because I have a story in here-there are other disabled authors in here as well!)
the excerpt from changing states was so beautiful! jeremiah sounds like such a sweet and grounding narrator to work with. im currently working on a novella called "roadside attractions", about disease and exile and road trips. its really slow going but unlike my other longer projects (i am a short story writer first) i am actually enjoying the experience of drafting on a line level. i feel like i've finally overcome the pressure to prioritize speed over beauty when drafting a longer project.
So I knowww I just commented like yesterday saying "oh I finished the fic so I'm not writing for a bit" WELLLLL I was listening to Mariana's Trench 'The Killing Kind' this morning and thought "mmm well MAYBE I'll do a little more writing." I opened up the WIP for the story I associate with that song and like. There's three pages of words (~840 words) that I BARELY remember writing?? And they're good?? What?? So I'll try and get a few sentences down today, see if I can't get past the bit of plot holding things up XD Anyway, I'm so glad you found that reconnection with Lonan, that's so sweet
I love that you talked about how helpful writing by hand was for HB because I actually exclusively draft by hand and I donât know any one else who does! I find that I canât think when my first draft is on a screen, so Iâll write it in a notebook and then revise it a bit as I type it up. It is a little more time consuming so I understand why it doesnât work for everyone but Iâm glad that it helped you in this instance! ALSO the exact same thing happened to me where I started working on a new project and was like hang on a secondâŠis my MC autistic?? Yep she definitely is lmao. After researching for maybe a year and a half now, I recently came to accept that Iâm probably on the autism spectrum too, so thatâs probably why itâs bleeding over into my writing!
yay for this writing update!! It's so nice to hear you talk about your experiences these past few months, it helps me remember that there are ups to every down :') I also loved hearing you chat about your recent reads!!
Hi Rachel, I haven't been watching your videos for a very long time and I just found out that you are also struggling with chronic pain just like me. I have even written a little book about it! You motivate me to keep writing and stay inspired;)
the set up conflict in Changing States sounds really bloody good, Rachel. I have an inkling Jeremiah will flourish before your eyes, and although a short novella sounds like a fair amount of time to dedicate to this character for now, please please please could you talk about him more in another video when you've written your 10K on him returning to Maryland // also, the fact you grew up there too and feel you're sort of welding your own experience into that aspect of the novella so consciously, that will be really interesting! I know I seem like I'm compliment galore with you, but you really are (genuinely) so motivating as a learning writer myself. your openness and honesty is so blummin' refreshing! // you asked at the end of your video, what we're working on. for me personally I am working on a novel called Somers Town which is a bit like changing states because it's about family, the aftermath of how the Dawkins family deal with the aftermath of a problematic - and also suspicious - relative's death. I've been writing this since feb 2021, and the book is only just starting to come together. like Hallowed Bodies, it's been a difficult one to write, and yes, that doesn't always mean it feels as fulfilling when you get to this point as some writers say. instead, it's quite anti climactic, which to think about reminds me of the set up conflict in your new novella changing states - perhaps the death of this person in his hometown in Maryland when all he wants to do is cry probably, is the changing state, like a rite of passage into adulthood. as a fellow twenty something year old (I dare not confess my age!!! haha), you will know there is adulthood at 18 where you're legally an adult, and then like adult-adulthood where shit gets real, and life quickly throws itself at you and clarifies, if ever, into sharp focus. I'm really looking forward to an update on Jeremiah
really liked hearing about changing states! Iâll have to keep an eye out for any excerpts you post. when you were talking about how you struggled to write in lonanâs voice and âwondered if you were a bad writer,â I couldnât help but notice that you seem to say that you wondered the same thing during *every* project⊠and I have nothing to say except I feel that. I feel thatđ thanks again for another fun video!
â€ïžâ€ïž I love talking about it Iâll have to do another update soon! & omg dw I do wonder it every time but there are levels to it LOL the lonan one was the worst one recently, but itâs not always so bad hehe I love my writing sm! But I do say it bc I know other writers might relate!
love your writing updates! Unfortunately i'm at writing two separate versions of the same book to see which one is better era lol. Watching other writers has helped my motivation, your consistency is inspiring and as always love your writing!
