Author: leatriceauthor

It might not be deadly, but the silent rejection is a particularly frustrating beast to battle. This past week, while facing intense burnout in the lead-up to an event I was running in London, I decided to look through my live submissions. Consider it an exercise in self-flagellation, a skill I could put on my…

It’s a glass of strong tea with a slice of lemon—more sweet than bitter, easy to drink, but always bites you at the end. I’m not talking about what’s in my mug; I’m talking about the shortlist. Today, I received what I thought was a rejection from a prestigious writing retreat. This is, much like…

Some wise words near the NYPL (August 2013) It was inevitable; my first literary agent submission of 2024 was rejected. I’m going to use this post to outline the current status of my novel submission process, and use future posts to explore its different aspects in greater detail. Short-form text is a terrible medium for…

Washington Square Park, August 2018 There are submissions you set your heart on. There are submissions you forget about. There are submission results that just hit at the wrong time. Fortunately, this rejection was none of those. This was a general submission to The Washington Square Review, and funnily enough, not my first rejection from…

Beckenham rail station, August 2020 I’m nothing if not a planner. Whether you consider it intense productivity or compensation for daydreaming too much, it’s an integral part of who I am. I love filling up my calendar with events, meet-ups, maps and word goals; it gives the aesthetic of a full life, and often manifests…