Hello! We’re ten days into the new year so I hope it’s not too late to check in with you. I took a nice little break for the holidays, enjoyed some time with my family and now am back to steer my course towards literary stardom (or its local equivalent)!
Please visit my Events & Appearances page to see where I’ll be reading and speaking next, and be on the lookout for other projects I have in the works.
Last year at this time I thought I’d have a first draft of a novel completed, then realized (around March) that I wasn’t in the mood to write it. I can’t say that that has changed at all, so I’m not going to force it. I’m going back to my first love—the short story—and just ride that train until I feel I’ve reached my stop. For now, I will just work on submitting to literary journals, applying for grants, applying to teaching and freelance gigs and networking more. See how “write a novel” just doesn’t fit on the list?
Honestly, I’ve heard all the advice on why I SHOULD write a full-length piece instead of my usual cryptic quickies, and I began to think that I was avoiding it because of fear. The truth is, however, that I would sit at the computer, stare at the screen and the characters would refuse to speak to me. After a year of rejection I think it’s safe to say I tried, and just walk away with some of my dignity still intact.
That said, please make sure and support my upcoming appearances here in New York City so that I will have a reason to keep going:
January 16, 7PM//Sycamore Stories: A Night of Literary Madness @ Sycamore Bar (featured reader)
January 27, 1-3PM//New Voices Reading Series @ La Casa Azul Bookstore (host/featured author)
xoxo,
Raquel Ivelisse