Oh my ... Is that Harrison all over your wall?! I really like how you described Jeremiah's narrative voice, it got me thinking about one of my OC's and how I could possibly try and make his voice a little more distinct, I'm currently just exploring his story.
Hey, Rachel. Excuse the delay on getting to your video. I couldn't help notice that your channel (and your advices) are quite underrated. My kudos for your efforts. Regarding sponsorship, there seem to be a lot missing out. Continue on a consistent pace, and things will flourish nicely for you. Your internet stalker (just kidding), A.K.B.
Rachel! Thanks for the vid.... Can I ask you a stupid question? I understand Zoetrope: all story is a big deal, but so is CBC short story - is there a way to understand which contest one should prioritize??? Is there a clear and obvious "better on resume"?
Oh interesting, I haven't heard of Zoetrope: all story and after a quick google I realize it's because it's American haha I don't know a lot of American mags/contests! This one does seem huge! I would just worry about which one you want to submit to tbh, and maybe if the country matters.
Hey Rachel! Hope you're well! Had a quick follow up question please! Before submitting a story to a contest, Do you recommend shelving out $400-ish for services to have my story edited?... is it a must? Just looking for some tips as to what to do next???
Absolutely not - contests and litmag publishing in general are 70% chance, so unless you want editing services for personal development, I wouldnât recommend it (I read for both contests and litmags). Edit it to the best of your own ability or run it by a critique partner! Or if you want you can run it by a pro editor but that shouldnât be 400 bucks. I offer editing services if youâre really interested in running it by an editor, but I donât think thatâs necessary before a contest bc the chances of winning are slim (not because of your story but because of the nature of contests! Typically a group of readers screen the stories FIRST & then they go to the judge, so you have to make it past 2-3 hurdles before it even sees a judge which is why I couldnât in good faith recommend editing services of that cost in advance!). Hope that helps :)
â@@rachelwritesbooks Yes, that's helpful, thank you for saving me some $$$ :) Appreciate you taking the time to respond! 1. I would be interested to send you a story at some point (when it's ready) to get feedback! Do you have a website or email I should reach out to for pricing, etc.? 2. If miracle of miracles, my piece got to the judges, I wondered if having a piece not well edited would ruin my chances... Or maybe they don't pay as much attention to grammar... Maybe they even help edit the winning stories before publishing it anyway! (Thinking out loud here haha) Thanks! Appreciate your videos and tips!
@@YumEspressoYum no problem! And yes I do editing on Fiverr! www.fiverr.com/s/moreQ7?CopyLink_Mobile in terms of editing at the contest level-the judges 99% of the time are looking for a ready to go piece. Iâve never seen a contest where they edit, so if youâre concerned about grammar I would see if you can fine tune the piece yourself and then run it through a free grammar checker (like Grammarly)! Word and I think even Google docs have started to build grammar checks into their programs too :) & then you CAN consider an external editor but itâs really not necessary. Editing is a skill that refines over time and practice so itâs always amazing to get the hang of with short stories!
omg... another rachel video??? august writing update
Thank you for talking about your journey as a disabled writer! I really appreciate your honesty and openness about it with your autism and chronic pain! How cool that Lonan is an autistic protagonist and how you discovered that with him. I find out similar things when Iâm writing disabled characters, especially when it comes to physical disability and sensory issues. I can definitely relate to the sensory issues as well. I know I have ADHD, but I definitely might be autistic as well. Itâs also cool to learn more about Jeremiah and the evolution of his character through your short story/novella. Your excerpts are always gorgeous!
