Last week, I accepted an offer from Random House to publish my debut story collection: The Payoff includes my self-published novella, “Money Matters”, three other novellas that are original to the collection, and eight shorter pieces (including some that originally appeared in this newsletter).
Go you!!!! What a journey! I don't know what it is about your success that makes me root for you rather than be insanely jealous of you, but I think it has to do with the sheer amount of labor you have put in, your humbleness about your own not-knowing, and the underlying heartening non-formula formula here for other writers that is something like elbow grease + luck + "Do what you want to do/follow the path that calls to you." Big congrats, and I look forward to The Payoff.
Wonderful news! And brava for writing with such emotional transparency about the journey.
If you’re going to AWP, and the conference gets you down, try (though perhaps you already know about this?) visiting the American Visionary Art Museum, which has the best collection of “outsider” art in the country. A must for me whenever I’m in Baltimore.
And congratulations again. You’re a generous soul, and a perfect match-up for such good news.
I read The Default World from an Interlibrary Loan because I loved your tales so much...but the plan is to buy What's So Great About the Great Books? and The Payoff, because your blog continues to be one of the best places to think about literature. So you (and Alia's) pitch of "here is a proven audience for this work" is true! It's the old 1000 true fans thing, but there's a reason 1000 true fans is such a ubiquitous way to think about keeping your integrity in art in the last 60 years.
I'm going to add my tiny bit of kudos. I only started following you recently, I find your essays to be interesting, illuminating, great even. I'm a humble unknown who will never get to where you're at, but I'm just glad a fellow, hard-working writer is getting rewarded for their efforts. Congratulations!
I am so excited for you Naomi. And....I am not one bit surprised. You write beautifully and your content is intelligent, authentic, well researched and keeps me reading to the end. I can not wait to smash the purchase my book button when it arrives on your page!
hell yeah
Go you!!!! What a journey! I don't know what it is about your success that makes me root for you rather than be insanely jealous of you, but I think it has to do with the sheer amount of labor you have put in, your humbleness about your own not-knowing, and the underlying heartening non-formula formula here for other writers that is something like elbow grease + luck + "Do what you want to do/follow the path that calls to you." Big congrats, and I look forward to The Payoff.
I feel this way about both of you :)
Wonderful news! And brava for writing with such emotional transparency about the journey.
If you’re going to AWP, and the conference gets you down, try (though perhaps you already know about this?) visiting the American Visionary Art Museum, which has the best collection of “outsider” art in the country. A must for me whenever I’m in Baltimore.
And congratulations again. You’re a generous soul, and a perfect match-up for such good news.
I read The Default World from an Interlibrary Loan because I loved your tales so much...but the plan is to buy What's So Great About the Great Books? and The Payoff, because your blog continues to be one of the best places to think about literature. So you (and Alia's) pitch of "here is a proven audience for this work" is true! It's the old 1000 true fans thing, but there's a reason 1000 true fans is such a ubiquitous way to think about keeping your integrity in art in the last 60 years.
Great news! Congratulations, Naomi!
Amazing, congrats!!
🎉 As you know, I love this
Happy for you!
Congratulations Naomi!!! Looking forward to it!
Finally, some contemporary short stores that take place in SF! (Instead of Brooklyn or New England). So excited to read those.
Congrats!
Huzzah!
I'm so happy for you!
I'm going to add my tiny bit of kudos. I only started following you recently, I find your essays to be interesting, illuminating, great even. I'm a humble unknown who will never get to where you're at, but I'm just glad a fellow, hard-working writer is getting rewarded for their efforts. Congratulations!
YES
I am so excited for you Naomi. And....I am not one bit surprised. You write beautifully and your content is intelligent, authentic, well researched and keeps me reading to the end. I can not wait to smash the purchase my book button when it arrives on your page!