You Don’t Have To Land A Book Deal To Get Published

I’ve written three books. A ton of blog posts. And a bunch of other writing pieces too. And while I’ve had some success here and there with writing, at the start of the year I was discouraged about not having any of my books published yet. When I originally envisioned being a “successful writer” I thought that meant I needed a published book to my name.

I reached out to a lot of different publishers, some who showed interest and others who didn’t and was having little to no movement with landing a book deal. Growing frustrated, I strongly considered self-publishing, which would allow me three things: getting published, creative control, and owning the rights to my work. And as the months into this year continued, no deal was on the table yet, so I decided to switch up my strategy and pursue writing opportunities with different online sites with content I enjoy reading.

I could write for the sites I enjoy, I thought. Every time I read different content on the sites I followed, I made a list to connect with them and started reaching out. And guess what? I got plenty of rejections, a handful of feedback and constructive criticism, invites to revise and resubmit different rejected submissions, and then, unexpectedly, I finally got published on two incredible sites:

As Told Over Brunch & Thought Catalog 😊

Getting published isn’t easy, but it’s attainable.

There’s a lot of rejection in the writing and publishing industry, however, having sites whose content you enjoy reading publish yours is an amazing feeling.

Conceiving and birthing stories, and watching them grow, is truly one of the best feelings ever. It’s rewarding and exciting having the opportunity to finally experience something I’ve prayed for and worked hard and relentlessly for, come to life. Plus, I’m actively building my legacy in the process. Piece by piece. Story by story.

For years, I limited myself to just getting published by releasing a book, failing to realize I could get published in other ways too. You don’t have to land a book deal to get published. That’s not to say that I won’t continue pursuing a book deal or be open to being presented with the opportunity, but maintaining my blog, Making Waves, writing for other sites I enjoy, and just waking up every day to do what I love is enough for me.

I’m not entirely sure where writing will lead me, but I’m hoping it takes me beyond anything and everything I could ever have hoped for.

We’ll see.

A Year Of Being Ghosted

Ghosting: the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication. I’ve been ghosted by every guy I’ve met within the past two years. About six to be exact. · The first guy pursued me and then got shady whenever I asked him about what he did for a living and where he lived. When he started dodging and avoiding questions, wouldn’t initiate dates, and slowly stopped keeping in touch with me altogether, eventually, all communication ceased. · The second guy was someone I met through a family member. He was super cool, very smart, handsome, and funny, but didn’t want to be in a relationship and acted like he didn’t want to be seen with me publicly. When we had plans to meet for an outing, he didn’t show up, and then texted me about a week later with an apology. We chilled at my place a few times, had a few phone conversations, and exchanged occasional texts, but eventually he stopped responding to me

How To Respond To A Nasty Email

Technology has made many people bold, rude, and incredibly messy. Often to the point where some may hide behind words they’ve typed instead of verbally communicating a message they want to convey. Such can be the case when it comes to sending emails. Ah, emails. You know what they are. Electronic messages that can be quickly drafted, sent, and misinterpreted (because you can’t always interpret tones or emotions through them). Which is why it’s key to know how to respond to nasty emails if they should ever come your way – especially in the workplace. As a working professional, there have been plenty of times when a coworker or superior sent an email my way that was petty, mad disrespectful, and unprofessional. And before I learned how to properly utilize email etiquette, my first instinct would always be to clap back. I just felt the need to respond and to communicate that I wouldn’t allow anyone, no matter who they were, to disrespect me. And while I haven’t taken things too far

Teacher Table Talk: When Parents Attack

As an English teacher, a core belief I’ve held close since the beginning of my career has been the importance of relationship building. I believe that if great relationships between teachers, students, and parents are established at the beginning of the school year, everything else will fall into place. Authentically modeling, practicing, and establishing mutually respectful and professional relationships within my classroom has been the bridge for effective communication, solid classroom management, and creating a safe and effective learning environment that fits each of my student’s needs. And though I’ve seen and experienced the benefits of great relationship building, unfortunately, there have been times when some students and parents have not been receptive or interested in my efforts to establish connections that would best serve all parties involved. I’ve also noticed and shared spaces with other educators, school counselors, and administrators who’ve experienced the same. And

Making Waves