Iâm actually teaching a class online through the organization Writing the Other. It should be posted in October/November and itâs a master class on writing physically disabled characters. Listening to you chat about your characters reminded me of how important that is! đ„°
Some book recs with disabled characters by disabled authors if you want them (and I have tons more recs):
UNSEELIE by Ivelisse Housman (autistic MC in high fantasy)
ONE FOR ALL by Lillie Lainoff (POTStie MC)
WHERE YOU SEE YOURSELF by Claire Forrest (cerebral palsy/wheelchair user MC)
BEING ACE: AN ANTHOLOGY OF QUEER, TRANS, AND DISABLED STORIES OF ASEXUAL LOVE AND CONNECTION edited by Madeline Dyer (comes out next month; biased because I have a story in here-there are other disabled authors in here as well!)
the excerpt from changing states was so beautiful! jeremiah sounds like such a sweet and grounding narrator to work with. im currently working on a novella called "roadside attractions", about disease and exile and road trips. its really slow going but unlike my other longer projects (i am a short story writer first) i am actually enjoying the experience of drafting on a line level. i feel like i've finally overcome the pressure to prioritize speed over beauty when drafting a longer project.
So I knowww I just commented like yesterday saying "oh I finished the fic so I'm not writing for a bit" WELLLLL I was listening to Mariana's Trench 'The Killing Kind' this morning and thought "mmm well MAYBE I'll do a little more writing." I opened up the WIP for the story I associate with that song and like. There's three pages of words (~840 words) that I BARELY remember writing?? And they're good?? What?? So I'll try and get a few sentences down today, see if I can't get past the bit of plot holding things up XD
Anyway, I'm so glad you found that reconnection with Lonan, that's so sweet
Rachel your videos are inspiring, and I really wished I had published a lot more short stories like you have.
I love that you talked about how helpful writing by hand was for HB because I actually exclusively draft by hand and I donât know any one else who does! I find that I canât think when my first draft is on a screen, so Iâll write it in a notebook and then revise it a bit as I type it up. It is a little more time consuming so I understand why it doesnât work for everyone but Iâm glad that it helped you in this instance!
ALSO the exact same thing happened to me where I started working on a new project and was like hang on a secondâŠis my MC autistic?? Yep she definitely is lmao. After researching for maybe a year and a half now, I recently came to accept that Iâm probably on the autism spectrum too, so thatâs probably why itâs bleeding over into my writing!
yay for this writing update!! It's so nice to hear you talk about your experiences these past few months, it helps me remember that there are ups to every down :') I also loved hearing you chat about your recent reads!!
Hi Rachel,
I haven't been watching your videos for a very long time and I just found out that you are also struggling with chronic pain just like me. I have even written a little book about it! You motivate me to keep writing and stay inspired;)
the set up conflict in Changing States sounds really bloody good, Rachel. I have an inkling Jeremiah will flourish before your eyes, and although a short novella sounds like a fair amount of time to dedicate to this character for now, please please please could you talk about him more in another video when you've written your 10K on him returning to Maryland // also, the fact you grew up there too and feel you're sort of welding your own experience into that aspect of the novella so consciously, that will be really interesting! I know I seem like I'm compliment galore with you, but you really are (genuinely) so motivating as a learning writer myself. your openness and honesty is so blummin' refreshing! // you asked at the end of your video, what we're working on. for me personally I am working on a novel called Somers Town which is a bit like changing states because it's about family, the aftermath of how the Dawkins family deal with the aftermath of a problematic - and also suspicious - relative's death. I've been writing this since feb 2021, and the book is only just starting to come together. like Hallowed Bodies, it's been a difficult one to write, and yes, that doesn't always mean it feels as fulfilling when you get to this point as some writers say. instead, it's quite anti climactic, which to think about reminds me of the set up conflict in your new novella changing states - perhaps the death of this person in his hometown in Maryland when all he wants to do is cry probably, is the changing state, like a rite of passage into adulthood. as a fellow twenty something year old (I dare not confess my age!!! haha), you will know there is adulthood at 18 where you're legally an adult, and then like adult-adulthood where shit gets real, and life quickly throws itself at you and clarifies, if ever, into sharp focus. I'm really looking forward to an update on Jeremiah
congrats on finishing the novella !!! i just hit 20k in my epic fantasy novel and i have about 90k more to go by my estimation. rip me i guess
really liked hearing about changing states! Iâll have to keep an eye out for any excerpts you post.
when you were talking about how you struggled to write in lonanâs voice and âwondered if you were a bad writer,â I couldnât help but notice that you seem to say that you wondered the same thing during *every* project⊠and I have nothing to say except I feel that. I feel thatđ
thanks again for another fun video!
