One of the great joys for me this year was a return to focusing on my own writing. Like many others, the pandemic played havoc with my sense of time and connection these past three years. Fortunately, my involvement with the CNFC board helped me maintain my sanity and links to the Canadian writing community.
That’s not to say my words were unread during that time. After winning the 2020 Penguin Random House Canada MFA Prize for best nonfiction book proposal, I completed my memoir in 2021, and it went out on submission via my wonderful agent. If only her enthusiasm had been shared by the recipients of my manuscript!
While there was strong interest from a handful of publishers, the memoir has not (yet) been acquired. There were some encouraging words and compliments on my writing and subject material, but the big takeaway was that something was missing. Ultimately, it seemed as if the manuscript did not deliver on the promise of the proposal. Two publishers were kind enough to provide detailed comments, for which I’m grateful, as they’ve given me some concrete opportunities for improvement.
Never one to give up, in the summer I registered for Alison Wearing’s Memoir Writing Ink self-study course, a terrific reminder of what memoir is and is not. The lessons have sparked some ideas about how to restructure and tighten up my own story. Additionally, I’ll incorporate feedback received from editors during the submission process. I can’t wait to revisit my manuscript again in 2024.
I’ve heard from many writers that I should aim for 100 rejections per year. There’s a kernel of truth in that advice because acceptance of writing (assuming it’s good) is a numbers game. An added benefit of the submission blitz is it can take the sting out of rejections and make the process more objective. Taking all that to heart, I sent out my writing to 44 publications/contests in 2023 and I’m pleased with the response. My essay Endangered was a finalist for the 2023 Honey Bee Literature Prize nonfiction contest, and subsequently found a home at The Examined Life journal where it will be published in 2024. Most recently, my essay Spit appeared on the long list of the FBCW 2023 nonfiction contest. I was honoured to be listed among such fine writers and enjoyed the frisson of excitement that comes with having one’s writing and words recognized. I look forward to finding a publication home for this piece in the new year.
Lastly, the Canada Council grant I received in 2022 wrapped up in the fall. The funding supported a deep research dive into historical, scientific, and medical aspects of leukemia and bone marrow transplantation in Canada during the 1980s. Apart from providing content and context for my memoir, I’ve got some other ideas kicking around in my mind for new research projects.
It was a good writing year.
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