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.
Thank you Amber! So nice to hear from you =] Yes I do think...the worm does turn. I didn't always think that it did. But there are chances that come down the line, long after everyone has given up on you. That's something I didn't always know. It never felt that way before. It felt like either you were one of the chosen ones, or you weren't. And that's sort of true, but not entirely....
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!
Congratulations! Not sure how I stumbled upon your work (it's been a year or two) but I can say with two young girls, I don't find as much time as I would like to read yet I always seem to find time for Woman of Letters. Thank you for dedication, hard work and continued exploration... I very much look forward to reading The Payoff when it comes out and will happily keep tuning in on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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.
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.
Thank you Amber! So nice to hear from you =] Yes I do think...the worm does turn. I didn't always think that it did. But there are chances that come down the line, long after everyone has given up on you. That's something I didn't always know. It never felt that way before. It felt like either you were one of the chosen ones, or you weren't. And that's sort of true, but not entirely....
I feel this way about both of you :)
Great news! Congratulations, Naomi!
Thank 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!
Thank you!
Congratulations. Quite an accomplishment. You made this happen.
Congratulations! Not sure how I stumbled upon your work (it's been a year or two) but I can say with two young girls, I don't find as much time as I would like to read yet I always seem to find time for Woman of Letters. Thank you for dedication, hard work and continued exploration... I very much look forward to reading The Payoff when it comes out and will happily keep tuning in on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Thank you!
Amazing, congrats!!
Congratulations, Naomi!!
🔥🔥👑 you rock, so stoked for you!!
Huge congrats, Naomi!
Congratulations! Thank you for being so generous and sharing your road to publishing :)
Had so much fun reading this! Will be eagerly awaiting the book
🎉 As you know, I love this
Congratulations!
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 should go to this museum! I've definitely heard about it
Seconded on the Visionary Art Museum; one of my favorite museums anywhere.
Congrats Naomi! Also, thanks for linking to my essay on Lonesome Dove.
No problem!