â€ïžâ€ïž I love talking about it Iâll have to do another update soon! & omg dw I do wonder it every time but there are levels to it LOL the lonan one was the worst one recently, but itâs not always so bad hehe I love my writing sm! But I do say it bc I know other writers might relate!
love your writing updates! Unfortunately i'm at writing two separate versions of the same book to see which one is better era lol. Watching other writers has helped my motivation, your consistency is inspiring and as always love your writing!
Oh my ... Is that Harrison all over your wall?! I really like how you described Jeremiah's narrative voice, it got me thinking about one of my OC's and how I could possibly try and make his voice a little more distinct, I'm currently just exploring his story.
HAHA yes!!! There are 4 Harrison portraits behind me đ heâs everywhere!! & yes omg I love thinking about voice!
Your journey is so inspirational. Thank you for sharing â€.
"the sun touches his skin like a lover's hand" OH i am going to think of this forever.
also the struggling to write a character bc you've written from someone else's perspective and hate them now. Extreeeemely real
Hehe tysm I think thatâs a beautiful moment too!!
Hey, Rachel. Excuse the delay on getting to your video. I couldn't help notice that your channel (and your advices) are quite underrated. My kudos for your efforts. Regarding sponsorship, there seem to be a lot missing out. Continue on a consistent pace, and things will flourish nicely for you. Your internet stalker (just kidding), A.K.B.
Yeeeeee haw!
I wish I had the patience to write by hand but typing is jus so much quicker but I am going to try to do it when I begin prepping for NaNoWriMo 23.
Rachel! Thanks for the vid.... Can I ask you a stupid question? I understand Zoetrope: all story is a big deal, but so is CBC short story - is there a way to understand which contest one should prioritize??? Is there a clear and obvious "better on resume"?
Oh interesting, I haven't heard of Zoetrope: all story and after a quick google I realize it's because it's American haha I don't know a lot of American mags/contests! This one does seem huge! I would just worry about which one you want to submit to tbh, and maybe if the country matters.
Hey Rachel! Hope you're well! Had a quick follow up question please! Before submitting a story to a contest, Do you recommend shelving out $400-ish for services to have my story edited?... is it a must? Just looking for some tips as to what to do next???
Absolutely not - contests and litmag publishing in general are 70% chance, so unless you want editing services for personal development, I wouldnât recommend it (I read for both contests and litmags). Edit it to the best of your own ability or run it by a critique partner! Or if you want you can run it by a pro editor but that shouldnât be 400 bucks. I offer editing services if youâre really interested in running it by an editor, but I donât think thatâs necessary before a contest bc the chances of winning are slim (not because of your story but because of the nature of contests! Typically a group of readers screen the stories FIRST & then they go to the judge, so you have to make it past 2-3 hurdles before it even sees a judge which is why I couldnât in good faith recommend editing services of that cost in advance!). Hope that helps :)
â@@rachelwritesbooks Yes, that's helpful, thank you for saving me some $$$ :) Appreciate you taking the time to respond!
1. I would be interested to send you a story at some point (when it's ready) to get feedback! Do you have a website or email I should reach out to for pricing, etc.?
2. If miracle of miracles, my piece got to the judges, I wondered if having a piece not well edited would ruin my chances... Or maybe they don't pay as much attention to grammar... Maybe they even help edit the winning stories before publishing it anyway! (Thinking out loud here haha) Thanks!
Appreciate your videos and tips!
@@YumEspressoYum no problem! And yes I do editing on Fiverr! www.fiverr.com/s/moreQ7?CopyLink_Mobile
in terms of editing at the contest level-the judges 99% of the time are looking for a ready to go piece. Iâve never seen a contest where they edit, so if youâre concerned about grammar I would see if you can fine tune the piece yourself and then run it through a free grammar checker (like Grammarly)! Word and I think even Google docs have started to build grammar checks into their programs too :) & then you CAN consider an external editor but itâs really not necessary. Editing is a skill that refines over time and practice so itâs always amazing to get the hang of with short stories!
@@rachelwritesbooks got the link. Thank you! All the best to you and your writing! May it flow and fulfill daily!
:DC
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